Medicare Rights Seeks to Boost Automatic Enrollment in Medicare Savings Programs

Did you know that millions of low-income older adults and people with disabilities could save money on health care costs by enrolling in Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs)? These programs help pay for Medicare premiums and other out-of-pocket expenses. But many eligible people don’t know about them or how to apply.

That’s why we teamed up with AARP NY to contribute to a report by Professor Teresa Ghilarducci of The New School’s Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis. The report shows how data matching can boost MSP enrollment and save money for both beneficiaries and states. Data matching means using existing information from other programs, such as Medicaid or SNAP, to automatically enroll or renew people in MSPs. This way, no one misses out on the help they need.

Earlier this year, a longtime Medicare Rights priority was implemented in New York State when 82,000 Medicare-eligible individuals who have Medicaid were enrolled in the MSP, guaranteeing that over $13 million in Part B premium payments arrived directly in beneficiaries’ Social Security deposits every month. 

We’re also excited to share some more good news from New York, where MSP income limits have increased this year. Thanks to our outreach efforts and dedicated staff and counselors, we have helped more than twice as many clients apply for MSPs this year compared to last year. 

 At Medicare Rights, we believe every person with Medicare deserves access to affordable health care. That’s why we urge all states to follow New York’s example and make it easier for people to enroll in MSPs. To support our MSP work and learn more, visit www.medicarerights.org/policy.