Mass Senior Action applauds proposed budget boost to Medicare Savings Program
BOSTON – Massachusetts Senior Action Council (MSAC) released the following statement in response Governor Charlie Baker’s FY2023 budget announcement this week, which includes an expansion of the state’s Medicare Savings Program (MSP):
“We applaud Governor Charlie Baker’s proposal to expand the Medicare Savings Program, which covers out-of-pocket healthcare costs for low-income seniors. The budget proposal is a policy solution that comes directly from a multi-year campaign waged by seniors impacted by the health care affordability crisis. It’s a step in the right direction, but there’s so much more to be done.
While the proposed budget makes strides to better serve low-income seniors, we can do far more to reach those in need and address the disparities exacerbated by the pandemic. By increasing eligibility for seniors to 225 percent of the federal poverty level and removing the current asset limit, many more low-income seniors would be lifted out of economic insecurity by this life-changing program.
Rising Medicare costs, inflation, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic mean that even more seniors are struggling to afford their basic needs. Massachusetts was already ranked the worst in the nation for elder economic security, and the past few years have only deepened these divides.
Our elected officials can demonstrate they’re serious about tackling elder poverty. It’s time to have our budget reflect our values and stop forcing our seniors to choose between food and needed medicine.
BACKGROUND
The Governor’s proposed change to the MSP would expand eligibility to seniors living at 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The $21 million boost included in the proposed budget would reduce out-of-pocket health care spending and prescription drug costs for approximately 35,000 additional low-income seniors and disabled individuals across the state.
Thousands of seniors across the state fall just beyond the current cutoff for this program, including thousands who are income eligible but whose meager retirement savings deny them access to needed support. Seniors are the only population in Massachusetts who face an asset limit for health care assistance, denying income-eligible seniors needed aid. The MSP helps cover health care expenses for qualifying low-income seniors and puts upwards of $250 a month back in their pockets.
In 2019, Governor Baker included the first ever expansion of MSP from 135% FPL (~$15,000/yr) to 165% FPL (~$20,000/yr) in his FY20 budget proposal . In the first year of implementation, more than 25,000 seniors accessed more than $100m in new benefits. The governor’s proposal this week comes after years of grassroots advocacy by MSAC members to address the high cost of health care.
MSAC has made expansion of the Medicare Savings Program a key focus of our grassroots organizing and lobbying efforts on Beacon Hill, staging multiple public actions and meeting with various lawmakers.
Massachusetts seniors lobby lawmakers to expand Medicare help for low-income residents
MSAC Celebrates New Medicare Savings Program Expansion
About Massachusetts Senior Action Council:
Massachusetts Senior Action Council is a statewide, grassroots, senior-led organization that empowers its members to use their own voices to address key public policy and community issues that affect their health and well-being. Now in its fourth decade of organizing, Mass. Senior Action is an effective, grassroots activist group, led by seniors fighting for social justice. It is the acknowledged “go to” organization in Massachusetts for developing intergenerational social change strategies to safeguard and strengthen the systems that all community members need to rely on for economic and health security.