NY State Health: Medicare Snapshot - Stories from the Helpline - Improving New York State Access to Medicare Savings Programs
Half of all New Yorkers with Medicare live on annual incomes of $24,150 or less. Given that Medicare beneficiaries are spending an average of 15% of their household incomes on health care, many older adults and people with disabilities need financial help to maximize their Medicare coverage. Programs that offer financial help are crucial to ensuring that some of the neediest New Yorkers get care. Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) can help Medicare beneficiaries with low incomes save thousands of dollars in health care costs each year, covering services that include outpatient care, preventive services, and provider visits. However, MSPs are consistently under-enrolled and underused.
A new NYSHealth-supported issue brief by Medicare Rights Center examines the difficulties in enrollment and offers recommendations for State and local agencies to increase access to MSPs in New York State. The brief outlines opportunities to improve the screening, enrollment, and recertification processes for individuals eligible for MSPs. . .