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Insights for Advocates

Medicare Outreach, Senior Centers, and Other Core Services Face Uncertain Futures

It might be hard to think about anything beyond Election Day. But after the election and before New Year's Eve, the current Congress must deal with urgent questions about funding the government.
Aging services for millions of people hang in the balance.

The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA)

Nobody should go without medical care because of costs. Since 2008, MIPPA has funded efforts to find and enroll low-income Medicare beneficiaries into programs that can help. The Medicare Savings Program and the Medicare Part D Extra Help/Low-Income Subsidy strengthen people's budgets by reducing the costs of prescriptions and doctor visits.

As with so many benefits, however, millions of people who are eligible for these programs don't even know they exist. Take a look at the map below, created with our Benefits Participation Map [[link removed]]. It shows how many eligible older adults in each state participate in the Medicare Savings Program. The darker the color, the higher the participation rate.

[Image of Benefits Participation Map showing the Medicare Savings Program data layer over the lower 48 states]

Even in California, where 65% of eligible people get help affording their out-of-pocket costs, more than 484,000 who are eligible are not enrolled. Meanwhile, North Dakota has a mere 20.6% of eligible participants getting help.

With so many Medicare enrollees living on a fixed income— and so many older adults struggling to make ends meet [[link removed]]—we believe Congress has an obligation to strengthen programs that connect people to these benefits. It's time to make funding for MIPPA permanent.
Funding for MIPPA expires on Dec. 31 and it's unclear if the bipartisanship it enjoyed in the past will be enough to save it.

Aging Services Appropriations and the Older Americans Act

Appropriations is just a fancy word for funding, and it's a separate process from whether Congress stops or continues a program.

The Older Americans Act (OAA) is in need of both reauthorization and more funding, but Congress will probably only address the funding question during the end-of-year session.
Community-based organizations like senior centers depend heavily on OAA funding to provide core services to older adults, including:
- Home meal and grocery deliveries
- Health education programs
- Job and skills training for older workers
- Caregiver support
- Transportation assistance
- Benefits outreach and enrollment

Older adults in communities across the country rely on these services every day to maintain their health and independence. And the need is growing. Congress must ensure that funding for OAA programs keeps up with demand.

The Bottom Line

If this sounds like a lot to address in the weeks between Election Day and New Year's Eve, you're right.

To cut through the noise, we're planning a full-court press in November and December to make sure every member of Congress understands how these vital programs improve the lives of their constituents. Please stand with us to advocate for MIPPA and the OAA when the time comes!

Cheers,
The NCOA Public Policy & Advocacy Team

Final Thoughts

Read Michele Tedder's story
We've talked a lot about the ways the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act would help older adults manage their health. Now read what a change to obesity care would mean for someone who has navigated the issue for years.
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We've been a national, nonprofit voice for older adults since 1950. We helped end mandatory retirement. We advocated to secure Medicare, Medicaid, and the Older Americans Act. Last year, we improved the health and security of 2.9 million Americans. Amplify your voice and help us change more lives in 2025 with a donation today!
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