Governor Whitmer Header [ [link removed] ]

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE?*?

October 17, 2022??

Contact: [email protected]??

?

*Governor Whitmer Applauds Action to Put More Money in Seniors' Pockets, Lower Costs on Health Care and Prescription Drugs*?

?

*LANSING, Mich. -* Today, Governor Whitmer reminded Michigan seniors about resources available to them to help save money. Since Governor Whitmer took office, she?s achieved her goal [ [link removed]. ] to become the first ?age-friendly state? in the Midwest by proposing bold initiatives to lower costs for seniors including a roll back of the retirement tax, expanding access to healthcare, lowering the cost of prescription drugs including insulin, and more. Changes from the federal government are also building on Governor Whitmer?s work to put more money back in Michigan seniors? pockets.??

?

?We must do more to help older Michiganders retire with dignity ? right now stressors are forcing them to make impossible choices between medication, food, rent, and other bills,? said *Governor Whitmer*. ?I am committed to ensuring more seniors can access affordable healthcare, drive down the cost of prescription drugs, and cut taxes for seniors so they can retire with their hard-earned money. I will work with anyone to continue our work supporting Michigan seniors.??

?

*Social Security Cost-Of-Living Adjustments*?

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits [ [link removed] ] for approximately 70 million Americans will increase 8.7 percent in 2023, the Social Security Administration announced. On average, Social Security benefits will increase by more than $140 per month starting in January.?

?

*Hearing Aids?*?

In August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) [ [link removed] ] approved the sale of over-the-counter hearing aids, which becomes effective today. Residents can access more affordable options for hearing aids over the counter, saving Michiganders up to $3,000.?

?

*Retirement Tax?*?

Governor Whitmer has proposed [ [link removed] ] an elimination of the retirement tax [ [link removed] ] to save half a million households an average of $1,000 a year. Under the previous administration, the legislature and Gov. Rick Snyder imposed a retirement tax on Michigan residents.??

?

*Expanding access to healthcare and lowering the cost of prescription drugs*?

Under Governor Whitmer?s leadership, nearly 900,000 people are covered by Healthy Michigan [ [link removed] ], and the governor expanded dental care [ [link removed] ] for Michiganders covered by Medicaid or Healthy Michigan plans. The governor also expanded access to telemedicine [ [link removed] ] and signed bipartisan legislation requiring all insurers to cover telehealth [ [link removed] ]. Governor Whitmer also created and consistently [ [link removed] ] supported funding for a dementia care unit [ [link removed] ] with DHHS to reduce the burden of dementia in the state.??

?

Governor Whitmer will work with anyone to get things done for Michigan, and that?s why she worked with the legislature and signed bipartisan legislation to protect Michiganders against surprise medical billing, [ [link removed] ] to lower the cost of prescription drugs [ [link removed] ] and increase pharmacy oversight based on recommendations from the Prescription Drug Task Force [ [link removed] ].?

?

*Insulin?*?

Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive directive [ [link removed] ] to determine how the State of Michigan can lower the cost of insulin, including by developing its own manufacturing capabilities. Michigan is home to over 912,000 Michiganders with diabetes, and far too many are forced to ration or forgo insulin.??

?

The recently signed Inflation Reduction Act will lower the cost of energy, health care, and prescription drugs for Michiganders. Specifically, the law includes a $35 a month cap on insulin for Medicare recipients. According to the most recent data, 122,000 Michiganders [ [link removed] ] on Medicare used insulin, and the Inflation Reduction Act caps their insulin costs at $35 a month.?

?

*Making Michigan an Age-Friendly State*?

Under Governor Whitmer?s leadership, Michigan became the first ?Age-Friendly State [ [link removed]. ]? in the Midwest to ensure Michigan prepares for dramatic and imminent demographic changes and that communities can take steps to accommodate all ages, including making Michigan the most affordable state to retire [ [link removed] ] in 2022. The governor has consistently invested in programs supporting older Michiganders [ [link removed] ] including increasing nursing home support payments; expanding services to age in place, senior home care, and access to senior centers; improving preventative services, transportation options, health screenings and services, and meal delivery; reducing hospital readmission; combatting elder abuse, and more [ [link removed] ].?

?

###?

STAY CONNECTED: Visit us on Facebook [ [link removed] ] Visit us on Twitter [ [link removed] ] [ [link removed] ]Sign up for email updates [ [link removed] ] [ [link removed] ] ?

Subscriber Services::
Manage Preferences [ [link removed] ]??|??Unsubscribe [ [link removed] ]??|??Help [ [link removed] ]

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Bookmark and Share [ [link removed] ]?



________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Michigan Executive Office of the Governor ? 111 S. Capitol Ave ? Lansing, Michigan 48901 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]