Throughout the year, Medicare eligible individuals are bombarded with TV, print, and internet advertisements about extra benefits they can receive by joining plans. Yet, while “Medicare Advantage Plans and Supplemental Benefits: Bridging the Data Gap for Equitable Access”
One might think dual enrollment in Medicare and Medi-Cal should provide relief from health coverage worries, but many of the 1.4 million Californians with low “Californians with Low Incomes Struggle to Navigate Both Medi-Cal and Medicare”
Maggie, a low-income older adult living in Los Angeles, had been experiencing a lot of tooth pain for the last couple of years. She had “Pull All Your Teeth or Go Into Debt: The Dismal Dental Choices Facing Older Adults”
Maddie suffers from Crohn’s Disease, an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract leading to significant weight loss, fatigue, and pain.[1] Recently, Maddie’s “Dental Coverage for Older Adults Should be Coordinated and Evidence-Based”
There are currently 7.6 million older adults living in California who rely on Medicare, Medi-Cal, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to see a doctor, “Repeal of the ACA—Without a Replacement—Threatens California Seniors”
Linda—a low-income older adult living in Los Angeles County—applied for a dental credit card after being advised to do so by her dentist. Her dentist’s “Systemic Denti-Cal Problems Increase Financial Hardship for Older Adults”
Evaluation and enrollment data on the Cal MediConnect program reveals that the program has a long way to go to deliver on the promise of “Cal MediConnect: A Long Way to Go”
Justice in Aging is excited to launch a new project: Improving Oral Health of California’s Older Adults. Oral health is a critical aspect of overall “Improving the Oral Health of California’s Older Adults”
“It is imperative we separate the insidiousness of economic inequality from the value and purposefulness of those living in poverty.” Paul Downey, Chair California Commission “Aging, Women and Poverty in California: A forum to discuss the needs of older Californians”
Nationally, twenty-three percent of low-income older adults currently face food insecurity – meaning they lack consistent access to adequate food. This figure is expected to double over the next decade as the number of seniors living in poverty continues to increase. In Los Angeles County, there are over 300,000 low-income seniors who cannot make ends meet. Yet, only a fraction of this population – approximately nineteen percent – receive free food or assistance through existing meal programs.
The opportunity to live with dignity, regardless of financial circumstances—free from the worry, harm, and injustice caused by lack of health care, food, or a safe place to sleep. By using the power of law to strengthen the social safety net, and remove the barriers low-income seniors face in trying to access the services they need, we work to ensure the future we all envision for our loved ones and ourselves.
© 2023 JUSTICE IN AGING
