Medicare Rights Center
Medicare Rights Center
Grant Status
In Progress
Project Title
Saving State Dollars by Expanding Enrollment in Medicare Savings Programs: Phase 2
Award Amount
$84,841
Location
New York, NY
Web Site
Date Awarded
October 22, 2009
Established in 1989, the Medicare Rights Center (MRC) is a national, nonprofit consumer service organization that works to ensure access to affordable health care for older adults and people with disabilities through counseling, educational programs, and public policy initiatives. MRC offers direct assistance to low-income seniors through its Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Project. Phase 1 of this project resulted in the enrollment of 3,000 low-income seniors in Medicare Savings Programs (MSP). These seniors are enjoying approximately $10 million in savings in the first year, while the New York State government is saving approximately $3 million.
Approximately 350,000 New York State seniors are enrolled in both the federally financed Medicare Part D and New York State’s Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) programs. Medicare Part D provides prescription drug coverage for these seniors, and EPIC provides “wraparound” coverage for prescription drug benefits not covered by Part D.
In Phase 2, MRC and BDT aim to a) reach the remaining 7,000 (of the 20,000) seniors believed to be eligible for MSP benefits and finish 500 pending cases from Phase 1; b) ensure that seniors connected with these important benefits maintain them; and c) sustain this successful model over the long term with the commitment of EPIC funding. MRC predicts these efforts will connect another 1,650 low-income New York seniors with benefits to which they are entitled, saving a combined $10.7 million for participating seniors and the State.