NAELA Celebrates 48th Anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid
Washington, DC (PRWEB) July 25, 2013 -- When President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Medicare and Medicaid into law on July 30, 1965, he stated, “No longer will older Americans be denied the healing miracle of modern medicine. No longer will illness crush and destroy the savings they have so carefully put away over a lifetime so they might enjoy dignity in their later years. No longer will young families see their own incomes, and their own hopes, eaten away simply because they are carrying out their deep moral obligations.” As a result of these two programs, millions of Americans have been able to gain access to the basic health coverage and advanced technologies needed to live longer and healthier lives.
Before Medicare, seniors were disproportionately poor compared with the rest of the population. In 1959, for example, 35.2 percent of Americans over 65 were living below the poverty line, compared with 17 percent of those under 65. Today, about 10 percent of seniors are living in poverty. Before Medicare was enacted, the elderly paid 53 percent of the cost of their health care. That share dropped to 29 percent in 1975 and to 18 percent in 1997. The elderly’s health costs consumed 24 percent of the average Social Security check shortly before Medicare; by 1975, that share dropped to 17 percent. (Source: Gornick, M. Ten years of Medicare: Impact on the covered population. Social Security Bulletin. July, 1976. Social Security Administration. U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare.)
“NAELA member attorneys continue to advocate for these important programs to help the populations we serve: vulnerable seniors and people with special needs. Oftentimes, it can be difficult to understand the paperwork and processes involved in accessing these benefits. NAELA members are well-equipped with the knowledge to effectively navigate these systems and help protect our clients’ financial health as well as access the services they deserve,” said NAELA President Howard S. Krooks, CELA, CAP.
NAELA helped form a coalition group to advocate for the Improving Medicare Coverage Act of 2013 (H.R. 1179 and S. 569) to correct the current use of observation status, a growing problem impacting Medicare beneficiaries and NAELA members’ clients. Under Medicare law, patients must have an inpatient hospital stay of three or more days in order to receive Medicare coverage for post-acute care in a skilled nursing facility. However, patients are oftentimes classified as outpatients despite the fact that they may stay for many nights in hospital beds and receive medical and nursing care, treatments, medications, and food, just as they would if they were inpatients. Hospital stays classified as "observation" are not considered qualifying hospital stays for Medicare-covered care in a skilled nursing facility. As a result, these seniors are forced to pay out-of-pocket for these expensive services. Learn more about NAELA’s advocacy efforts to improve the lives of NAELA members’ clients.
To receive a free NAELA brochure: “Questions and Answers When Looking for an Elder or Special Needs Law Attorney,” contact Communications Associate Abby Matienzo by email [amatienzo(at)naela(dot)org] or phone at 703-942-5711 #230.
Find an Elder and Special Needs Law attorney in your area using NAELA’s Member Directory.
About NAELA
Members of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) are attorneys who are experienced and trained in working with the legal problems of aging Americans and individuals of all ages with disabilities. Established in 1987, NAELA is a non-profit association that assists lawyers, bar organizations and others. The mission of NAELA is to establish NAELA members as the premier providers of legal advocacy, guidance and services to enhance the lives of people with special needs and people as they age. NAELA currently has members across the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit NAELA.org.
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Abby Matienzo, Communications Associate, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, http://www.naela.org, (703) 942-5711 #230, [email protected]
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