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Medicaid Provides Critical Health Care Coverage to Family Caregivers

Nearly one in 10 family caregivers rely on Medicaid for their own health insurance, making it a critical component to meeting the needs of older adults. A new AARP Public Policy Institute report details the vital role that Medicaid plays in supporting family caregivers and explains how the loss of coverage would result in serious implications for caregiver and care recipient. It would also likely lead to higher costs to both Medicare and Medicaid.

Older Workers and the Earned Income Tax Credit’s Age Cap: Excluded Taxpayer Estimates by State

With the workforce aging and more people working past the traditional retirement age, the age cap on eligibility to receive the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) denies an ever-increasing number of workers access to an important antipoverty measure. Currently most workers over age 64 are excluded from the EITC simply based on their age. This leaves an estimated 1.3 million low- and middle-income American workers without the benefit, which supplements income for those who qualify. An AARP Public Policy Institute report examines the impact, breaking down the numbers by state.

Higher Payments to Medicare Advantage Plans Remain a Significant Concern

Medicare Advantage (MA) now covers more than half of all people with Medicare, with enrollment growth expected to continue. That transformational trend of the last several years comes as the Medicare program now pays 20 percent more per enrollee in a private MA plan than it would if that same individual was instead covered under the federally run traditional Medicare option, according to a recent report. Excessive payments to MA plans raise significant concerns, underscoring the need to better align payments between the two Medicare options.

Complete Streets and Walkability Boost Older Pedestrian Safety

Walkable communities are a key component to older adults and all community members staying physically active and safe. “Complete Streets” policies — encompassing transportation design that accommodates walking, bicycling, driving, and transit for users of all ages — can lower traffic-fatality rates and help enable people to age in place.

Older Adults Are Taking to Online Pharmacy and Prescription Drug Discount Programs

A small but growing number of older adults are filling their prescription drugs online in search of cost savings and convenience, according to a new AARP survey. Most are turning to either prescription drug discount programs or online pharmacies. Use of both is expected to grow, with more than half of older adults likely to use one or both services in the future.

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