End of Medi-Cal’s “Senior Penalty” Gets Delayed Until Dec 1, 2020
Read moreLast summer we announced the good news that the Governor signed AB 715 into law, effectively ending the “senior penalty” by raising the income limit for Medi-Cal’s Aged & Disabled program from 123% to 138% of the federal poverty level. This change would allow another close to 30,000 older Californians to receive full Medi-Cal. The...
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New Resource Helps Ensure Californians Released from Prison Get Their Medicare & Medi-Cal
Read moreDue to the COVID-19 pandemic, state prisons are releasing some inmates early. Securing health care is one of the many challenges former inmates face when re-establishing their lives in their communities. For this reason, our partners at Justice in Aging created a new guide for advocates to help formerly incarcerated people who are 65...
Your Medi-Cal Should NOT Be Terminated If You Received the $600/Week via the CARES Act
Read moreSeveral people have contacted us who have had their Medi-Cal coverage erroneously terminated because of receiving the emergency economic assistance of $600/week via the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This is a mistake. The extra $600/week assistance is NOT to be counted as income and should not cause someone to...
You Can Now Sign Up for Medicare Part B Online, by Fax or Mail
Read moreEarlier this spring during the COVID-19 pandemic, we highlighted the need for a change in Medicare’s enrollment process. Many working older adults who had delayed their enrollment in Medicare Part B were either loosing or quitting their jobs to stay safe during the pandemic. Yet, with most Social Security offices closed due to COVID-19,...
Fraud Lawsuit Results in Mandated HUMIRA Marketing Reforms & $24 Million Payment by Drugmaker AbbVie
Read moreBelow is a press release from the California Department of Insurance detailing their lawsuit against drugmaker AbbVie and their fraudulent marketing practices of the blockbuster drug, HUMIRA. It also reports on the mandated marketing reforms and a $24 million payment to CDI and the whistleblower from AbbVie. California Department of Insurance fraud lawsuit results...
HEALS Act Would Hurt Rather than Help Older Adults
Read moreCalifornia Health Advocates opposes the Senate’s proposed $1 trillion Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection, and Schools (HEALS) Act. This long overdue 4th COVID-19 response package, which was introduced by Senate Republican leadership earlier this week, does not address the needs of our country’s older adults, people with disabilities and those with low-income struggling to...
Looking for Creative Ways to Honor Your Volunteers During COVID-19?
Read moreDo you work with volunteers? If so, are you looking for creative ways to recognize and honor your volunteers during COVID-19? Our partners at Kings/Tulare HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program) have an inspiring example to share. Plus just looking at these photos below spreads smiles and good cheer! Enjoy!
CHA Comments on Reduced Benefit Options for LTC Insurance Rate Increases
Read moreBonnie Burns of California Health Advocates submitted this letter to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Chair and their Long Term Care Insurance Task Force. Burns comments on the critical importance of policyholders knowing and understanding their rights and reduced benefit options when facing rate increases to their long term care insurance policies....
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Medicare Updates for 2021
October 8, 2020 » 2 - 4 p.m. PDT » Fee: $45