New Bill Would Double Personal Needs Allowance for Medi-Cal Beneficiaries Living in a Nursing Home
Read moreLast week, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) introduced the Personal Needs Allowance (PNA) Modernization Act (H.R. 3853) which would double the PNA for Medi-Cal beneficiaries living in a nursing facility and allow them to better meet their basic personal care needs. This is long overdue, as the minimum federal PNA has stayed the same since 1988 ($30...
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Need a New Social Security Card? You Can Do It Online
Read moreDid you know that now in 40 states across the county, including California, you can request a new Social Security card online? This is a fast, secure and convenient service currently available to 86% of the population. Over 2 million people have already used this online service. In California, if you own a...
Adding Long Term Care Services to Medigaps Isn’t a Good Option & Here’s Why
Read moreBelow is California Health Advocate’s comment letter to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) about Medigap and long term care services and supports (LTSS). It is in response to Chairman Neal’s of the House Ways and Means Committee inquiry about the possibility of including these benefits in Medigap policies. While we share Chairman...
New Fraud Alert Targets Fraudulent Hospice Enrollments
Read moreFraudulent hospice enrollments are on the rise and are dangerous. Not only do they rob Medicare and taxpayers of millions of dollars each year, they can also have serious consequences on beneficiaries. Some of these consequences include: losing access to one’s medications, doctors and/or treatments, and experiencing a significant decline in health or even...
Final CA Budget Brings Much Good News for Seniors, Including the End of Senior Penalty
Read moreThe California Legislature and Governor Newsom have finalized the 2019-2020 budget and in it is much good news for our state’s older adults. One of the top wins is the end of the senior penalty in the Medi-Cal program; other wins include the expansion of many key programs serving and supporting older adults. This...
House Advances the BENES Act Along with Other Medicare Improvements
Read moreIn late June, the House Ways & Means Committee advanced the Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification (BENES) Act along with several other bills for Medicare improvements. The BENES Act is now part of a much larger bipartisan package of bills referred to as the Beneficiary Education Tools, Telehealth, and Extenders Reauthorization (BETTER) Act of...
Interested in Working with HICAP? HICAP Volunteer Coordinator Position is Open in Alameda County
Read moreInterested in fulfilling work, working with dedicated and passionate staff and volunteers helping people understand and navigate Medicare? If so, this Volunteer Coordinator position at the Alameda County Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) may be the perfect fit for you. See the job description and application details for more information.
#ProtectTransHealth ~ Comment Today
Read moreCHA’s mission is to support Medicare access based on eligibility, and not to exclude services based on gender identity or sexual orientation. Below is a re-posting of a call-to-action regarding transgender health care rights from our partners, Justice in Aging… Everyone should have the right to be treated with respect by their doctors and receive the...