CHA Honors Bonnie Burns for Over 20 Years of Dedicated Work & Advocacy
Read moreCalifornia Health Advocates is deeply grateful for Bonnie Burns, our Training & Policy Specialist, and her many contributions to consumers state and nationwide. Among many things, her decades of advocacy efforts have ensured that older adults enjoy numerous consumer protections in long-term care insurance, and have brought about the standardization of Medicare supplemental insurance,...
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House of Representatives Holds First “Medicare-for-All” Hearing
Read moreLast week, Congress’ House of Representatives held the first ever “Medicare-for-All” hearing. Six hours of emotional testimony was given on the Medicare for All Act of 2019 (H.R. 1384), including testimony from Ady Barkan, a 35 year old single-payer activist with ALS with a courageous, challenging and touching story. This legislation, introduced by Democratic Reps....
Beware of Increasing Genetic Testing Scams
Read moreOur California Senior Medicare Patrol has seen an alarming increase in fraudulent billing where older adults are deceived into getting a cheek swab procedure done (aka genetic testing). The scammer claims that this procedure will test for cancer and/or other health conditions and that it is fully covered by Medicare or Medi-Cal. The...
Social Security is Here for the Long Haul ~ Don’t Believe the Myths
Read moreWith news headlines expounding on the doom of Social Security and Medicare, many people believe that Social Security will not be there when they retire. This is not true. Yes, Social Security has some financial challenges, as seen in the recent annual report from the Social Security Board of Trustees, but when the headlines...
Let’s Celebrate Older Americans Month in May ~ Connect, Create, Contribute
Read moreEach year, more and more older adults are making a positive impact throughout California. As volunteers, employees, employers, educators, mentors, advocates, activists, artists and more, they offer insight, wisdom and experience that benefit the entire community. That’s why Older Americans Month (OAM) each May has been recognizing the contributions of this growing population for...
Medicare Part B Fairness Act Would Relieve Part B Penalties
Read moreEarlier this year, Representatives Katie Hill (D-CA-25) and Brian Babin (R-TX-36) introduced the Medicare Part B Fairness Act (H.R. 1788). This bill would limit the amount and duration of the Medicare Part B late enrollment penalty and expand the Special Enrollment Period to people with other forms of pre-Medicare insurance (such as COBRA and...
Do You Work with Older Immigrants? Learn How They Can Qualify for Medicare
Read moreMedicare, the federal health care program for people 65 and older and those younger than 65 with a disability, can be confusing to navigate. This is true whether you’re an older adult, a son or daughter helping your parents or other loved ones with their Medicare coverage, or you’re an advocate working in the...
Feds Put an End to $1.2 Billion Medicare Brace Scam
Read moreIn one of the largest fraud take-downs yet, federal agents broke up a $1.2 billion Medicare brace scam earlier this month. Twelve people were charged. These 12 included doctors who wrote bogus prescriptions for hundreds of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries nationwide for unneeded orthopedic equipment, such as knee, shoulder, wrist and back braces. Charges...