From our colleagues at Justice In Aging:
The Medicare State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free local, in-depth, unbiased insurance counseling and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers in every state. SHIPs help millions of seniors navigate their coverage options, fraud and abuse issues, billing problems, appeals, and enrollment in low-income programs.
Right now, Congress is working to finalize the FY18 funding package, including funding for SHIPs. While the Senate appropriations committee has proposed level funding for this year (FY18), the President and the House have both called for eliminating the program entirely.
Your Senators and Representative need to hear from you TODAY about how important this program is to older adults in your community.
Call 202-224-3121 to tell your Senators and your Representative to protect and fully fund SHIPs for FY18. You can use NCOA’s toolkit to send them an email too.
And while you have them on the phone, urge your Members of Congress to include these two bills that would improve access to health care for older adults and people with disabilities in the FY18 Omnibus Spending Bill:
- The bi-partisan EMPOWER Care Act (S.2227, H.R. 5306) would extend the Medicaid Money Follows the Person Program and help seniors and people with disabilities transition from institutions back to their communities.
- The bi-partisan BENES Act (S.1909, H.R.2575) would simplify and improve the Medicare Part B enrollment process.
