Elder Index

Where the government draws the line for Medicaid coverage leaves out many older Americans who may need help paying for medical and long-term care bills – new research

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, July 26, 2023

The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.The big ideaBased on a study we conducted, we determined that if strict eligibility rules for Medicaid were changed to help cover such people, from 700,000 to 11.5 million people over 65 would be newly eligible for the program.

Key Points: 


The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.

The big idea

    • Based on a study we conducted, we determined that if strict eligibility rules for Medicaid were changed to help cover such people, from 700,000 to 11.5 million people over 65 would be newly eligible for the program.
    • Depending on which rules were changed, we would expect to see one of the following scenarios:


    Unless the government adopted the Elder Index approach, most of the additional enrollees in these scenarios would have poor health and few financial assets.

Why it matters

    • Low-income adults who are excluded from Medicaid under existing criteria also face high health care costs that contribute to their financial insecurity.
    • Researchers found that 1 in 5 Americans over 65 skipped, delayed or used less medical care or drugs because of financial constraints.
    • Increasing the number of low-income older people with both Medicaid and Medicare coverage would reduce their out-of-pocket health spending.

What still isn’t known

    • Increasing the number of older people with Medicaid coverage would require more government funding, although the degree of extra spending would depend on which rules the government would change.
    • Accurately estimating these costs and the potential benefits for families and communities that would come from these changes would require additional research.

What you need to know about Social Security’s 2023 Cost-of-Living Adjustment

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 13, 2022

The adjustments will be made effective for Social Security beneficiaries in January 2023 benefit payments.

Key Points: 
  • The adjustments will be made effective for Social Security beneficiaries in January 2023 benefit payments.
  • The 2023 COLA represents a catch-up measure to help compensate beneficiaries for high levels of inflation that they have already experienced.
  • Social Securitys annual COLA is intended to protect the purchasing power of benefits against erosion by price inflation.
  • For more information on Social Securitys cost-of-living adjustment, please contact William Arnone, CEO, at [email protected] .

Statement: Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment Not Enough to Cover True Cost of Aging

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 13, 2022

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a statement from Ramsey Alwin, President and CEO of the National Council on Aging (NCOA), on today's announcement of the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2023:

Key Points: 
  • Many of them had low wages throughout their working lives, which means they have lower Social Security benefits.
  • The average Social Security retirement benefit in January 2022 was about $1,600, but many are lucky if they have even that.
  • One in four of those receiving Social Security depend on it for 90% of their income.
  • We need to make Social Security more responsive to the needs and circumstances of women by eliminating remaining gender inequities.

Half of Single Older Adults in U.S. Lack Income to Pay for Basic Needs

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Among the states, Massachusetts leads the nation with the highest level of economic insecurity for older adults living alone.

Key Points: 
  • Among the states, Massachusetts leads the nation with the highest level of economic insecurity for older adults living alone.
  • On average across the country, 18.2 percent of older adults living alone have income below the Federal Poverty Level.
  • * At least 40 percent of elder adults in every state are at-risk of being unable to afford basic needs and age in their own homes.
  • * More than half of older adults living below the Elder Index rely on Social Security for at least 90 percent of their incomes.