Fact Sheets

This fact sheet and issue brief explore how federal programs support older Americans. The focus is on four main areas, including health programs, economic security, housing and food, and legal assistance. These publications help explain how various federal programs can ideally work together to allow older Americans to meet their basic needs and maintain a high quality of life.

These resources are intended to be used for education and outreach to raise awareness about the availability of Medicare benefits for low-income beneficiaries, namely the Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) and the Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS/Extra Help) program. These outreach materials include posters to educate Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities about the low-income subsidies.

This resource identifies key challenges related to oral health care access and utilization for low-income adults, and outlines states’ current coverage of dental benefits for adults in Medicaid.

This fact sheet from the AARP Public Policy Institute provides 10 key facts about the Medicare population. It includes information about age, health, coverage, financial resources, and more.

This fact sheet from Mathematica Policy Research summarizes findings from the Nutrition Services Program (NSP) outcomes evaluation. The fact sheet describes participants’ characteristics and their impressions of the program, and the program’s impact on food security, socialization, and and diet quality.

The Community Living Policy Center reviewed the effects of the Better care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) should it pass. Upon review, they conclude that had it been implemented in the mid-2000s then it would have reduced Federal reimbursments becuase of the proposed caps.

University Center for Children and Families (CCF) and the University of North Carolina NC Rural Health Research Program (NC RHRP) studies the effects of Medicaid on rural areas and small towns as opposed to dense metropolitan areas. Since the implementation of the ACA, those who are covered by insurance have noticeably increased the number of Americans who are insured.

The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) is the federal government’s primary way for producing affordable rental housing. LIHTC provides $8 billion in annual budget authority to state and local housing agencies to help produce new and rehabilitated rental housing for low-income households. The program has also generated over 3 million housing units since its inception.

Certification for Information & Referral (I&R) specialists recognizes the knowledge, skills and professionalism of I&R practitioners. In response to frequently asked questions regarding certification for I&R specialists who work in aging and disabilities, ADvancing States, the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS), and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) partnered to develop a fact sheet on the Certified Information and Referral Specialist-Aging/Disabilities (CIRS-A/D).

Justice in Aging published three new fact sheets in collaboration with SAGE, SHIP National Network, and ACL. The new fact sheets are designed to help LGBT consumers learn how recent changes in Medicare and Medicaid may affect them. The Supreme Court’s legalization of same sex marriage changed how both programs evaluate the eligibility of same sex spouses. Additionally, Medicare is covering Gender Reassignment Surgery and issued new rules that protect transgender older adults from discrimination.