In New York City, about 20% of older adults go to bed hungry. This food insecurity persists partly because federal law requires that eligible seniors receive 5 meals each week, not 7.

Until recently, older adults released from jail or prison were required to wait for the next enrollment period to apply for Medicare. Now, people leaving custody have a 12-month penalty-free enrollment period to sign up for Medicare.

As costs for home insurance, maintenance, and property taxes skyrocket, Social Security benefits remain largely stagnant. Now, older homeowners relying on Social Security, like 77-year-old retired nurse Peggy Locke, are struggling to keep the homes they've lived in for decades.

Three years after becoming the first in the nation to eliminate Medicaid asset tests, California is reinstating a $130,000 asset limit. Current Medi-Cal enrollees will be required to verify their assets when they renew coverage in 2026. Here’s what else advocates need to know:

TOMORROW: Get the latest on overpayment policies, in-kind support rules, and other important updates that will affect Americans on SSI. Register for our free webinar👇

New Medicaid work requirements, set to take effect at the end of 2026, introduce complex rules and paperwork that could cause millions of eligible Americans to lose their health care. Our new toolkit offers guidance to help states prevent wrongful Medicaid terminations:

170,000 Americans are at risk of losing their homes under a plan to cut the federal government’s largest homeless assistance program. 📢 Take action by reminding lawmakers that older adults in your community rely on these programs to keep a roof over their heads.

Are you concerned about how the latest Social Security and SSI policy changes could impact your clients? Attend our upcoming webinar to get clear guidance on new overpayment policies, in-kind support rules, and other important updates. Register 👇 to.justiceinaging.org/8jCO05x

The emotional and financial burdens of caregiving for aging Americans are increasingly falling on untrained family members. "In our fractured society, it is as close to a universal concern as you can find."

Medi-Cal enrollees will need to verify their assets at their first Medi-Cal renewal in 2026. Learn more about what to expect when the Medi-Cal asset limit returns next year:

Three years after becoming the first in the nation to eliminate Medicaid asset tests, California is reinstating a $130,000 asset limit for most Medi-Cal enrollees. Here’s what you need to know:

After decades of fighting for basic rights and surviving the HIV/AIDS epidemic, older LGBTQ+ Americans now face the double punch of ageism and a surge in anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination. @kevinprindiville.bsky.social and SAGE’s Lynn Faria explain what’s at stake—and why we can’t go back.

Alice Wong, an activist and author who championed the rights of people with disabilities, has died.

Imagine your patient shows up at her cardiologist in January only to learn her Medicare Advantage plan no longer covers that doctor. Plans change their provider networks every year, so it's essential to review your coverage during Medicare open enrollment, happening now through December 7.

Open enrollment season is here. Be sure to ask your low-income patients or clients whether they are paying a Part D premium. If they are or don’t know, urge them to review their options with a SHIP counselor.

If you work with Californians who are enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid, understanding Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) is essential. Watch our recent webinar to learn the ins and outs of enrollment, care management, how Medi-Medi plans work, and more.

Navigating the complex maze of paperwork and information during Medicare Open Enrollment can feel overwhelming. SHIP counselors offer free, unbiased insurance counseling that can help you or your clients make informed decisions about your health coverage.

"Seniors deserve to eat, to live and to age without fear of hunger. That’s not a privilege; it’s a promise this country once made to its people — a promise that must be kept."

Patricia is 93. Despite recent health problems—a leg infection, fractured back, and broken bones in her arms—she hunts for remote jobs every day from her home in Arkansas. Over 550,000 Americans work into their 80s and beyond, sometimes by choice, but more often because retirement is not an option.

Help your clients make the most of open enrollment by checking whether their current providers remain in-network. (To do so, it’s a good idea to contact the provider directly.) For Medicare Advantage enrollees, using an out-of-network provider could lead to denials or higher out-of-pocket costs.

"We are leveling this bureaucratic red tape on people, the vast majority of whom are already doing the things that we supposedly want them to do."

Medicare open enrollment is particularly important for people enrolled in Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans. These plans often adjust their out-of-pocket costs, provider networks, and covered medications each year.

Over 500,000 Californians are enrolled in Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs), a type of health plan that coordinates benefits for people who are enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid. Join us at our next webinar for a comprehensive overview of these rapidly growing plans.

Public housing authorities (PHAs) can open more doors to formerly incarcerated older adults by narrowing criminal background checks to convictions that impact the safety of other residents.

📢 We're seeking applicants for our 2026 summer fellowships! The positions are full-time, remote, and paid. Applications will be accepted through Friday, 11/14, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Open enrollment season is here. Be sure to ask your low-income patients or clients whether they are paying a Part D premium. If they are or don’t know, urge them to review their options with a SHIP counselor.

Finding an affordable apartment is hard. Finding one at age 80 is even harder. Rent-controlled units often sit in dated or poorly maintained buildings, and for older adults, leaks or steep stairs aren't just inconvenient—they're dangerous.

“It’s dual-pronged. Not only are you contributing to increased homelessness, but you’re also preventing individuals from being able to escape poverty by maintaining that critical asset,” Diamond said. “You’re also punishing people for being poor.”

Finding an affordable apartment is hard. Finding one at age 80 is even harder. Rent-controlled units often sit in dated or poorly maintained buildings, and for older adults, leaks or steep stairs aren't just inconvenient—they're dangerous.

States can target grieving families to repay thousands for Medicaid-covered long-term care. In some cases, these so-called "Medicaid estate recovery" programs even seize the family home—often the only asset left. A devastating read about a little-known practice:

When older adults lose access to Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security, there's no backup plan. As @kevinprindiville.bsky.social puts it, "There's no safety net for the safety net."

Dental coverage plays the biggest role in determining whether older adults in long-term care can get the oral health care they need—but it isn’t the only factor. Oversight of nursing facilities, expanded teledentistry, and medical‑dental integration can also help close the oral health equity gap.

Open enrollment is a great time to help your clients review their Medicare plans and uncover potential savings. Programs like "Extra Help," which lowers prescription drug costs, and the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program, which covers premiums and out-of-pocket costs, are often underused.

On Tuesday, 10/28, join Justice in Aging for a webinar on how advocates can leverage the Older Americans Act, Social Security, Medicaid, Indian Health Services, and other programs to support tribal elders as they age.

Because traditional Medicare excludes most dental services, oral health coverage is out of reach for millions of older adults. In nursing homes, disparities are even starker: 27% of residents have lost all of their teeth—more than twice the rate of older adults living in the community.

Medicaid estate recovery turns a health care safety net into a ticking time bomb of crushing debt. No other health or public benefits program requires benefits to be repaid.

At 70, Walter Carpenter works two jobs. Half of his earnings goes to rent. Social Security helps cover only the basics. For millions like Walter, the impossible math of rising rents and fixed incomes means retirement is not an option. "You just wonder how long you're going to last."

In many tribal communities, older adults serve as vital cultural stewards and community leaders. Culturally responsive home- and community-based care solutions can both help tribal elders receive necessary care within their communities and strengthen tribal sovereignty.

This week a Medicare beneficiary won a retrospective change of status appeal that granted him coverage of costly hospital services. The appeal was made possible by the Center for Medicare Advocacy’s class action case, litigated with amazing co-counsel @justiceinaging.org & @wilsonsonsini.bsky.social

Older renters in California are facing an unprecedented housing crisis marked by soaring rents and scarce affordable housing. Join us on Wednesday, 10/15, for a timely webinar about how the California Tenant Protection Act can help prevent homelessness and promote housing stability. Register 👇

Navigating Medicare can be challenging for older immigrants who often face barriers due to limited work history, citizenship status, or language. Next year, changes implemented through Trump's megabill will further complicate access and eliminate eligibility for some lawfully present immigrants.

New Census data reveals rising poverty among older adults—over 9 million seniors (15%) live in poverty, with rates higher in communities of color. These aren’t just stats; they’re our parents, grandparents, neighbors, and keepers of our culture, all deserving to age with dignity.

Trump's megabill cuts retroactive Medicaid coverage from three to two months for most enrollees, increasing the likelihood that Americans facing health crises will have difficulty accessing care and end up with overwhelming medical debt.

Public housing authorities can help break the vicious cycle of incarceration and homelessness by building housing policies that are rooted in fairness and equity.

We filed a FOIA request along with @justiceinaging.org, @nilc.org, and @rcusa.bsky.social seeking transparency as the “Big Beautiful Bill” strips thousands of lawfully present immigrants of Medicare, regardless of how long they worked and paid Medicare taxes.

State and local public housing authorities, which manage two of the nation’s largest federal rental assistance programs, can play a crucial role in expanding housing access for formerly incarcerated older adults.

When a Medicaid enrollee who received long-term care dies, states attempt to collect the costs of care from the enrollee's remaining property or savings. Here's how advocates can explain why this policy is harmful:

Join us on Tuesday, 9/16, for a deep dive into recent federal and state policy changes that will impact older Californians' access to Medi-Cal, Medicare, and other vital health care programs. Register: to.justiceinaging.org/K9rgqgC

At this week's @waysmeanscmte.bsky.social hearing, witness Tracey Gronniger of @justiceinaging.org described the effects of Trump's drastic clawback policy- which can withhold up to HALF of one's monthly Social Security payments.

Medi-Cal offers services such as housing navigation and financial assistance to help address the alarming rise in older adult homelessness in California. These "community supports" are a lifeline—but only if older adults have access to them. This is precisely where advocates can make a difference.