Hundreds outside Young Kim Office for Hands Off Medi-Cal Rally
On Tuesday, over 200 healthcare workers, seniors, LTSS providers, and recipients rallied outside Young Kim's office in Anaheim. CARA Action Team members from Orange County, Inland Empire, and San Gabriel Valley came out to say Hands-off Medi-Cal! Read more from the LA Times.
Jim Gallagher from our Inland Empire CAT spoke at the rally, stating that he is a constituent of Kim's and does not want these cuts. He receives care for macular degeneration that would cost thousands if it wasn't for Medicare. He goes on to say that many Medicare recipients are dually enrolled and could not afford treatments like his if these cuts were to happen.
While Medicare gets much attention when advocating for retirees and seniors, Medi-Cal is the unsung hero for many Medi-care recipients. Cuts to the Medi-Cal Budget could increase premiums and cause nursing facility residents to lose coverage. A cut to Medicaid is a cut to Medicare.
Justice in Aging released a fact sheet stating the intersection of these programs.
" Medicaid saves Medicare dollars. By filling in gaps in coverage and affordability, Medicaid prevents hospitalizations and poor health outcomes for Medicare enrollees. Medicaid also helps those before Medicare age obtain the care they need, preventing worse health outcomes and higher costs when they enter Medicare.
Medicaid is the primary payer of nursing facility care for Medicare enrollees. While Medicare covers short-term skilled nursing facility stays following a hospitalization, Medicaid covers the majority of long-term stays. More than 6 in 10 nursing facility residents rely on Medicaid, including those with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Medicaid provides Medicare premium assistance. Medicaid covers premiums for 1 in 6 Medicare enrollees. This relief from the $185 Medicare Part B monthly premium helps over 10 million seniors and people with disabilities by increasing their income by 10-20%.
Medicaid covers out-of-pocket costs. Medicaid covers Medicare’s co-insurance, co-pays, and deductibles, ensuring that 8 million Medicare enrollees living on incomes near or below the poverty line can access needed care and have money for other basic needs.
