Medicare Open Enrollment in Full Swing

Now is the time for Medicare beneficiaries to review and make changes to their coverage options. Between October 15th and December 7th, beneficiaries can switch between Original Medicare and a Medicare Advantage Plan, change to another Medicare Advantage Plan, or join or change Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans. Changes can be made throughout the entire Medicare Open Enrollment period and will take effect on January 1, 2024. Local assistance is available to help navigate Medicare Open Enrollment, which can be confusing. The Maryland State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)​ offers free, confidential, and unbiased counseling in all 23 counties and Baltimore City. For more information on Open Enrollment or to find a SHIP counselor, go to https://aging.maryland.gov/Pages/MedicareOpenEnrollment.aspx.

Medicare 2024 Deductibles & Premiums

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released 2024 premium, deductible, and coinsurance amounts for Medicare Parts A and B, and the 2024 Medicare Part D income-related monthly adjustment amounts.

Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, hospice, inpatient rehabilitation, and some home health care services. However, about 99 percent of Medicare beneficiaries do not have a Part A premium since they have at least 40 quarters of Medicare-covered employment, as determined by the Social Security Administration.

Medicare Part B covers physicians’ services, outpatient hospital services, certain home health services, durable medical equipment, and other medical and health services not covered by Medicare Part A. The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees will be $174.70 for 2024, an increase of $9.80 from $164.90 in 2023. The annual deductible for all Medicare Part B beneficiaries will be $240 in 2024, an increase of $14 from the annual deductible of $226 in 2023.

A beneficiary’s Part D monthly premium adjustment is based on his or her income and affects roughly 8 percent of people with Medicare Part D. These individuals will pay the income-related monthly adjustment amount in addition to their Part D premium. 

Click here for a complete list of Medicare monthly adjustments, including Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts (IRMAA) for 2024.

National Family Caregivers Month

Celebrated every November, National Family Caregivers Month is a time to recognize and honor family caregivers, including spouses, adult children, relatives, and friends, who provide invaluable support to older adults and people with disabilities.

More than 53 million family caregivers provide unpaid care across the country. AARP estimates that in 2021, family caregivers provided 36 billion hours of care valued at $600 billion, up from 34 billion hours of care valued at $470 billion just two years before. At the same time, at least 2.7 million grandparents—and an unknown number of other relative caregivers—carry the primary responsibility for caring for grandchildren whose parents are unable to do so. 

"We recognize the need for a robust, coordinated approach to supporting family and kinship caregivers," said Maryland Department of Aging Secretary Carmel Roques. "As the youngest Baby Boomers turn 65 in 2029 and lifespans continue to climb into the 80s and beyond, the demand for at-home care is going to soar."

Maryland Family Caregiver Support Program

In an effort to help family and informal caregivers care for loved ones at home for as long as possible, the Maryland Department of Aging administers the Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP) through the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) network. AAAs provide FCSP services including counseling, case management, training, support group resources, information and referral, and respite care. To learn more about the program, funded by the  Administration for Community Living, or find events taking place in your county celebrating family caregivers, go to aging.maryland.gov. To find out what local resources are available in your area, contact Maryland Access Point at 1-844-627-5465 or go to www.marylandaccesspoint.info.

VA Caregiver Support Program

The Veterans Administration Caregiver Support Program (CSP) has launched new legal and financial planning support services, as well as a new web-based educational tool, to provide comprehensive support to Veterans and promote the health and well-being of Veteran caregivers

Eligible participants, including primary family caregivers who support Veterans, can access licensed attorneys and certified financial counselors who can provide expert-led consultative financial planning and legal services relating to the needs of injured Veterans and their caregivers. In addition, these primary caregivers can access essential financial and legal resources at the VA Caregiver Support: Providing Legal and Financial Services to Veteran Caregiver website.

“Being a primary family caregiver is a noble and challenging role requiring immense dedication and sacrifice,” said Dr. Colleen Richardson, CSP Executive Director. “At CSP, we are dedicated to providing caregivers with the resources they need to navigate the encounters of caregiving and achieve their caregiving goals.”

ACL Seeks to Strengthen Financial Security for Family Caregivers The Administration for Community Living (ACL) last month announced $3 million in funding to improve support for family caregivers over four years as part of its 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers. ACL is seeking applications for a cooperative agreement that will help strengthen financial and workplace security for family caregivers and ensure family, kinship, and tribal caregivers are better recognized, supported, and included in programs funded by the Older Americans Act. The National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers was developed last year to support caregivers of all ages, regardless of where they live or their specific caregiving situation. The Strategy includes five overarching goals, nearly 350 actions the federal government will take to support family caregivers in the coming year, and more than 150 actions that can be adopted at other levels of government and across the private sector to build a system to support family caregivers. Click here to read the full Strategy.

Supportive Communities & Villages

The Maryland Department of Aging (MDOA) was pleased to take part in the National Village Gathering held last month in Silver Spring, MD to increase collaboration with the Village network as part of the MDOA's Supportive Communities Initiative. Villages are community-based, nonprofit organizations formed through a cadre of caring neighbors who connect members to an array of practical support and social services that enable older adults to enjoy an independent quality of life in their homes and communities. Through the Supportive Communities Initiative, MDOA will continue to engage with the Village network, as well as other neighbor-to-neighbor initiatives, faith-based groups, and nonprofit organizations in an effort to improve opportunities for Marylanders to age in place. The initiative also seeks to encourage the development of trusting communities and create meaningful opportunities for engagement across the lifespan. Learn more about Villages at vtvnetwork.org or find a Village near you at www.wavevillages.org.  Pictured above (lf to rt): Chelsea Wheeler, Manager, Supportive Communities, Maryland Department of Aging; Pazit Aviv, Village Coordinator, Montgomery Co Aging and Disability Services; MaryJo Deering, WAVE

MDOA Funding Opportunity to Enhance Dementia Support Services

The Maryland Department of Aging is pleased to announce a competitive funding opportunity for grant awards to support the implementation of comprehensive home- and community-based supportive services, improve coordination of care, and expand opportunities for social support to maximize the health and autonomy for those experiencing Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) and their caregivers.

More than $130,000 will be granted to fund up to 10 projects. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and local and county government agencies. Area Agencies on Aging, multicultural organizations, and Village models are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is November 30, 2023. Click here to learn more or apply.

Social Security 2024 COLA Increase

The Social Security Administration has announced a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase of 3.2 percent in 2024. About 71 million Americans receiving Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will see an average increase of more than $50 per month starting in January. “Social Security and SSI benefits will increase in 2024, and this will help millions of people keep up with expenses,” said Kilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner of Social Security. Beneficiaries will be notified by mail starting in early December or can view their COLA notice securely online with their My Social Security Account. To get started, visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount. Click here to learn more about Social Security and SSI adjustments for next year.

Happy Veteran's Day from MDOA!