Growing numbers of doctors refuse to serve older people on Medicare, claiming that Medicare reimbursements are too low. Yet many low-income Americans cannot afford the growing deductibles, co-insurance, and co-payments required of Medicare beneficiaries. More than 4 million Medicare low income "dual-eligible" Medicaid beneficiaries are not enrolled. In response to soaring costs and plunging revenues, nearly every state plans to or has cut benefits, restricted eligibility, increased co-payments, dropped beneficiaries or reduced payments to providers under Medicaid, the health care system for the poor elderly, which also covers approximately 1.5 million Americans in nursing homes.

Millions of low-income seniors face cutbacks in services and may need to forgo medical treatment they cannot afford. Meanwhile, an unsympathetic Federal court system is aiding, abetting–even leading–the retreat from our elderly poor. The courts are erecting barriers to prevent access to justice and refusing to grant remedies promised by federal legislation.

These doctrines are erasing rights of older persons under such statutes as the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Medicaid Act, the Violence Against Women Act and the Family Medical Leave Act.

For more information, please explore the different areas:

• Federal Rights
• Long Term Care
• Medicaid
• Medicare Part D
• Income Security