November 2013 --The Affordable Care Act (ACA) will afford millions of uninsured individuals with healthcare coverage through the expansion of Medicaid and the creation of state healthcare exchanges.

A new NSCLC issue brief, Medicaid Expansion in California: Opportunities and Challenges for Older Adults and People with Disabilities, provides an overview of these new coverage options and how they impact seniors and people with disabilities.  The brief also explores how people receiving coverage under Medicaid expansion and exchanges will transition into Medicare coverage when they turn 65 or otherwise become eligible.

The brief is designed to help both advocates and policymakers understand how new coverage options impact seniors and people with disabilities.  The brief will help advocates better prepare to serve their clients and communities.  Policymakers are provided a set of both short-term and long-term recommendations on how to ensure smooth transitions between new coverage options and Medicare.

While the issue brief focuses on how these issues play out in California, much of the information is relevant to advocates and policymakers in other states as well.  NSCLC is excited to work with stakeholder in all states to ensure that the promise of the Affordable Care Act is fulfilled for low-income seniors and would welcome the opportunity to explore these issues in your state.