MSAC Celebrates New Medicare Savings Program Expansion

BOSTON—Massachusetts Senior Action Council celebrated healthcare cost relief for Seniors at a packed event at Central Boston Elder Services in Roxbury. A hundred seniors were joined by leaders from both Governor Charlie Baker’s and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh’s offices to mark the implementation of the expanded Medicare Savings Program. Seniors say they are already starting to see relief from unmanageable healthcare costs due to this newly enacted state budget provision.  A total of 40,000 more seniors now qualify for the MSP. Each of these seniors could save more than $5000 through this program. 

“We must speak up for what we need and what we deserve, because we all should be able to age with dignity,” MSAC member Sarah Blakeney said about the historic victory. “At 92, I am happy to be here, I am happy I will be able to afford my medicine. But there are thousands that are still left behind. Let’s make sure next year we can celebrate filling the healthcare gap for all seniors across the Commonwealth.” 

On January 1, 2020, income eligibility expanded for the MSP program from 135% FPL to 165% FPL and the asset limit for the MSP doubled. The expansion will significantly reduce Medicare costs for 40,000 individuals, providing thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket savings on average per year to promote economic security

After six years of grassroots organizing, MSAC successfully persuaded state lawmakers and Governor Baker to include the first step in a three-step staircase bill in the FY20 budget. It was overwhelmingly supported in the legislature and became part of the final budget. MSAC members thanked Executive Office of Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, for championing MSAC’s efforts to improve economic stability for thousands of low-income Seniors.

“As people age, we should be able to take worries off of people, and that’s what the MSP does,” Secretary Sudders said. “I was moved to tears, as you were talking with such exquisite, painful details about your choices between buying prescriptions and meeting other basic needs.”

Mass Senior Action members were quick to remind State and City leaders that they will not rest until no Senior is left behind by this program. Seniors will be back on Beacon Hill on January 29 to lobby lawmakers to enact a three-step staircase bill that would eventually increase eligibility for the program up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The full staircase bill would help a total of 70,000 Seniors.