Seniors Can't Afford to Wait!

Tell NJ Leaders: Seniors can’t afford to wait. Support S3495/A4049.

New Jersey’s long-term care system is broken. Our seniors deserve quality, affordable options for care at home – where they want to be. But too many can’t afford to pay out of pocket for this care and are left waiting for Medicaid approval for services to start.

Currently, Medicaid approval takes far too long – often months – for those who need services and are likely to qualify for this program. While they wait for approval, they are often forced out of their homes and into nursing homes.

AARP is fighting for legislation that expedites the Medicaid application process for those likely to qualify and keeps our older residents in their homes with the services they need and out of more costly, state-funded nursing homes.

It’s time to transform New Jersey’s long-term care system and modernize Medicaid eligibility rules.

Tell Governor Murphy and Senate President Scutari: Seniors can’t afford to wait. Support S3495/A4049.

Form Label Field

Your Message

Subject Seniors can't afford to wait. Support S3495/A4049.

Dear Decision Maker,

Message

New Jersey’s long-term care system is broken. Our seniors deserve quality, affordable options for care at home – where they want to be. Yet, older residents are being unnecessarily forced out of their homes and into costly nursing homes.

Medicaid’s current application process does not account for the practical realities most individuals and family caregivers face trying to avoid a nursing home admission under stressful circumstances – like an unexpected hospitalization or a rapid deterioration of health at home. In those situations, timely access to services can mean the difference between someone staying home or entering a nursing home.

Too many New Jersey seniors can’t afford to pay out-of-pocket for this care. When health issues arise, Medicaid approval takes far too long, and seniors who are likely to qualify for Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS), are kept waiting for services to address their immediate health care needs. S3495/A4049 transforms our long-term care system by modernizing our Medicaid eligibility rules and helping more residents avoid more costly nursing homes.

Under presumptive eligibility, NJ FamilyCare would use basic financial information and screening tools to expeditiously presume an individual is eligible for Medicaid and commence services.

S3495/A4049 also saves money for all NJ taxpayers by lowering the cost of the Medicaid program. Home and community-based services are significantly less expensive than nursing home care. The non-partisan NJ Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates that providing presumptive eligibility under Medicaid will reduce the number of residents in nursing homes and reduce annual State Medicaid expenditures, resulting in annual net state cost savings of $24 million to $99.5 million.

It’s time to transform New Jersey’s long-term care system and modernize Medicaid eligibility rules so older residents are not forced from their homes into nursing homes.

I urge you to support S3495/A4049.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]
[Your Address]

Your Information

Salutation *

First name *

Last name *

E-mail address *

Address *

Address Line 2

Zip Code *

City *

State *

Phone *

Email Opt-In

Opt-in

I’d also like to stay informed via email about AARP programs, benefits, events and more. I can change my communication preferences at any time. To learn more about how we use personal information, please review our Privacy Policy.