As Congress continues to debate deep cuts to the federal budget, it’s time to pause and ask a critical question: What happens to older Americans if these cuts target Medicare and Medicaid?
There’s often confusion about the roles Medicare and Medicaid play in our health care system. While Medicare is what many expect to rely on as they age, it hasn’t kept pace with rising health care needs, longer life expectancies, or the growing demand for prescription drugs and long-term care. Medicaid fills those gaps — making Medicare work, especially for the most vulnerable.
In fact, more than 21 million Americans aged 50 and over depend on Medicaid. It’s the largest payer of long-term care in the nation and provides in-home support for daily activities that help people stay out of nursing homes. It also supports hospitals, home health providers, and the entire system that cares for older adults.
In New Jersey, the impact would be especially severe:
• Assisted living costs average more than $102,000 per year.
• Out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries average $7,000 annually.
• Nearly 1 in 10 older New Jerseyans are food insecure.
• Social Security benefits don’t come close to covering basic needs for many older residents.
Medicaid is the safety net that helps bridge these gaps — and without it, thousands of older residents would be left behind.
Extreme cuts may seem like short-term savings, but they will cost us more — not just in dollars, but in lives. That’s why New Jersey must act now to develop a multisector plan on aging that prepares our systems, services, and infrastructure to support an aging population.
If we can’t rely on Washington to protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, New Jersey must lead.
Because how we treat our oldest residents is a reflection of who we are — and who we aspire to be.