This Thursday CARIE will introduce you to Giuseppe and Catrina. A hard-working, loving couple who were proud to build a life for themselves and support their family, they’ll likely remind you of someone you know, either a relative, a friend, or maybe yourself. Their story resonates with so many. This commonality demonstrates the need to highlight a situation in which too many older adults find themselves.
In a fact sheet released last week by AARP, more than half of older adults on Medicare pay more than $3,000 out of pocket annually for health care. The situation is even worse for the oldest and poorest. While many in this group are often eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare, they still spend more than a quarter of their annual income on health care. Giuseppe and Catrina have health care coverage but still have a hard time making it through the month on their limited income due to costs from an unexpected illness.
This story is part of CARIE’s work for the National Council on Aging’s (NCOA) One Away campaign. Videos from NCOA and their local advocacy partners across the country show the real stories of older adults, like Giuseppe and Catrina, who are among the 13 million seniors who live one medical crisis or one lost job away from economic collapse. Stay tuned for the debut of Giuseppe and Catrina’s story, “The Best Laid Plans” on CARIE’s You Tube channel. We hope their struggle will encourage you to join CARIE in asking legislators to reauthorize the Older Americans Act and ensure those like Giuseppe and Catrina may lead a dignified life.
By Kate Vengraitis, CARIE Intern. Visit https://www.carie.org/ or contact CARIE at 1-800-356-3606.
By Kate Vengraitis, CARIE Intern. Visit https://www.carie.org/ or contact CARIE at 1-800-356-3606.
