Advocacy

Lincoln, Neb. — Ensuring that Nebraska’s rapidly growing 65-plus population is able to find the right care at the right time tops the list of issues that AARP will champion during the 2018 legislative session.

Beginning Feb. 1 and continuing through April 17, AARP Foundation is providing free tax assistance and preparation through its Tax-Aide program. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, celebrating its 50 th year, is the nation’s largest free tax assistance and preparation service. Since its inception, the program has served more than 50 million taxpayers.

When the legislature convenes in January, AARP Nebraska will be backing a package of legislation to help ease the burden on nearly 200,000 unpaid family caregivers in the state.

AARP Nebraska is joining forces with the AARP Fraud Watch Network and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for Operation Protect Veterans -- a campaign to warn those who have served in the military about scams and fraud schemes that target veterans. The major educational campaign will reach out to veterans in communities across Nebraska and nationwide.

We are delighted to announce that we have hired Jina Ragland as Associate State Director for Advocacy and Outreach with AARP Nebraska.

Nebraskans who want to know how proposed changes in health care coverage could affect them are invited to a community conversation hosted by AARP in Omaha. The event will be Monday, Oct. 23, 6-8 p.m., at the Millard Branch Library, 13214 Westwood Lane.

Are you concerned about the future of your healthcare coverage under the Affordable Care Act?

A new state law supported by AARP Nebraska can help reduce isolation for individuals receiving care at home or in nursing facilities.

A new analysis of the Senate’s proposed health care bill shows that older Nebraskans would be forced to pay much higher premiums or go without health insurance coverage.

Nebraska ranks 15 th among the states when it comes to meeting the long-term care needs of older residents and people with disabilities, but AARP warns more must be done, at an accelerated pace, to meet changing demographic demands. Specific areas of concern in Nebraska include support for working caregivers, a shortage of home care workers; spending on home- and community-based services; and a lack of transportation options. The findings are reported in a comprehensive state-by-state Scorecard from AARP with support of the nation’s leading organizations behind quality long-term care, The Commonwealth Fund and SCAN Foundation.