Marylanders who provide care for veterans spend on average $11,500 of their personal income on out-of-pocket costs related to caregiving each year—1.5 times higher than what other family caregivers spend ($7,242), according to AARP data. And 43 percent of veteran and military caregivers experienced at least one financial setback such as having to take on more debt or dip into personal savings, according to research from AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving.
AARP Pennsylvania strongly urges Medicare beneficiaries to exercise extra caution during this year's Medicare Open Enrollment period, which runs from October 15 to December 7. A recent data breach involving a government contractor put an alarming number of Medicare beneficiaries at risk, heightening the importance of vigilance during a time already susceptible to fraudulent activities.
AARP strongly supports new bipartisan legislation, the Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers Act, which would make it easier for family caregivers to navigate key financial and health care programs. The bill was introduced today by Senators Edward Markey (D-MA) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and is co-sponsored by Senators Kyrsten Sinema, (I-AZ), Susan Collins (R-ME), Bob Casey (D-PA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC).