Dear Editor,

For many Elders, our monthly Social Security deposit is one of our only, if not our only, source of income to draw on. As Bernie said, ‘Sadly, in America today it is very expensive to be poor’. The Medicare Savings Program is a federal Medicare Savings Program administered by the States, that pays the Medicare premium of low-income elders that is normally deducted from our monthly Social Security. There are 3 types of Qualified Medicare Beneficiary: QMB, SLMB and QI-1.  QMB is for elders with the least amount of income; SLMB is a slightly higher income level and QI-1 for an even higher income level. Folks who qualify for SLMB and QI-1 get reimbursed from the Social Security Administration (SSA) for those months after they were approved for the Medicare Savings Program, but their premiums were still being deducted from their monthly Social Security. However, QMB elders, those with the least amount of income, DO NOT get reimbursed for those months they were approved even though their premiums were still being deducted from their Social Security. Also, for QMB level elders, the time-frame for the SSA to stop deducting their Medicare premium usually takes (up to) 90 days.  In reality, IT DOES take 90 days; thus, creating further hardship for those who have the least income. The problem has been, and continues to be, at the federal level with the SSA. The response at the local level from Medicaid (the qualifying agency), Housing & Human Services (HHS), and the SSA is that the reason for the 90 days delay is that’s how long it can (and it does) take for the State (technology) system to interface with the federal (technology) system. That’s unreasonable and unconscionable for elders; with all the IT expertise we have; that could be contracted to fix the systems issue.  So, the silver panther strikes again!  I am asking for your help on behalf of all low-income Colorado QMB elders.  Please email Congressperson Joe Neguese,  neguse.house.gov/contact and Senator Michael Bennett,  bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/write-to-michael urging them to pursue the following course of action…

Fix the technology systems between the State of Colorado and the SSA so they interface.

 Reimburse elders at the QMB level for their wait time deductions.

Reduce the processing time of 90 days to 30 days.

Atashnaa Medicineshield Werner
Nederland