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Trump suffers first defeat but as always doubles down for the next fight; From Ohio to Azerbaijan: How COP29 could shape local farming; Funding boosts 'green' projects in Meadville, PA; VA apprenticeships bridge skills gaps, offer career stability.

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Trump has a new pick for Attorney General, his incoming "border czar" warns local Democratic officials not to impede mass deportation, and the House passes legislation that could target any nonprofit group accused of supporting terrorism.

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The CDC has a new plan to improve the health of rural Americans, updated data could better prepare folks for flash floods like those that devastated Appalachia, and Native American Tribes could play a key role in the nation's energy future.

Affordable Care Act for Seniors: Benefits Without Obligations

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Monday, December 9, 2013   

PHOENIX - With the rough roll-out of the health care insurance marketplaces, some senior citizens are raising concerns about the Affordable Care Act. But a new report finds that for them, it has led to more benefits without more obligations.

According to report author Jon Bailey, who is director of the rural public policy program at the Center for Rural Affairs, most of the provisions that directly affect seniors have been in effect since 2010, and they center around enhanced benefits in terms of preventive care and treatment.

They include "more support for purchasing prescription drugs, some wellness and health benefits for senior citizens. So, most of the effects of the Affordable Care Act on senior citizens are positive without any real requirement that they do much different than they're doing now," he said.

Bailey said these added benefits are especially important in rural areas, where the population is generally older and residents generally receive fewer medical screenings and preventive care procedures than people do in urban settings.

As far as the laws just coming online, such as the requirement that everyone have health insurance, Bailey said they don't really affect seniors, because they have Medicare.

"Medicare meets that mandate, so they're set. They're covered. They don't have to worry about going on to the 'healthcare.gov' website or any of the other state-based marketplaces," he said. "And so, they don't have to worry: as long as they're getting Medicare, they're set."

More than 800,000 Arizonans are covered by Medicare.

Bailey added that despite early warnings about the ACA's impact on Medicare Advantage plans, rather than declining, the number of seniors enrolling is actually greater than estimates.

The study is on the Center for Rural Affairs' website.





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