Rep. Doggett Leads Members in Urging President Biden to Protect Medicare Enrollees’ Access to Federal Benefits

"Medicare represents a promise to American workers that they will live with dignity and have access to quality health care in times of disability and during their senior years. It is alarming that some consumers are reportedly losing access to other important federal assistance, including affordable housing, food, and more, because of a nominal benefit that is heavily marketed by some private Medicare Advantage plans," said Rep. Doggett. "President Biden must immediately step in to prevent further harm and ensure consumers do not face difficult decisions on basic necessities."

"It has come to our attention that there have been multiple instances of consumers being denied their full federal benefits, including rental assistance, access to the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), due to inclusion of Flex Cards in some eligibility calculations," wrote the lawmakers. "There appears to be a lack of clarity among entities that administer benefits as to whether Flex Cards qualify as an asset or income, resulting in different outcomes for consumers based on the individual determination by a particular agency eligibility worker, landlord, or other party. Low-income consumers relying on these programs do not have additional funds to cover the reduction or total loss of public benefits, and they are facing difficult decisions regarding basic necessities. Medicare Advantage enrollees may also be deterred from seeking out assistance from public benefits to which they might be entitled. It is critical that the Administration issue clarifying guidance that Flex Cards should not be included in the eligibility calculation for any federal benefits."

Additional signers include Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Katie Porter (CA-45), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Troy Carter (LA-02), Joe Morelle (NY-25), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Al Green (TX-09), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Danny Davis (IL-07), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Jesus "Chuy" Garcia (IL-04), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Mark Takano (CA-39), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Shontel Brown (OH-11), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Cori Bush (MO-01), André Carson (IN-07), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20) and Senators Elizabeth Warren (MA), and Sherrod Brown (OH).

Endorsing organizations include LeadingAge, Center for Medicare Advocacy, Medicare Rights Center, Justice in Aging, and The Arc of the United States.

The full letter can be viewed here.

The 2025 Medicare Open Enrollment Period begins October 15 and runs until December 7, 2024. Seniors 65 or older and individuals with disabilities can receive technical assistance and find and compare plans at Medicare.gov.

###