The Medicare Cliff: How Washington State is Failing Seniors and People with Disabilities

Our new report recommends that Washington State improve supplemental coverage for lower-income Medicare enrollees.

Many lower-income seniors and people with disabilities lose their affordable, comprehensive health coverage when they qualify for Medicare. This “Medicare Cliff” disproportionately hurts women and communities of color.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Washington is one of only 16 states that have taken no action, keeping eligibility standards at the lowest level allowed by federal law.

NoHLA’s new report on the Medicare Cliff explains how Washington State can fix the cliff and protect people transitioning to Medicare by making care more affordable and covering services they need.

NoHLA is grateful to the Pacific Hospital Preservation and Development Authority (PHPDA) for the grant funding that allowed us to produce this report.

Read our Medicare Cliff report, June 2021

Fact sheet on the Medicare Cliff, Updated January 2023

NoHLA's July 15, 2021 recorded Medicare Cliff Webinar, Slides PDF

NoHLA's Nov. 17, 2021 presentation to Joint Legislative Executive Committee on Planning for Aging and Disability Issues on Medicare Cliff, Slides PDF

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