Dear Neighbor,
Seniors like you have spent decades contributing to the fabric of our community, and as a result, you deserve to have a joyful and secure retirement. While chaos continues to come from Washington as the Trump administration attempts to cut crucial programs like Medicaid and food benefits, I’m doing everything in my power at the state level to push back and ensure you have access to the benefits you need.
This newsletter will provide you with helpful resources in addition to information about important legislation we’ve recently advanced in the Legislature.
If you ever need assistance navigating state government or would like to share feedback or suggestions, you can contact my office via email or by phone. Here’s how:
Lansing office: (517) 373-7888
Toll-free: (855) 347-8007
Email: SenJMoss@senate.michigan.gov
Working for you,
Jeremy Moss
President Pro Tempore of the Michigan Senate
State Senator for District 7
Eliminating the Retirement Tax
Michigan’s tax on pensions robbed seniors of their promised retirement benefits for more than a decade. To ensure every senior gets the retirement they deserve, I voted to repeal this unfair tax. After Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed this bill into law, nearly 500,000 seniors are saving $1,000 every year.
Expanding Access to Health Care
My colleagues and I have made it a priority to advance policies that support accessible, affordable health care for every senior in our state, including legislation to:
- Protect the Affordable Care Act and residents with pre-existing conditions.
- Strengthen our home health care system so seniors can age with dignity.
- Expand access to preventative health services such as vaccines.
Keeping Our Seniors Safe
To address the serious and growing concern of elder abuse and exploitation facing Michigan seniors, I supported legislation that would provide the tools needed to better prevent, detect, and prosecute all forms of elder abuse by:
- Improving protections for vulnerable adults.
- Expanding financial exploitation penalties.
- Increasing support services for vulnerable adults.
These bills were passed by the Senate and now await further action in the Michigan House.
LOWERING PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS
The burden of high drug costs falls hardest on our most vulnerable residents, including seniors. That’s why I joined my colleagues to pass legislation that would give our state a vital tool to protect consumers and bring much-needed fairness, transparency, and accountability to drug pricing in our state. By creating a Prescription Drug Affordability Board here in Michigan, we can hold Big Pharma accountable while making life-saving medications more accessible for those who need them most.
These bills have been voted out of the Senate and sent to the House for their consideration.
Fraudsters posing as Medicare “representatives” are calling unsuspecting consumers about their Medicare coverage and asking for Medicare ID numbers or other personal information, such as a Social Security Number or date of birth. Once scammers have this information, they can use it to make unauthorized changes to your Medicare plan.
Here are some important tips to protect yourself:
- Never give your Medicare number or other personal information to an unknown caller. You are always able to get information on Medicare plans without providing an ID number. The only time the Medicare ID number is required is when you are actively enrolling in a plan.
- Do not give out your personal information if someone calls or visits your home and says they’re from Medicare. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will never call or send someone to your home to ask for personal information or check your Medicare number.
- Don’t always trust caller ID. Scammers use technology to make it look like they are calling from a legitimate business or government agency.
- Ignore anyone who calls saying you must join their prescription drug plan, or you will lose your Medicare coverage. While it is true that there may be a penalty if you delay enrolling in the Medicare prescription drug plan (also known as Part D), that coverage is voluntary.
- Don’t trust mailers that appear to be government communications but are advertisements for private companies. These mailers will sometimes have a disclaimer, but it may be buried in small print.
Be Aware of Toll Road Scams
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is warning drivers of the newest toll road scam, which includes an imposter government website that mimics MDOT’s official site but carries a different URL address. MDOT reminds all drivers that Michigan does not have toll roads and will never solicit payment via text or include threatening verbiage to avoid late fees or harsh penalties.
To stay safe, please remember that government agencies:
- Will not request personal information through email, over the phone, or text.
- Will never demand money through email, over the phone, or text. They will mail you a notice and offer payment options.
- Do not ask for or take payment by prepaid gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or a payment app.
Meals on Wheels
No one should go without access to healthy meals. If you, or a senior you know, are struggling to pay for food or cook for yourself, Meals on Wheels can help.
This program provides five nutritious meals per week to homebound older adults. They also offer liquid nutrition for those who are unable to eat solid food and who have a prescription from their physician.
For more information or to determine if you’re eligible, contact Detroit Meals on Wheels at (313) 446-4444 or to find your local Oakland County Meals on Wheels program contact Age Ways at (800) 852-7795.
To qualify for Meals on Wheels, an adult must be:
- 60 years of age or older;
- Homebound (e.g., unable to leave home without assistance and unable to drive);
- Unable to cook for themself;
- Have no one willing or available to prepare meals on a regular basis; and,
- Able to feed themself.
