Special Opportunity: Older Adult Subsidy and Medicare Savings Programs

Background
Selection Criteria
How to Apply 

Background Information
To increase enrollment of eligible adults in the Low-Income Subsidy Program (LIS) and Medicare Savings Programs (MSP), the Foundation seeks to fund five, multi-year grants to organizations that can demonstrate a cost-effective strategy for finding and enrolling qualified Medicare beneficiaries with limited incomes and resources in LIS and MSP.

While most elderly adults receive basic health coverage through the Medicare program, adequate coverage can be costly and services inaccessible for those with limited financial resources. Beneficiaries bear the responsibility for Medicare premiums; deductibles; cost-sharing; and out-of-pocket costs for services not covered by Medicare, including vision and dental care.

Lower-income beneficiaries can receive substantial help with these costs; however, many eligible individuals are not enrolled in the appropriate Medicaid-financed program. Current barriers to enrollment mean that low-income seniors, generally with annual incomes below $15,000, cannot afford to meet their basic health care needs.   

Research has identified many strategies for increasing enrollment in LIS and MSP programs. Some of the most effective include person-centered screening and application assistance; Web-based decision-support tools (e.g. Benefits CheckUp); cost-effective community mobilization; list-driven “inreach” to complement traditional outreach efforts.

Selection Criteria
Grants will be awarded based on:

• Ability to demonstrate a cost effective and potentially replicable strategy for finding and enrolling qualified Medicare beneficiaries with limited incomes and resources in LIS and MSP
• Detailed work plan with potential to increase enrollment in LIS and MSP
• Clearly articulated roles of partnering organizations
• Ability to target outreach to underserved populations within applicant’s region
• Documentation of projected outcomes
• Plans for sustainability after the grant period ends
• Preference given to grants that demonstrate a regional approach

How to Apply
To apply, please use the Colorado Health Foundation’s online grant application. We will accept proposals that are received prior to one of our regular grant application deadlines. Proposals must be received by 5 p.m. on the deadline date. When these dates fall on a holiday or weekend, the deadline will be the next business day.

If you have questions or need additional information, please email Laura Gerard, program officer, or call 303.953.3658.