Seniors

With residents living longer, it is essential that the Commonwealth focus on issues that affect our family, friends, and loved ones. Senator Murray has worked to improve the lives of seniors throughout her career. Knowing most seniors are living on fixed incomes, Murray fought for the Commonwealth’s Prescription Advantage Plan to pay the gap in coverage in the federal prescription drug plan, ensuring seniors could afford their medication. Murray also ensured that seniors have the option to stay in their community for long term care and don’t get priced out of their homes by increasing property costs.

Senator Murray’s efforts to aid our seniors include:

• Working to provide opportunities for seniors to enroll in the Prescription Advantage wrap-around program which fills in the gap in the federal prescription drug coverage so seniors aren’t paying more out-of-pocket expenses.
• Expanding tax cuts for senior homeowners by increasing property assessment limits eligible for local option tax credits.
• Supporting the Community Choice Plan for seniors. This plan allows disabled seniors who are eligible for nursing home placement to stay in their home by providing in-home care through Medicaid.
• Supporting efforts to expand the Senior Pharmacy Program to help seniors combat the high costs of prescription drugs. This program guarantees affordable prescription coverage to anyone 65 and older.
• Serving on the Long-Term Care Committee where she was able to work to ensure that the programs and services needed to support the state's growing senior population, which is expected to grow from 843,000 to 1.25 million by the year 2025, will be in place now and in the future.
• Securing funding for local Councils on Aging. Obtained $1.5 million in additional funding for local Councils on Aging since fiscal year 1998. Through local initiatives, Councils on Aging offer programs that serve more than 410,000 people each year.
• Sponsoring and securing the passage of legislation to create one-stop shopping centers for long-term care. This system makes it easier for consumers to find and use needed and reliable services.