NCOA Awards Grants to 15 New Organizations to Become Benefits Enrollment Centers
Network has helped over 400,000 Medicare beneficiaries access $1 billion in benefits
Arlington, VA – (RealEstateRama) — The National Council on Aging (NCOA) has awarded grants to 15 new organizations to become part of a growing national network of Benefits Enrollment Centers (BECs) that provide person-centered assistance to low-income seniors and younger adults with disabilities to enroll them in programs that help pay for health care, prescriptions, food, utilities, and more.
“Since 2009, BECs have helped nearly half a million people apply for benefits worth over $1 billion,” said Leslie Fried, Senior Director of NCOA’s Center for Benefits Access, which oversees the grants. “These programs provide vital income support for Medicare beneficiaries with limited incomes, and we are excited to expand this work to serve individuals in 31 states.”
BECs are funded through the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA), administered at the federal level by the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL). NCOA’s Center for Benefits Access has served as the MIPPA Resource Center for more than seven years.
“We are especially pleased in this grant cycle to be funding organizations that are using innovative approaches to assist hard-to-reach populations—including rural residents, veterans, younger adults with disabilities, and individuals with limited English proficiency,” added Fried.
The newest BECs are:
- Alivio Medical Center (Chicago, IL)
- The Arc of Prince Georges County (Largo, MD)
- Area Agency of Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast Inc. (West Palm Beach, FL)
- Asian Pacific Community in Action (Phoenix, AZ)
- Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA)
- Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada (Reno, NV)
- Connecticut State Department on Aging (Hartford, CT)
- Feeding the Gulf Coast (Theodore, AL)
- First in Families of North Carolina (Durham, NC)
- Felton Institute/Family Service Agency (San Francisco, CA)
- Missouri Alliance of Area Agencies on Aging (Jefferson City, MO)
- Pima Council on Aging (Tucson, AZ)
- United Cambodian Community (Long Beach, CA)
- Volunteers of America of Northern Louisiana (Shreveport, LA)
- West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services (Charleston, WV)
To find the full list of 59 funded BECs and learn more about their work, visit ncoa.org/becs.
About NCOA
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is a respected national leader and trusted partner to help people aged 60+ meet the challenges of aging. Our mission is to improve the lives of millions of older adults, especially those who are struggling. Through innovative community programs and services, online help, and advocacy, NCOA is partnering with nonprofit organizations, government, and business to improve the health and economic security of 10 million older adults by 2020. Learn more at ncoa.org and @NCOAging.
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