Medicare: Cover Long-Term Care For Alzheimer's Patients E action

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http://alzheimers.greatergood.com/clickToGive/alz/petition/longterm-medicare

Sponsored by: The Alzheimer's Site
Since 1966, Medicare has provided insurance for Americans 65 and older. For many, this national insurance program is a key component of being able to afford retirement.

Medicare covers many things, like end-of-life hospice and in-home recovery services after a hospital visit, but there's a glaring and terrible gap for our elderly that must be addressed: coverage for long-term care for Alzheimer's patients.

Alzheimer's care costs are on the rise, and the prevalence of the disease only continues to increase. According to the Alzheimer's Association, "by 2050, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer's disease may nearly triple, from 5.1 million to a projected 13.8 million, barring the development of medical breakthroughs to prevent or cure the disease. "

With Congress unwilling to fund Alzheimer's research and Medicare offering no assistance for the long-term care of people with this tragic disease, their care often falls to family members and loved ones. In 2014, the Alzheimer's Associate estimated that 15.7 million family members and friends provided 17.9 billion hours of unpaid care to people with Alzheimer's and other dementias, at an economic value of over $217 billion.

That's a huge burden on the families and friends of people living with Alzheimer's.

We need to do something about it. Medicare is intended to help our elderly get the healthcare they need. Someone who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's has a real, continuous, medical need for care. Tell Medicare to step up and cover 100% of long term care for any person with Alzheimer's or other dementias whose doctor has recommended long-term care.