New Developments for LGBT Benefits

LGBT people need to be aware of recent developments that change how Medicare and Medicaid work for them. First, the Supreme Court’s legalization of same sex marriage in all states changed how Medicare and Medicaid evaluate the eligibility of same sex spouses for both programs. Depending on the program and the individual’s circumstances, the changes can be positive or negative. Additionally, Medicare has begun covering Gender Reassignment Surgery. It has issued new rules that protect transgender older adults from sex discrimination in healthcare.

Three new fact sheets can help consumers learn how these changes may affect them, whether they are LGBT individuals married to someone of the same sex, or transgender individuals needing to access health care. These fact sheets were produced in partnership with SAGE (Services & Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, & Transgender Elders), the SHIP National Network (State Health Insurance Assistance Programs), and Administration for Community Living (ACL).

The three fact sheets are:

• Medicare Changes for Transgender Older Adults
• Marriage, Medicare, and Medicaid: What Same-Sex Couples Need to Know
• Accessing Information on Medicare Benefits for LGBT People

All are available for download at the National Resource Center for LGBT Aging.

For details on LGBT benefits go to: info@justiceinaging.org