"Season 2" of Catching Up with Connor!
Live on Facebook every 2 weeks at 2:30pm EST each Thursday, this series features 10-15 minute educational presentations on specific health care issues, news, and key topics for individuals IDD and their families.
Please join us biweekly on Thursday afternoons for these lively discussions, through The Arc of New Jersey Family Institute Facebook page.
Access the previous Catching Up with Connor episodes, here.
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2025 Social Security Cost-of Living Adjustment (COLA)
Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for over 72 million Americans will increase 2.5% for 2025.
Over the past 10 years, the COLA increase has averaged about 2.6%, while the COLA was 3.2% in last year. Read more.
The new SSI monthly maximum amounts in New Jersey for 2025 are $988.25 for an eligible individual and $1,475.35 for an eligible couple.
Click here for NJ-specific information.
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Enter for a Chance to Win a $10,000 Contribution to an ABLEnow* Account!
Here’s an exciting opportunity to win a $10,000 contribution to an ABLEnow account!
Click here to register for a chance to win! The sweepstakes run through January 31, 2025, and the winner will be selected on or around February 10, 2025.
Register for a free webinar on February 11th at 1pm to learn more about ABLEnow.
*ABLEnow is the ABLE program by Virginia. But you can open an ABLEnow account, regardless of your state of residence.
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Are you, a family member, or a client having trouble with NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid?
Submit a Problem Form!
The Arc of New Jersey Health Care Advocacy Program helps individuals with IDD in qualifying for NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid). If you know someone who is struggling to qualify for Medicaid, for example, if they have too much monthly income, please fill out our "Medicaid Eligibility Problem Form."
If there are other issues with the Medicaid Managed Care Organization (MCO), please fill out our "Medicaid Problem Form."
For all other issues, we encourage you to complete the general online problem form, available on this webpage.
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Virtual Office Hours!
The Health Care Advocacy Program is pleased to offer new virtual office hours every week on Mondays, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm, beginning February 3rd.
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Office hours will provide an opportunity for individuals to meet with Connor Griffin, Director of Health Care Advocacy, regarding any healthcare questions or related concerns, for example, regarding Medicaid, Medicare, or Social Security, in regards to their family member with IDD.
Appointment slots will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis and limited to 20 minutes, as needed, to accommodate as many people as possible.
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NJ Health Care Quality Institute Report on Medicaid Oral Health Quality Performance for Children | |
A new report from the NJ Health Care Quality Institute found that, among the five participating Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) that contract with NJ FamilyCare in delivering Medicaid services across the state:
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The practices listed in the MCO directories as serving children aged 0-6 were accurate 49% of the time, regarding providing care for a 2-year old. 51% of the time, the practice said they did not schedule appointments for 2-year olds.
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63% of the practices listed in the MCO directories reported that they were in-network with the the MCO at the time of the call. The balance of the time, (37%) the practices reported they did not in fact accept that insurance, which they were listed as accepting.
Read the full NJ Health Care Quality Institute Report.
Read the NJ Spotlight News article.
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Medicare Part D Updates for 2025
The Arc of New Jersey hosted a webinar in November that discussed Medicare changes in 2025, including Part D plans, with a focus on "Dual Eligibles" that have both Medicaid and Medicare coverage.
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This webinar was presented by Mary McGeary, Director of the NJ State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides free help and counseling to NJ Medicare beneficiaries. Click here to visit the SHIP website.
To access the webinar recording and slides, click here to visit the Health Care Advocacy Dual-Eligibles webpage. You will also find helpful Frequently Asked Questions "FAQ" fact sheets regarding dual eligibles who have Medicaid and Medicare, and previous webinars.
Click here to view the 2025 Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) in NJ, including the "benchmark" plans that have a $0 monthly premium for dual eligibles.
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Content Survey
This survey is intended to gather statewide input from individuals with IDD, family members, caregivers, direct support staff, healthcare professionals, advocates, and anyone else involved with the IDD community, regarding different topics and content you would like The Arc of New Jersey Health Care Advocacy Program to consider in the new year.
| This information will be used to better inform our advocacy efforts and offer more relevant content to families, professionals, and advocates. Please only take the survey once, and thank you for your valuable input! | |
(At the bottom of the page, fill in your info, check "health care issues," and hit "subscribe.") | | | | |
