A report from the National Council on Aging and the Urban Institute finds few Iowans 65 and older are enrolled in public benefit programs for which they’re eligible. It found 34 percent of eligible Iowa seniors are enrolled in the Medicare Savings Program, 27 percent in Supplemental Security Income, and just 17 percent in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Jen Teague (TEEG), at the National Council on Aging, says more eligible seniors should sign up.
Teague says there are many reasons so few Iowa seniors are taking part, as they may not know about the programs or may not know how to sign up.
The data show Iowa fares worse than the national average for eligible senior enrollment in all three programs.
