GOVERNOR CRIST MEETS WITH SENIOR CITIZENS IN DANIA BEACH
~~ ~~Discusses seniors’ concerns and interests, highlights assistance for elder Floridians~~ ~~
February 4, 2010
Contact:
GOVERNOR’S PRESS OFFICE
(850) 488-5394
DANIA BEACH – Governor Charlie Crist today visited with the Dania Beach Senior Citizens Club at the I.T. Parker Community Center in Dania Beach. Department of Elder Affairs Secretary Dr. Doug Beach joined the Governor to discuss issues important to Florida’s more than four million seniors.
“Florida’s seniors have built our state’s rich heritage, strengthened our families and communities, and made our state the leader it is today,” Governor Crist said. “I remain committed to fighting for their security, dignity and increased opportunities to live active and enriched lives.”
Last week, Governor Crist announced his 2010-11 budget recommendations, which include $712.9 million for the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. The department provides home and community-based services that enable seniors to remain in their homes rather than move to nursing homes. Studies have shown that elders are happier and healthier when they are able to continue living at home. In addition, in-home services are considerably less costly to taxpayers than nursing-home care, which averages at least $50,334 a year, compared to $9,900 per year for home and community-based services.
During the discussion, Governor Crist highlighted the following elder initiatives developed during his administration:
• Helping provide access to affordable prescription drugs – To help Florida’s seniors afford lifesaving prescription drugs, Governor Crist launched the Florida Discount Drug Card. Individuals qualify for the card if they are age 60 and older and do not have prescription drug coverage or if they are in the Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage gap. Qualifying annual incomes for individuals under 60 are up to $31,200 for an individual, $42,000 for a family of two and $63,600 for a family of four. As of December 2009, 122,794 Floridians had signed up for the Florida Discount Drug Card since its launch in December 2007 and 4,397 retail pharmacies accept the Florida Discount Drug Card, saving members $4.95 million in prescription-drug costs. For more information, visit www.FloridaDiscountDrugCard.com.
• Meeting the need for affordable health insurance – Cover Florida Health Care provides affordable health insurance option for individuals age 19 to 64. Insurers offer at least two benefit options – one with catastrophic and hospital coverage, and one focusing on preventive care. As of December 15, 2009, 52 percent of policyholders were over age 50, including 29 percent who are age 50 to 59 and 23 percent who are age 60 to 64. Additionally, 89 percent of purchasers over age 50 chose catastrophic plans.
Each plan has a wide-ranging set of benefit options that include coverage for preventive services, screenings, office visits, as well as office surgery, urgent care, hospital coverage, emergency care, prescription drugs, durable medical equipment, and diabetic supplies. Two companies are available statewide, with additional insurers available in Broward, Flagler, Miami-Dade and Volusia counties. For more information, visit www.CoverFloridaHealthCare.com.
• Keeping seniors safe – in October 2008, Governor Crist signed Executive Order 08-211 creating the Silver Alert, an immediate statewide broadcast of information to the public regarding missing elders with dementia or other cognitive impairment. Silver Alerts helps local law enforcement more quickly find missing seniors and return them to safety. Twenty missing endangered adults have been recovered as a direct result of the alert as of January 2010.
About Florida’s Seniors
About 4.4 million people over age 60 live in Florida. That number is expected to grow to 5.6 million by 2020. The average Florida retiree contributes $2,000 more in revenues than he or she consumes in public services.
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