As Pride Month ends, we reflect on the groundbreaking nature of LGBTQ+ Americans that made it possible. Pride Month began with commemorations of the Stonewall Uprising in June 1969 and over the decades evolved into a national celebration of the diversity and cross-sectional LGBTQ+ communities. Now, in the sixties and beyond, what is called the “Stonewall Generation”, he has grown up in the era of radicalism and the first proud demonstrations of the Stonewall Uprising, forming an increasing number of health insurance populations.
LGBTQ+ seniors’ challenges and needs
The population of older Americans is expected to grow steadily over the next few decades, and studies predict that by 2030, there will be 7 million LGBTQ+ Americans over 50 years old. These growing numbers highlight the unique aging needs of LGBTQ+ seniors who are more likely to live alone or within the scope of the legal community outside of traditional family structures, and these are increasingly becoming more and more.
These increased numbers underscore the unique aging needs of LGBTQ+ seniors.
LGBTQ+ seniors are twice as likely to be single and alone than the average seniors. They are more likely to rely on friends and chosen families that may be socially and emotionally fulfilled, but may lack fair legal protections, and the risks increase. Since friends and chosen family members are usually of similar age, they may experience illness or disability at the same time, making it difficult to take care of each other. Compared with non-LGBTQ+ people, LGBTQ+ people also have more than three times their views. A 2024 AARP survey found that nearly six out of six of LGBTQ+ adults over 45 years of age (or once a caregiver of older relatives or other members of their community). Even among relatively young caregivers in the aging LGBTQ+ community, caregivers burnout can be caused by stress, lack of rest and difficulty in meeting their own health needs and medical appointments.
The lack of legal recognition of marriage and partnerships in history continues to affect the financial and social stability of many of the older LGBTQ+ population. Data show that LGBTQ+ seniors with partners or social support networks will experience better health outcomes and quality of life regardless of marital status. Still, friends and unmarried partners often face more supportive abilities, such as sharing health insurance plans, taking a leave and making medical decisions for their partners.
The lack of legal recognition of marriage and partnerships in history continues to affect the financial and social stability of many people.
Medicare and Medicaid
Ensuring that LGBTQ+ older Americans can age safely with pride and dignity requires enhanced community-based care where LGBTQ+ people can be cared for and taken care of in the family of their choice while receiving strong federal support. Medicare and Medicaid help aging in the community through provisions of the Family and Community Services (HCB), which enables beneficiaries to obtain health insurance for services provided in a home or community setting, such as assisted assisted living facilities for beneficiaries selected by beneficiaries. These services are typically provided through state Medicare waivers, which are broader and have fewer statutory restrictions than Medicare’s family health benefits.
Ensuring that LGBTQ+ seniors can age safely with pride and dignity requires enhanced community-based care.
Within the scope of HCB, the all-inclusive care program for the elderly (PACE) provides a state-funded Medicaid program that provides a home care infrastructure that can accommodate family families suitable for aging LGBTQ+ adults. Research shows that LGBTQ+ people are concerned about discrimination in long-term care facilities, and they report that such discrimination is more frequent and severe for people of color, disability or lower income, and other stigmatizations. This may lead them to seek necessary health care as they age. PACE provides a model for LGBTQ+ seniors to seek assistance and care without sacrificing the comfort they find in their community.
Community Services in the American Seniors Act
In 1965, the same year that Medicare and Medicaid became law, the Americans Act (OAA) was passed in 1965. Under the leadership of the OAA, the federal government supports a wide range of community-based services and social support, including nutrition services, transportation, caregiver support and preventive health care. The bill aims to provide “the greatest economic or social need” for adults over the age of 60, and not only provides medical support, but also provides employment training and legal aid.
Under the leadership of the OAA, the federal government supports a wide range of community-based services and social support.
The OAA was last reauthorized in 2020, including LGBTQ+ inclusion regulations, including those holding state aging departments responsible for meeting the specific needs of LGBTQ+ seniors and other minority elderly populations. Among the re-authorized states is to promote to local LGBTQ+ communities to report their specific needs and track the effectiveness of government services in these populations.
Federal cuts are aversion to aging of selected communities
The current government’s targets for health care services and federal agencies have caused disproportionate damage to the aging of the LGBTQ+ population. As KFF reported earlier this month, the dramatic restructuring and reduction of the Department of Health and Human Services threatened services provided under the OAA. Cutting Medicaid funding at the federal level will cause downstream damage to community-based services by increasing pressure on state health care budgets and extending them, resulting in a downstream damage to community-based services, forcing many LGBTQ+ seniors to be a single-fit facility, or no care options at all.
Cutting Medicaid funding at the federal level will cause downstream losses to community-based services.
Job requirements for Medicaid coverage are also not appropriately targeted at LGBTQ+ beneficiaries, as nursing liability limits people’s availability and ability to find and maintain employment. This cuts down on two ways in nursing relationships: those who provide care will risk eligibility for Medicaid or have to find additional jobs to meet job requirements, while those who receive care will rely on those fewer caregivers available and may not have health needs for treatment.
Everyone should age with dignity and respect
The stone wall generation is also the generation destroyed by the AIDS crisis. These LGBTQ+ Americans are well aware of the trauma and terrible consequences of medical discrimination and the government’s passion for LGBTQ+ health, and they should be at a dignified age in the country they dream of being activists and in the communities they feel most at home.
At the Medicare Rights Center, we believe that everyone should be in dignity, respect and access to the care they need, regardless of who they are or who they love. As we respect the Stonewall generation and the wider LGBTQ+ community in this Pride Month and beyond, we remain committed to advancing policies and programs that promote healthy equality, expand access to family and community services, and protect critical life spans such as Medicare and Medicaid. Together we can ensure that LGBTQ+ seniors get safe, happy and authentic age.
