NCOA Launches BenefitsCheckUp Screening Initiative for Philadelphia Senior Citizens; More Than 20 Local Health, Senior Centers Mobilized

7/30/2003

From: Kelly Connor, 856-223-9567, or 609-221-5785 (cell), Kelly@connorpr.com, for the National Council on the Aging

PHILADELPHIA, July 30 -- The National Council on the Aging (NCOA), the nation's first charitable organization dedicated to promoting the dignity, independence, well-being and contributions of older Americans, today announced the official launch of the BenefitsCheckUp(r) of Pennsylvania program for senior citizens living in the Philadelphia area. Working in conjunction with its local partners, AARP Pennsylvania and The Foundation to Benefit Our Seniors (FBOS), NCOA has been implementing an Organizational Edition of BenefitsCheckUp at more than 20 local health and senior centers, and training staff to help seniors to understand and navigate the Web-based tool.

Since its national launch in June 2001, BenefitsCheckUp -- the first web-based service designed to help older Americans, their families, caregivers and community organizations to determine quickly and easily what programs and benefits seniors may qualify for and how to claim them - the program has issued one million eligibility reports, directing seniors to more than 1,000 federal, state and private services and benefits programs that might otherwise have remained unused. Many seniors are finding significant prescription savings using BenefitsCheckUpRx, an added feature that allows you to search only for savings programs related to medications. BenefitsCheckUp is a free and confidential service which can be accessed through the Internet at http://www.benefitscheckup.org.

At a press conference held today at Germantown's Maple Village at Center in the Park Community Senior Center, NCOA President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) James Firman and Lynn Fields Harris, Center in the Park's executive director, celebrated the mobilization efforts and official launch of the program for Philadelphia seniors along with U.S. Representative Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.), AARP Pennsylvania President Shane Cramer and FBOS Founder Warren Kantor, along with many other local dignitaries and guests. Local senior citizens also attended to use BenefitsCheckUp in the Center in the Park's computer lab at Maple Village.

"There are approximately one million individuals over 55 in the Philadelphia metro area that may be missing out on dozens of federal and state programs like Medicaid, energy assistance, and in-home services for the elderly, that could save them thousands of dollars each year," said James Firman. "We are very excited about launching BenefitsCheckUp here today at the Center in the Park, taking another important step toward helping Philadelphia seniors to find the benefits programs they are eligible for and deserve."

"Today is a good day for Philadelphia seniors," said Rep. Fattah. "I want to thank everyone involved in this effort which will bring better services to seniors in Philadelphia and all around this country. The programs in place are no good if people aren't getting access to the benefits they are entitled to use."

When visiting http://www.BenefitsCheckUp.org, users complete a brief questionnaire which generates a personalized report specifying a list of programs they may be eligible for and detailed instructions on how to enroll. For those seniors visiting one of more than 20 local BenefitsCheckUp Organizational Edition user sites to access the service and generate an eligibility report, staffers will be on hand to guide them through the process and provide them with continued support until eligible benefits and services are obtained.

"Research shows that seniors are missing out on roughly $2,000 per year in eligible benefits," said Warren Kantor. "With our goal of assisting at least 50,000 older adults, this translates to $100 million annually in federal and state money for Philadelphia. I would like to especially thank Center in the Park, one of the first local organizations to adopt BenefitsCheckUp during its initial beta testing phase, for the excellent work done right here. I am very excited about all that our BenefitsCheckUp outreach can bring to Philadelphia and am happy to be a part of this great endeavor."

"AARP Pennsylvania is very pleased to be a partner in the BenefitsCheckUp of Pennsylvania initiative. This unique program is already making life better for thousands of Americans across the country and will do the same for seniors and their families living right here in Philadelphia," added Skip Voluntad, executive council board member, AARP Pennsylvania.

NCOA and its partners, including America Online's corporate investment department which hosts the BenefitsCheckUp website on a pro bono basis, anticipate that five million will have used the Web site in the next four years and is mobilizing more than 2,000 community organizations across the country to find and help isolated seniors who could benefit from the service. A Spanish language version of BenefitsCheckUp will be available in the fall of 2003. For a complete list of all local centers offering trained support staff, please contact FBOS at 800.886.4791.

BenefitsCheckUp is supported by several other organizations and foundations including AARP, AOL, Atlantic Philanthropies, The US Department of Commerce, The Commonwealth Fund, Pfizer Inc, Merck Company Foundation and the Archstone Foundation. The development of BenefitsCheckUpRx was supported by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, Lucent Technologies/ Avaya/Agere Family Care Development Fund and FJC-A Foundation of Donor-Advised Funds.

Founded in 1950, The National Council on the Aging is the nation's first charitable organization dedicated to promoting the dignity, independence, well-being, and contributions of older Americans. NCOA serves as a national voice and powerful advocate on behalf of older Americans. NCOA is an innovator, developing programs such as BenefitsCheckUp, Foster Grandparents and Family Friends. NCOA is an activator, working with its thousands of community organization members nationwide to provide needed services to older people. For more information on NCOA, visit http://www.ncoa.org.