Changes in the Aging Policy Landscape Since the 2020 Election

In this article, we highlight federal and state policies adopted since 2020 to improve health access and outcomes and strengthen the economic security of older adults and their families by expanding Medicare benefits and sustaining Medicaid coverage, enhancing nursing home quality and staffing, increasing access to home and community-based services and family caregiver support, and reducing financial hardship during the PHE. But this progress is tempered by the failure to mitigate the greatest threats to the financial well-being of older adults and their families: the insufficient long-term financing of Medicare and Social Security and the lack of comprehensive financing for long-term services and supports. We conclude as we might have 60 years ago, by placing these issues at the top of the aging policy agenda for the next Administration, Congress, and state and local governments.