On Seniors Citizens Day Governor Hochul Signs Legislation Strengthening Support and Resources for New Yorkers With Alzheimer’s and Other Forms of Dementia

Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation A4195-A/S118-A, which will amend New York's Elder Law to require the NY Connects: Choices for Long Term Care program to provide information about programs and services available to New Yorkers with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. The Governor was joined by the bill's sponsors State Senator Cordell Cleare and Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman as they celebrated with seniors in Harlem during Senator Cleare's 5th Annual Senior Citizens Day.

"On Senior Citizens Day, New York is making it easier for older New Yorkers and their families to find the support they need when facing difficult diseases like Alzheimer's and dementia," Governor Hochul said. "While Republicans in Washington prioritize making life more difficult for Americans, I'm focused on helping our seniors access critical care and support and providing financial relief to New Yorkers and their families."

The legislation would:

• Make dementia and Alzheimer's resources that are already available to New Yorkers, easier to find through the NY Connects program.
• Help individuals, caregivers and families find available home, community and institution based services.
• Require an ongoing education and outreach campaign to ensure New Yorkers are aware of these new resources.

Governor Hochul also slammed Trump's latest plans for Medicare cuts and highlighted how New York has delivered healthcare savings for seniors through her major expansion of the Medicare Savings Program, banning copays for insulin, and other initiatives.

Last week, the Trump Administration announced it would end the Medicare Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration Program by the end of the year - a year earlier than intended. This program, initiated by the Biden Administration in 2024, was intended to stabilize stand-alone prescription drug plan premiums for enrollees, by providing subsidies to plan sponsors. Analysts estimate that these subsidies offset the average prescription drug plan premium by $16 per month in 2026.

Raising prescription drug costs that millions of older New Yorkers rely on every day risks putting additional financial pressure on seniors living on fixed incomes. Since taking office, Governor Hochul has been committed to making life more affordable for all New Yorkers, including seniors. Her initiatives include:

• Expanded Medicare Savings Program: The Medicare Savings Program helps Medicare beneficiaries living on limited incomes by paying their Medicare Part B premiums. Governor Hochul's expansion of the program increased enrollment by 20 percent to serve more than one million New Yorkers today. This program saves eligible New Yorkers $203 per month, meaning $2.4 billion in Medicare Part B premiums every year that New Yorkers do not have to pay.
• Eliminating Co-Pays for Insulin: 1.58 million people are living with diabetes in New York and according to the American Diabetes Association, people with diabetes have medical expenses that are 2.3 times higher than people who do not have diabetes and the impact is even larger for communities of color, which face disproportionately high diagnosis rates. Governor Hochul spearheaded the most expansive prohibition policy against insulin cost-sharing in the nation, saving residents millions of dollars. Estimates show that this proposal has saved New Yorkers $25 million over the last two years.
• EpiPen Price Cap: The Governor signed legislation in 2024 that reduced the sky-high costs of epinephrine auto-injector ("EpiPen") devices for consumers with commercial health insurance. The legislation required health insurers to cover EpiPens and capped the amount consumers would be required to pay out-of-pocket at $100 per year, making the life-saving treatment more affordable for the New Yorkers who need it. The initiative has saved New Yorkers approximately $2.4 million in 2026.

State Senator Cordell Cleare said, "Older New Yorkers have no greater friend and advocate than Governor Kathy Hochul. Time and again, she has listened and prioritized the needs of the Aging Community. From expanding the Medicare Savings Program to supporting individuals, families and caregivers dealing with dementia, I have been proud to partner with her each step of the way."

Assemblymember Alicia L. Hyndman said, "I am proud to be the prime sponsor behind A4195A, an elder bill being signed into law that will make resources for people suffering from Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia more accessible to New Yorkers. For years, the state has provided programs and services to help victims of the disease and their families, but not enough people knew where to look. By making the NY Connects: Choices for Long Term Care program a one-stop shop for dementia information, we will be able to help more people suffering from the disease."