COVID-19 Vaccines

Individuals aged 65 and older can call a special senior hotline at 855-429-1168 for vaccination scheduling support:

• 10:00am-6:00pm Monday-Friday
• 10:00am-4:00pm Saturday

In addition, the State has conducted phone outreach to residents ages 65 and over and scheduled COVID-19 vaccine appointments.

Food Assistance

Senior centers and nutrition sites have reopened across New Jersey. The Division of Aging Services has issued safety recommendations and is urging all facilities to take necessary precautions.

For more information or additional assistance, contact your county Area Agency on Aging (AAA).

Prescription Drug Discount Programs

Income limits for the Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD) and the Senior Gold Prescription Discount drug assistance programs have increased, making drug prices more affordable for over 20,000 seniors.

To see if you are eligible, visit the PAAD program page, the Senior Gold program page, or call 1-800-792-9745.

Income limits for the Lifeline utility assistance program and the Hearing Aid Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (HAAAD) program have also increased as those programs are tied to PAAD.

The PAAD and Senior Gold Prescription Discount drug assistant programs are available to residents 65 and older and those with disabilities. PAAD cuts drug prices to $5 for covered generic drugs and $7 for covered name brands. Senior Gold cuts prices in half after a $15 copay for covered prescriptions.

Eligible older residents and individuals with disabilities are urged to apply now through the NJSave online application. Download an application from the NJSave webpage, or ask for a paper application by calling 1-800-792-9745.

Property Tax Relief

The Senior Freeze program reimburses eligible senior citizens and disabled persons for property tax or mobile home park site fee increases on their principal residence. For more information on the Senior Freeze program, including eligibility requirements and how to apply, visit the NJ Treasury Department's Senior Freeze program page.

Additional Resources

Through NJ Save, low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities save money on Medicare premiums, prescription costs, and other living expenses. Seniors can see if they qualify and apply online here: https://njdoas-ua.force.com/njsave/quickstart

For Medicare counseling and general aging services questions call 1-800-792-8820

For NJ Save (PAAD, Sr. Gold, Medicare Saving Programs, Lifeline, and more) call 1-800-792-9745

For access to aging services in your county call 1-877-222-3737.

Additional resources for older residents can be found here.

In addition, to protect the health and safety of the older residents, the State has taken several steps including:

• Temporarily allowing supervising nurses to conduct required plan-of-care evaluations by phone or video-chat instead of in person. This limits the number of health care providers required to visit patient homes on a routine basis and guards against the spread of COVID-19 from healthcare workers to elderly and medically fragile individuals by making in-person supervisory visits, which typically occur at least every 60 days, unnecessary. The rule waiver, which takes effect immediately, will remain in place throughout the COVID-19 state of emergency.
• Mobilizing nurse care managers at Medicaid health plans to call high risk populations to identify and address their critical needs including supplies such as durable medical equipment and food;
• Allowing older residents receiving prescription drugs through Medicaid or the state prescription drug assistance program (PAAD and Senior Gold) to refill their prescriptions early, receive 90-day supplies of maintenance medications, and waiving signature requirements to reduce in-person contact;
• Working with counties to support telephone outreach to seniors known to be socially isolated;
• Encouraging health care providers to use telehealth for routine visits, as appropriate;
• Working closely with community and institutional providers to ensure resident needs are met; and
• Conducting phone outreach to our most vulnerable residents seeking enrollment in social service benefits.

Source: https://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/news/press/2020/approved/20200318b.html; https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/library/slides/DHS%20Aging%20Services%20Congregate%20Dining%202021-06-23.pdf