1965-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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14 Welfare Report To the Honorable Board of Selectmen: The year 1965 is the most significant year since the enactment of the Social Security Act. Amendments to the law will include payments by people while employed for in- surance to pay medical bills incurred after the age of 65 years. Another provision of the law makes persons 65 years or older or who attain the age of 65 years in the next two years eligible for hospital benefits on July 1, 1966; and if they desire, they may enroll before March 31, 1966 in the optional benefits which includes payment of bills for physicians' and surgeons' services and commences January 1, 1967. We have devoted some time during the year working in cooperation with the office of Health, Welfare and Educa- tion to see that each person now over 65 years of age has a Social Security Account number to facilitate hospital care should such service be needed. We are also asking all bene- ficiaries of Social Security who also receive assistance from the Board of Public Welfare to enroll in the optional medical program. Our expenditures of $44,636.64 in 1965 were $3,701.15 greater than in 1964. Although we had fewer cases than in 1964, the increased health needs of our people combined with higher hospital and nursing home rates increased our medical costs to $20,851.79 in 1965 which is $6,671.42 more than in 1964.