New Poll: To Win Families’ Support, Put Alzheimer’s First

Over 30 years ago, President Ronald Reagan informed the world of his diagnosis with Alzheimer’s Disease. His letter raised awareness of the disease and its heavy toll on families.

Today, over 7 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s, and more than 12 million

Americans care for Alzheimer’s patients. Over half of these caregivers look after parents or in-laws, and a quarter of them care for children of their own.

With millions of families struggling with Alzheimer’s, Americans agree it’s time to act. A new poll shows that 87% of voters believe fighting the disease should be a national priority.

Thankfully, there is hope. New FDA-cleared blood tests can detect Alzheimer’s earlier than ever, and innovative FDA-approved treatments can slow the progression of the disease, allowing patients to spend more time with loved ones.

Unfortunately, access has not matched innovation. Outdated government bureaucratic hurdles and insurance middlemen continue to restrict Americans’ access to the most advanced Alzheimer’s diagnostics and treatments.

Medicare forces patients and their caregivers to jump through hoops just to access treatments prescribed by their doctors. Private insurers, who typically follow Medicare’s lead, often impose restrictions of their own.

Families demand action. This recent survey finds that they especially support ending insurance delays, placing care decisions in the hands of doctors instead of middlemen, and ensuring that patients do not have to pay out of pocket to access FDA-cleared Alzheimer’s tests and FDA-approved treatments.

Ensuring access to these treatments makes moral and financial sense. 89% of voters agree that early diagnosis and treatment of the disease will support families both emotionally and financially.

With the midterms fast approaching, it’s time for lawmakers and candidates to listen to families and eliminate Medicare and private insurance coverage barriers to Alzheimer’s care. By prioritizing this issue, candidates can show they are fighting for families.

Raquel Mitchell is Vice President and Co-Founder of Families for America