Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
October 31 , 2001
Catholic organization aims to guide seniors into `golden age'
Retirement group offers spiritual, physical supports for those over 50
By Agostino Bono
As people move into their senior years, making ends meet takes on spiritual, economic and medical dimensions: retirement income shrinks available funds; aging expands health needs; and souls require accelerated care in preparation for life's earthly end.
Aiming to meet these needs — and make available car-rental and vacation discounts at the same time — is Catholic Golden Age.
Founded in 1975, the organization, known as CGA after its initials, provides spiritual and physical supports geared for those over 50. Among the advertised benefits are local chapters offering social events as well as spiritual activities.
``Access to health care is very important now,'' said Msgr. Gerald N. Dino, president of the CGA Board of Directors and vicar general of the Byzantine Catholic Diocese of Passaic, N.J., noting the increasing costs of quality medicine.
``We know how hard it is to make ends meet at today's prices,'' he added.
CGA focuses on providing low-cost insurance and discount programs for health care facilities, nursing homes, prescription drugs and eye care. Minimum age for joining is 50, well below mandatory retirement age, though Msgr. Dino noted that the majority of the about 500,000 members are retired.
There is a yearly membership fee, and some of the discount programs require an additional cost.
One major health discount program is Access to Care, which provides some 10,000 members discounts on a wide range of costly long-term services, such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities and home health care.
George Pegula, CGA founder and its chief executive officer, noted that discount programs are different than insurance. Insurance has premiums, deductibles and a criteria for being eligible, he said.
The discount program is simpler as it provides prearranged discounts by a network of providers regardless of a member's age, health history or pre-existing health condition, he said.
A member pays the full bill and at the end of the month receives a check for the discount or has the discounted amount applied as a credit toward future bills, he added.
Another discount program is advertised as offering up to 50 percent savings on vision, hearing, dental and prescription services.
CGA membership also entitles members to discounts on car rentals, long-distance telephone service, hotels and pilgrimage and vacation tours.
For Pegula, who started in the insurance business, getting these discounts is just a matter of research to find out who is offering what.
``Organizations, such as drug companies, already have these discount networks in force. We make them available to individuals,'' he said. ``Like anything else in business, the whole object of the discount is for companies to get more individuals to use their facilities.''
CGA is hoping to embark on a national advertising campaign in the Catholic press to increase its membership, which at one time topped 1 million, he said. Catholic press advertisements were once the major way of getting members, but rising advertising costs forced a suspension in that effort, he added.
Currently, the main CGA outreach is through its Web site (www.catholicgoldenage.org), which contains data about the organization as well as information on its services and discount programs.
In keeping with its promotional materials noting aging Catholics are best served when their needs and activities are complemented by faith, CGA sponsors an annual Aug. 15 pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, its members benefit from the prayers and Masses of 25 religious orders, and it encourages its local chapter members to be active in their parish life.
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