People with Medicare save $5 billion on prescription drugs because of health care law

As the final week of Medicare Open Enrollment is upon us, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that savings on prescription drugs made possible by the Affordable Care Act reached $5.1 billion.  More than 5.8 million people with Medicare have benefited from the assistance the health care law provides with the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap known as the donut hole. 

In the first 10 months of 2012 alone, almost 2.8 million individuals have saved an average of $677 on prescription drugs. During the same period, about 23.4 million people with original Medicare received one or more preventive services at no cost to them, with 2.5 million having received an Annual Wellness Visit.

“The health care law is saving money for people with Medicare,” Secretary Sebelius said. “Everyone with Medicare should look at their health and drug plan options for additional value before the Medicare open enrollment period ends this week.”

For 2013 the health care law provides people with Medicare in the donut hole with greater savings, as discounts rise to 53 percent of the cost of brand name drugs and 21 percent of the cost of generic drugs.  Savings on Medicare coverage of prescription drugs will gradually increase until 2020, when the donut hole will be closed.

Because of the health care law, people with Medicare can be healthier with free access (no deductible or co-pay) to many preventive services.  Before 2011, people with Medicare had to pay part of the cost for many preventive services.  Cost is no longer a barrier for seniors who want to stay healthy and treat problems early.  In 2011, an estimated 32.5 million people with original Medicare or Medicare Advantage received one or more free preventive benefits.

Open Enrollment Period Ends Dec. 7

During Medicare’s annual open enrollment period, people with Medicare should compare costs, benefits and quality of Medicare health and drug plans to find the best value for 2013.  People with Medicare should regularly examine their health care choices because individuals’ unique health needs as well as their health or prescription drug plan can change from year to year.  Those who make their coverage elections by Dec. 7, 2012, will ensure new coverage can begin without interruption on Jan. 1, 2013.

Additionally, earlier this month, CMS announced that individuals with Medicare who are affected by Hurricane Sandy and unable to make a plan selection by Dec. 7, 2012, can still enroll in health and prescription drug coverage for 2013 by calling 1-800-MEDICARE anytime, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.