Seniors Save More Than $1.2 Billion on Prescriptions Thanks to the Affordable Care Act

[cbayer]

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - So far this year, more than 2.2 million people with Medicare have saved more than $1.2 billion on their prescriptions, for an average of $550 per person, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced today. And more than 22.6 million seniors and people with disabilities have taken advantage of at least one free Medicare preventive benefit, including the new Annual Wellness Visit made possible by the Affordable Care Act.

“Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, seniors are getting cheaper prescription drugs and free preventive care,” said CMS Administrator Donald M. Berwick, MD.

Under the Affordable Care Act, people with Medicare can receive many preventive services at no charge, including diabetes screening, some cancer screenings and help to quit smoking.

People with Medicare across the country are also receiving cheaper prescription drugs. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, seniors and people with disabilities receive a 50 percent discount on covered brand name drugs in the Medicare Part D coverage gap, also known as the “donut hole.” The coverage gap discount is set at 50 percent on covered brand name drugs again in 2012. Coverage in the donut hole will progressively increase each year until the coverage gap closes in 2020.

Read more: http://www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/Seniors_320/Seniors_Save_More_Than_1_2_Billion_on_Prescriptions_Thanks_to_the_Affordable_Care_Act.shtml

[kestrel91316]

1. I sure wish I could afford medical insurance.

[Kingofalldems]

2. It should be noted--all republicans voted against this

K and R

[Davis_X_Machina]

3. That's why we need to Kill the Bill!

(Hey, I got stuck with a lot of merch -- t-shirts and stuff -- when ACA passed. This is my chance to beat down some inventory...)

[Iliyah]

5. And a bunch of them protested

and swore up and down this is socialism and voted for the gopers, the same people who want seniors to suffer and have no afforable health care.

I bet none of this even makes it on the corporate media with the exception of MSNBC, the night shows.

[eridani]

10. People from 50-64 are still suffering from no affordable health care n/t

[CTyankee]

4. My husband is one of them! His brand name med is a LOT cheaper with his new

Part D plan! Thank you President Obama!

[Gamow]

6. What a day and age

when rolling back the amount megacorps can overcharge for pills is considered progress.
Kudos to all congressional democrats for saving this tiny morsel from the sea of shit they have allowed republicans create.

[area51]

9. +1, thank you.

Our tax dollars are already taken by the govt. and given to the drug companies for research and development; why the fsck are they permitted to charge us such high prices? Meds are much cheaper in Canada and Europe, where those governments actually have a vested interest in keeping citizens alive.

Pssst, US govt: the more jobs you offshore, and the more of us you allow to die without access to medical care, the fewer tax dollars you'll take in to run your fscking wars!

[defendandprotect]

7. Congress has protected Big Pharma's IMMENSE profits by keeping Medicare from negotiating prices ....

Granted Medicare patients are saving something -- but now what they should be

saving --

And, Obama, of course, is also part of this pro-Big Pharma deal making in back rooms!

[defendandprotect]

8. We have Congress to thank for protecting Big Pharma's fraud and criminal activity --

EVERY ONE of the Big Pharma companies has been involved in defrauding

the Medicare program -- !!

And none have ever been barred from doing future business with Medicare!


Our Congress is protecting criminal capitalism over and over again --

protecting, aiding and abeting corporate criminal activity!