Millions of seniors have taken advantage of cheaper medication, free preventive health services and other benefits offered to them under health care reform, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
On Thursday, the department announced that since January, more than 17 million people with Medicare have taken advantage of a provision allowing them to use preventive services — such as colonoscopies — without a co-pay.
Also, 900,000 Medicare beneficiaries who hit the so-called “doughnut hole” — the coverage gap at which Medicare recipients have to pay out-of-pocket for prescription drugs — have received a 50 percent discount on their medication, saving them a total of more than $461 million.
The Health and Human Services Department also reported average Medicare prescription drug premiums will not increase in 2012 and will actually dip slightly. They say it’s all thank so the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Brenda Kelley, state director of AARP Connecticut, said Thursday’s announcement is proof of the major role the Affordable Care Act is playing in improving care for seniors. “Granted, we have a long way to go to get (health reform) fully implemented, but we are making progress,” she said. “People are seeing changes in their health care and in their pocketbooks.”
The only announcement Kelley was skeptical about was the expected drop in Medicare prescription premiums in 2012. An average of $30 “may be a little low.” Read more: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Seniors-continue-to-reap-health-benefits-under-1750033.php#ixzz1UHwhOBIP