Health Reform Helping Seniors Afford Health Care

Statement

This week, I am pleased to announce good news for senior citizens on Medicare: premiums for the Medicare Advantage program will be 4 percent lower in 2012 than in 2011, while available benefits will remain consistent.

The Affordable Care Act, which I supported, gives Medicare new authority to protect beneficiaries from significant increases in costs or cuts in benefits in 2012, leading to average premium declines for the second year in a row: 2012 Medicare Advantage premiums are projected to be 11.5 percent below 2010 premiums.

Seniors and people with disabilities with traditional Medicare are also seeing reduced costs as a result of the Affordable Care Act. All beneficiaries now have access to Medicare-covered preventive services without paying a co-pay or deductible, including an Annual Wellness Visit with their physicians. Over 1.1 million people in New York enrolled in Original Medicare have used at least one free preventive service through August of this year.

Also, those who reach the Medicare Part D "donut hole" now enjoy deep discounts on brand name drugs and expanded coverage for generic drugs under provisions of the Affordable Care Act. As a result of the health reform legislation, almost 91,000 people in New York have saved almost $51 million through July of this year when they reached the prescription drug donut hole.

Now more than ever, that makes a real difference for seniors.

All Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug enrollees should take advantage of the upcoming open enrollment period to review their current coverage for any changes their plans may be making for 2012. This year, Open Enrollment starts on October 15, 2011 and will last a full seven weeks to give beneficiaries enough time to review and make changes to their coverage. Each year plans change what they cost and what they cover. Please take note of these important dates:

Throughout September: "Medicare & You" 2012 handbook arrives in your mailbox with information from your current health or drug plan about changes you will see in 2012

October 1: Start comparing plans at www.medicare.gov
October 15: Open Enrollment begins
December 7: Open Enrollment ends

The Affordable Care Act strengthed Medicare's financial position and also helped seniors by driving down Medicare Advantage premiums and providing new benefits and cheaper prescription drugs. Click here to learn more about the ways health reform is helping seniors, the disabled, and others on fixed incomes as the economy recovers.

As always, if you have questions about legislation or need assistance on a federal issue, please do not hesitate to contact my Long Island office or visit my website at www.timbishop.house.gov.

Yours,

Congressman Tim Bishop
First District of New York

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