Health Reform Impact: Lower Rx Drug Costs, Improved Coverage for Seniors

Press Release

Two years since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, the law has increased benefits and improved coverage for seniors, with millions of seniors and people with disabilities on Medicare already seeing lower prescription drug costs and receiving savings through free preventive care. Statements from Ways and Means Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) and Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Pete Stark (D-CA) are below:

Health Reform by the Numbers:

5.1 million seniors and people with disabilities in the Medicare "donut hole" have received a 50 percent discount on brand name drugs, saving $3.2 billion on prescription drugs in 2010 and 2011 alone. The prescription drug "donut hole" will close completely under health reform.

32.5 million seniors and people with disabilities on Medicare received one or more free preventive services including Annual Wellness Visits and mammograms in 2011.

Because of the Affordable Care Act:

* There will be lower Part B premiums and cost-sharing for beneficiaries in traditional Medicare.

* Medicare beneficiaries in the "donut hole" have received an average savings of $635 on prescription drugs in 2011.

Today, Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander M. Levin (D-MI) and Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Pete Stark (D-CA), criticized the Republican agenda for seniors:

Ranking Member Levin: "Health care reform has been lowering premiums and out-of-pocket prescription drugs costs for seniors across the country. It's time for Republicans to stop trying to take those benefits away."

Ranking Member Stark: "Thanks to health reform, more than 320,000 seniors in California have already saved hundreds of dollars on prescription drugs and over 3 million have taken advantage of new preventive services -- including an annual wellness visit, colonoscopies and mammograms -- at no cost. Republicans' call for repeal would eliminate these vital benefits."

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