Congresswoman Matsui Highlights Medicare Savings Under Affordable Care Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 2, 2012

CONTACT: ALANA JUTEAU
(202) 225-7163

Congresswoman Matsui Highlights Medicare Savings Under Affordable Care Act
Enrollees Saving on Prescription Drugs, Advantage Premiums

Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) announced that seniors and persons with disabilities covered by Medicare are continuing to receive great savings thanks to the Affordable Care Act. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has reported that, as a direct result of the Affordable Care Act, during 2011, 3.6 million seniors and people with disabilities saved $2.1 billion on their Medicare prescription drug costs. These individuals, who hit the Medicare Part D coverage gap known as the donut hole, each saved an average of $604. In California, 319,429 Medicare enrollees received discounts on their prescription drugs this year, saving a total of $171,983,735.

"Millions of seniors are seeing an end to the days when they had to choose between their medication and other necessities," said Congresswoman Matsui. "The Affordable Care Act is making a real difference in the lives of all Americans. Especially in these difficult economic times, every dollar saved can go a long way. I expect that we will only see more benefits and greater savings as the law's implementation continues."

HHS also reports that the average person with Medicare will save nearly $4200 by 2021, and that people with high prescription drug costs could save up to $16,000 in that time. This is due to both the prescription drug discounts, as well as other features of the health care law, like free preventive care for Medicare enrollees.

Additionally, HHS has announced that Medicare Advantage premiums in 2012 are, on average, 7 percent lower than in 2011. Since the Affordable Care Act was enacted in March 2010, these premiums have dropped by 16 percent. Further, more people are gaining coverage through Medicare, with enrollment up 17 percent since the law took effect.

Matsui added, "The health care law is clearly working to drive down costs and improve access to care. These reports illustrate real savings that our nation's seniors would not have seen had the Republican attempt to repeal the health care law succeeded."

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