The Affordable Care Act - Stronger Benefits to Seniors, Billions in Savings This Year
The Affordable Care Act - Stronger Benefits to Seniors, Billions in Savings This Year
Posted: 04/29/2012 12:09 pm
Two years ago, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act. The President's health care law gives hard working, middle-class families security, makes Medicare stronger, and puts more money back in seniors' pockets.
Prior to 2011, people on Medicare faced paying for preventive benefits like cancer screenings and cholesterol checks out of their own pockets. Now, these benefits are offered free of charge to beneficiaries.
Over time, the health reform law also closes the gap in prescription drug coverage, known as the "donut hole." This helps seniors like Helen Rayon: "I am a grandmother who is trying to assist a grandson with his education. I take seven different medications. Getting the donut hole closed, that gives me a little more money in my pocket."
In 2010, those who hit the donut hole received a $250 rebate - with almost 4 million seniors and people with disabilities receiving a collective $1 billion. In 2011, people on Medicare automatically received a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs in the donut hole. Over 3.6 million beneficiaries received more than $2.1 billion in savings - averaging $604 per person last year.
More:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sec-kathleen-sebelius/the-affordable-care-act_b_1462694.html
cbayer
(146,218 posts)be put in place for all.
If SCOTUS overturns the ACA, the silver lining will be the opportunity to pass a single payer bill. We have to get both houses.
CTyankee
(63,771 posts)industry will just give up without a fight.
I hope I am wrong. I WANT to be wrong, but sadly, I don't think it's gonna happen...
cbayer
(146,218 posts)happy with the changes.
I remain optimistic.
CTyankee
(63,771 posts)I mean, can we get Medicare expanded to everyone, while letting the private companies do their thing and see if they can drum up enough business to stay in business?
What exactly would it take to just have that happen?
cbayer
(146,218 posts)The single payer/provider will provide basic coverage for everyone, but those who want to buy more can do that privately. They might buy a policy that covers things Medicare doesn't (private rooms, cosmetic procedures, certain medications) and I suspect that there would still be co-pays and deductibles that a secondary policy could cover.
CTyankee
(63,771 posts)cbayer
(146,218 posts)plan and a private plan. I am thinking it is more likely that everyone would participate in the federal plan (Medicare for All) but you could also purchase additional coverage for things it did not cover.
CTyankee
(63,771 posts)coverage, for instance.
What some European countries do is have single payer but allow non-profit private organizations to compete for the tax health care dollars. The catch is NON-PROFIT only, by law. So that gives people choices but still cuts out the profit motive of greedy insurance companies. It seems to work well in places like Switzerland and the Netherlands. And I think they have a few for profit companies that offer the "extras" insurance as you referenced (not basic health care).
dkf
(37,305 posts)Sigh.
And if they saved $604 how much did they spend? Yikes.
sad sally
(2,627 posts)Got an ache or pain? Take this drug. Does it make you have another symptom? Here's another drug. Oh, and now you'll need these three other drugs (and help in remembering when to take them).
Yes, chemicals can save lives and make people better. But seniors are becoming a drugged up group of people - a real boon to big pharma.