Average Cost of Medicare Drug Plans Will Not Increase in 2012, Discounts for Donut Hole
‘Obama Care’ has provided 17 million seniors with free preventive services; 900,000 received 50% discount on
prescription drugs
Aug. 5, 2011 –
Senior citizens got good news from the Obama administration yesterday – the average prescription drug premiums for Medicare Part D will not
increase in 2012. In announcing the news Health and Human Services (HHS) added that more people with Medicare are receiving discounts on
prescription drug costs and the new no-cost preventive services provided by the Affordable Care Act, which is often referred to as “Obama
Care” by opponents.
The cost of the average Medicare prescription drug plan premium in 2012 will be about $30, according to HHS. The average
premium in 2011 is $30.76. The announcement was based on bids submitted by Part D plans for the 2012 plan year.
CMS
also to continue expensive breast cancer drug, Avastin; Sipuleucel-T activates immune system to defend
against prostate cancer; first approved autologus cellular immunotherapy
Campaign to educate seniors about new free
preventive care provided by Affordable Care Act; Over 780,000 received
Annual Wellness Visit between January 1 - June 10 - see video.
“The Affordable Care Act is delivering on its promise of better health care for people with Medicare,” said HHS Secretary
Kathleen Sebelius.
She presented new data indicates that 17 million people with Medicare have received free preventive services this year
while 900,000 Medicare beneficiaries who hit the prescription drug donut hole have received a 50 percent discount on their prescription drugs.
“People with Medicare who hit the donut hole are paying less for their prescription drugs, 17 million Americans have
received free preventive services and prescription drug premiums will remain low. These are important steps that are making a difference in
the lives of millions of Americans right now.”
Under the Affordable Care Act, people with Original Medicare can receive recommended preventive benefits and a new annual
wellness visit without paying an additional penny out of pocket.
In addition, the Affordable Care Act is closing the prescription drug donut hole by providing increasing discounts on
covered drugs in the donut hole. In 2011, the number of people with Medicare benefiting from these improvements is growing:
● From Jan. 1, 2011 to July 2011 there were 17,336,421 people, or 51.5 percent, with Original Medicare who received
one or more free preventive services.
● During the same time period, 1,061,780 Americans with Original Medicare have taken advantage of Medicare’s new
Annual Wellness Visit, up from 780,000 in mid-June.
● Through the end of June, 899,000 Americans with Medicare have benefited from the 50 percent discount on covered
brand name drugs in the Medicare Part D donut hole - an increase of over 420,000 individuals in the month of June alone.
● The dollar amount of these out-of-pocket savings on drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries has risen to $461 million
saved through June 2011 - up from $260 million through May 2011, meaning beneficiaries in the donut hole saved over $200 million in the month
of June alone.
“The Affordable Care Act continues to improve the value of the drug coverage people with Medicare will receive next
year. Out-of- pocket costs will be lower thanks to discounts on brand name prescription drugs and increasing generic coverage for people in
the donut hole,” said Donald M. Berwick, M.D., CMS Administrator. “Beneficiaries should still carefully compare their current plan’s coverage
and quality with what is being offered in 2012 when that information becomes available in the fall.”
● The national and regional premium data in today’s announcement can be found by
Clicking Here.
● For state-by-state information on the number of Medicare beneficiaries who have seen lower out-of-pocket costs in
the donut hole,
Click Here.
● For state-by-state information on utilization of free preventive services and the annual wellness visit,
Click Here.
Share the News, Share the Health
In June, Medicare launched Share the News. Share the Health, a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of
prevention for people with Medicare and their health care providers. As part of the campaign, television and radio public service
announcements are airing nationwide and regional events are being held around the country this summer to make sure Medicare beneficiaries know
that these services are available to them.
CMS has reached out to doctors through a “Prevention Advisory,” and other health care provider-directed materials on
Medscape, a respected website for continuing medical education.
“The Share the News. Share the Health. campaign is helping make sure that all Americans are aware of the
preventive services in Medicare that are provided at no cost to beneficiaries, if obtained from qualified and participating health care
professionals, thanks to the Affordable Care Act,” said CMS Administrator Donald M. Berwick, M.D. “It is critical that Americans know about
these important services that can improve health and prevent chronic diseases.”
Aug. 5, 2011 –
Senior citizens got good news from the Obama administration yesterday – the average prescription drug premiums for Medicare Part D will not
increase in 2012. In announcing the news Health and Human Services (HHS) added that more people with Medicare are receiving discounts on
prescription drug costs and the new no-cost preventive services provided by the Affordable Care Act, which is often referred to as “Obama
Care” by opponents. 
CMS
also to continue expensive breast cancer drug, Avastin; Sipuleucel-T activates immune system to defend
against prostate cancer; first approved autologus cellular immunotherapy
For those in Medicare or about to join, there are
important changes, including new benefits, since the Affordable Care Act
