Improving Healthcare: Strengthening Medicare
“The new Senate bill makes improvements to the Medicare program by creating a new annual wellness benefit, providing free preventive benefits, and—most notably for AARP members—reducing drug costs for seniors who fall into the dreaded Medicare doughnut hole, a costly gap in prescription drug coverage.” – AARP Press Release, 11/18/09
“The Nevada Alliance for Retired Americans congratulates Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for putting together a strong health care reform bill. The proposed legislation would make great strides in helping retirees in Nevada and all across the country better afford to see a doctor or get a prescription filled.” - Scott Watts, President of the Nevada Alliance for Retired Americans
Senator Reid is committed to passing health insurance reform that protects America’s seniors by strengthening Medicare for Nevada’s 328,000 beneficiaries, requiring accountability, and lowering the costs of prescription drug medications.
Reducing Prescription Drug Costs
The outrageous costs of prescription drugs are swamping Nevada’s seniors already struggling to make ends meet in the difficult economy. Senator Reid worked tirelessly to ensure that the Senate health insurance reform legislation addresses this growing concern.
- Reducing the Medicare “Donut Hole” In 2007, more than 8 million seniors hit the Medicare “donut hole”, or the gap in prescription drug coverage in Medicare Part D. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ensure greater access to affordable medications by reducing the size of this gap. In fact, it raises the ceiling on the initial coverage period by $500 in 2010.
- Discounting Brand-Name Drugs The Senate legislation secures 50% discounts for brand-name drugs and biologics purchased by low and middle-income beneficiaries in the coverage gap. As a result, 58,200 Nevada seniors will have their brand-name drug costs in the Medicare Part D “donut hole” halved.
Strengthens Medicare
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act strengthens Medicare by weeding out waste, fraud and abuse, and ensuring Medicare funds go to improving seniors care, not lining the pockets of insurance companies.
Ending Age Discrimination
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act keeps the insurance industry honest by ending discrimination based on age. No longer will insurance companies be able to drop someone’s coverage because they are getting older.
Free Preventive Services
The senate legislation will provide free preventive services for over 328,000 Nevada Medicare beneficiaries. This will not only save on overall costs, but eliminate the out-of-pocket expenses currently burdening hundreds of thousands Nevada retirees for crucial services like colonoscopies.
