PHOTO: Linda Bock is a geriatric nurse in Prince George's County, MD
I used to see patients with Medicare prescription plans do all sorts of things because they couldn't afford to pay for their medications once they hit the 'doughnut hole.'
Patients would ask us for samples because they couldn't afford the full price of their medications. But we didn't always have their medicine or didn't have enough of it, so we'd switch them to something less effective just to make sure they had something.
Even worse, if they skipped or cut their medications, it put them at risk for kidney failure, a stroke or a heart attack.
The healthcare law has made prescription medications and preventive care much more affordable for Americans who rely on Medicare.
As I like to say, 'doughnuts are bad for you and so is the hole!'
The healthcare law has strengthened Medicare through important benefits
Including:
- no-cost preventive services;
- free annual wellness visits;
- eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in delivery of care and benefits; and
- a one-time rebate plus a significant discount on prescription drugs for people who hit the 'doughnut hole' coverage gap.
Nearly 4 million people with Medicare paid less for their prescriptions during the law's first year, including many of Linda's patients.
In 2011, seniors who reached the coverage gap received a 50 percent discount when buying covered brand-name prescription drugs. Over the next 10 years, seniors will save even more on brand-name and generic drugs until the coverage gap is closed in 2020. Medicare also now covers a wide range of preventive services and no-cost screenings for cancer, diabetes and other chronic diseases; 35 million seniors have already taken advantage of one or more of these services.
Thanks to the law:
- 5.1 million seniors have saved more than $3.2 billion on prescription drugs thanks to the law.
- Seniors each saved an average of $635 on their prescriptions in 2011.
- 32.5 million seniors received free preventive care services in 2011.1
How has the Affordable Care Act helped you?
In the time since it first went into effect, the healthcare law has improved the lives and health of millions-with many more improvements to come as the law is fully implemented in 2014.
Share your story as we celebrate the second anniversary of the health care law.
Visit our healthcare resource hub on SEIU.org at http://www.seiu.org/the-healthcare-law.
Learn how the Affordable Care Act affects you and your family
The healthcare law is benefitting millions of Americans. Share your story
Don't put Medicaid and Medicare back on the chopping block
