Hoyer Discusses Medicare and the Affordable Care Act with Fifth District Seniors

LEONARDTOWN, MD – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) visited the Garvey Senior Activity Center for a tour and meeting with residents and staff to discuss Medicare and the new health care law.

"I was very pleased to meet today with residents and staff of the Garvey Senior Activity Center to discuss the many benefits of the Affordable Care Act to older Americans," stated Congressman Hoyer. "This was a productive session in which we discussed some of the ways the Affordable Care Act will strengthen Medicare and help beneficiaries. Benefits that have recently been rolled out include a 50% discount on brand name drugs for seniors in the donut hole and free preventive care for seniors, such as no-cost annual check-ups, annual mammograms, and screenings for cancer. In addition, we talked about how as a result of the new law, Medicare will increase payments to doctors for primary care to encourage their availability to beneficiaries. I understand the importance of taking care of our older Americans, and I look forward to continuing to hold these types of informational discussions with Fifth District residents."

In Maryland, 48,167 Medicare beneficiaries have already received one-time, tax-free $250 rebate checks to assist with their drug costs, due to the Affordable Care Act.  Three million seniors nationwide have benefited from this relief, which was made available to any beneficiary who fell into the Part D drug coverage gap known as the "donut hole" during 2010. 

Under the new law, additional benefits for older Americans in Medicare include:

·         Closing the Part D prescription drug "donut hole."  In January, Part D beneficiaries in the donut hole began receiving a 50% discount on brand name drugs, and a seven percent discount on generic prescriptions.  The discounts will increase over time until the donut hole is completely closed in 2020

·         Free preventive care services like mammograms, flu shots, and certain colon cancer tests and a free annual physical.

·         Extending the solvency of Medicare by an additional 12 years, from 2017 to 2029.

·         Slowing the growth of the cost of Medicare, so that experts estimate that seniors can expect to save on average almost $200 per year in premiums, in 2018, compared to what they would have paid without the new law.

·         Reducing waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare.

·         Improving care by incentivizing doctors communicate and coordinate.

·         Expanding home and community-based services to keep older Americans in their home, instead of in nursing homes.

For more information on how the Affordable Care Act benefits seniors, visit www.HealthCare.gov.

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