|
 |
 |
|
HHS: Obama health law saved seniors $5B on prescription drug costs
The Obama administration on Monday touted the healthcare law for saving people on Medicare $5.1 billion on prescription drugs.
The Health and Human Services (HHS) Department said almost 2.8 million people have saved an average of $677 on their medications so far this year.
“The healthcare law is saving money for people with Medicare," HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said.
"Everyone with Medicare should look at their health and drug plan options for additional value before the Medicare open enrollment period ends this week," she added.
Obama officials continue to promote the law, which will almost certainly survive now that President Obama has been reelected.
Sebelius also said that about 23.4 million patients with original Medicare received at least one preventive care service under the law.
The Affordable Care Act sought to emphasize preventive care and address Medicare's "doughnut hole" coverage gap.
The law requires the government to cover more and more of the value of brand-name and generic drugs until 2020, when seniors will be responsible for 25 percent of the cost for each.
