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Obama administration highlights seniors' benefits on health law's anniversary
President Obama's healthcare reform law has helped 5.1 million Medicare beneficiaries save more than $3.2 billion since it was enacted two years ago this week, the Health and Human Services (HHS) Department said Monday.
That includes 103,000 seniors and people with disabilities who saved $93 million in prescription drug coverage in the first two months of 2012, according to the latest data from the Medicare agency. On average, HHS says, Medicare beneficiaries have saved $635 on prescription drugs.
The administration is touting the figures in conjunction with pro-reform events across the country to draw attention to the law's benefits as the Supreme Court prepares to hear next week why it should strike the law down. Monday's focus on seniors coincides with the release of the House Republican budget on Tuesday, which is expected to once again propose replacing Medicare with vouchers for beneficiaries to buy private coverage.
"Without the healthcare law, more than 5.1 million seniors would have faced $3.2 billion in higher drug costs," HSS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said as she unveiled the new figures at a St. Louis community college. "As we move forward, seniors will save even more as the new law completely eliminates the Medicare doughnut hole, delivering more relief to Americans."
