Trustees' Report: Health Reform Enhances Solvency of Medicare Trust Fund

Seniors, People with Disabilities Will Benefit from Stronger, Enhanced Medicare Program

The following is the statement of Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA, on the Report of the Medicare Trustees, which was released today and which affirms that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will enhance the solvency of the Medicare Part A trust fund.

“Today's report of the Medicare Trustees provides yet another illustration of how the health reform law helps seniors and people with disabilities in Medicare. According to the report, the Medicare Part A trust fund will remain fully funded until 2029, 12 years longer than last year’s projected exhaustion date of 2017.

“This improvement in the fiscal health of the trust fund will provide Medicare beneficiaries with peace of mind, knowing that the health insurance on which they rely will continue to be able to serve them. In addition, many of the initiatives contained in the health reform law hold the promise of moderating the growth of Medicare costs in the future. This will help ensure that Medicare will remain affordable over the long run.

“These achievements are particularly remarkable because the new law makes no reductions in the benefits guaranteed to seniors and people with disabilities. In fact, the health reform law makes several key improvements to Medicare benefits.

“Most notably, the law gradually closes the Part D prescription drug coverage gap—the infamous ‘doughnut hole.’ Before the law was passed, beneficiaries with significant prescription drug needs were at risk for more than $3,600 in uncovered out-of-pocket costs if they fell into the doughnut hole. Over the next 10 years, this risk will disappear.

“The law also eliminates all deductibles and co-insurance for preventive care under Medicare, and it adds coverage for an annual physical, which will make it easier for people with Medicare to obtain the counseling and screenings they need to stay healthy.

“Seniors will welcome today’s report and will continue to learn that the new health reform law is helpful to their health, their pocketbooks, and their peace of mind.”

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Families USA is the national organization for health care consumers. It is nonprofit and nonpartisan and advocates for high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

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