Seniors and the Affordable Care Act
The health care law is giving seniors more affordable options for health care and health insurance coverage.
The Affordable Care Acts helps make Medicare and your health care better. Here are a few things you should know about the new law and your Medicare. First, the law protects your existing, guaranteed, Medicare-covered, benefits. That's a really important point. Your existing Medicare-covered benefits are protected. Second, you have the same ability to choose your own doctor in original Medicare that you've always had. In fact, the vast majority of doctors and hospitals participate in Medicare, so you have a wide choice and access to care.
Third, there are some important new benefits in the Affordable Care Act that will help make your Medicare even stronger. If you've fallen into the gap in prescription coverage under Medicare Part D, you know that “doughnut hole” means something serious: the possibility that you won't be able to afford the medications you need. The Affordable Care Act not only protects existing Medicare prescription drug benefits, it closes the doughnut hole-- the gap in Medicare prescription drug coverage. If you're on Medicare, don't get Medicare Extra Help for your high prescription drug costs, and reach the doughnut hole in 2010, you'll get a one-time tax-free $250 rebate from Medicare to help offset your costs. Medicare has already started mailing out these rebate checks to eligible seniors, and will be sending out more each month to Medicare recipients who qualify. Beginning in 2011, if you have high prescription drug costs that put you in the doughnut hole, you'll receive a 50% discount on covered brand-name drugs while you're in the coverage gap. Medicare will add more cost savings in the future, until the doughnut hole is closed in 2020. Also starting in 2011, Medicare will offer preventive services without charging you a co-insurance or a deductible. You'll also be offered a free annual wellness exam.
Excessive over-payments to private insurance companies in Medicare Advantage will be gradually reduced, while enrollees' guaranteed Medicare benefits will be protected. A greater percentage of premium dollars will be spent on health care, rather than administrative costs or profit. This will lower Medicare Part B premiums for everyone with Medicare, including the three-quarters not enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan. The Affordable Care Act will also make Medicare stronger going into the future. By reducing waste, fraud, and abuse, it will slow the cost growth of Medicare, extending the life of the hospital insurance Medicare Trust Fund to at least 2029. That's a twelve year extension. If you're over 55 and retired, but not old enough for Medicare, it can be very difficult to find affordable insurance. The Affordable Care Act can help. If you were covered under an employer-sponsored health plan when you retired, a new early-retiree reinsurance program will lower the cost of your employer's plan. If you're not yet eligible for Medicare, you have a pre-existing condition, and you've been uninsured for six months, you may be able to get health insurance through a transitional high-risk pool until the insurance exchanges offer you options in 2014. You'll find the information you need to make smart health coverage choices for yourself or your loved one on this website.
NOTE: The transcript for this program may have been compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.
No Events Scheduled
There are currently no events scheduled for this channel.
Open for Questions with HHS and WebMD
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Secretary Sebelius and WebMD held a live online discussion on women's preventive services.
MyCare: Louisa M. in Palm Beach, FL
May 24, 2012
May 22, 2012
May 03, 2012
MyCare: Tracy and Sami W. in Appleton, WI
April 25, 2012
MyCare: Abby S. in Minneapolis, MN
April 18, 2012
MyCare: Robyn M. in Baltimore, MD
April 16, 2012
MyCare: Nancy C. in North Conway, NH
April 11, 2012
MyCare: Myrna P. in Cleveland, OH
April 02, 2012
MyCare: Dave L. in Hummelstown, PA
March 29, 2012
MyCare: Angie and Steven G. in Cleveland, OH
March 28, 2012
MyCare: Mark H. in Ann Arbor, MI
March 28, 2012
MyCare: Second Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act
March 28, 2012
MyCare: Vanessa M. in Riverview, FL
March 28, 2012
March 19, 2012
MyCare: Helen R. in Philadelphia, PA
March 19, 2012
Secretary Sebelius Introduces MyCare
March 19, 2012
The Power of Electronic Health Records
February 21, 2012
iVillage Video Townhall on Women’s Health
January 27, 2012
Women's Health Living Room Discussions: Intro (Baltimore, MD)
January 26, 2012
December 20, 2011
Explore your coverage and pricing options
November 18, 2011
Small Business Health Plan Finder
November 18, 2011
CMS Announces Accountable Care Organization Rule
October 26, 2011
The National Health Service Corps
October 11, 2011
Insurance Rate Increases and the Affordable Care Act
September 01, 2011
Announcing the National Prevention Strategy
June 16, 2011
May 16, 2011
March 22, 2011
The Affordable Care Act: One Year Later
March 22, 2011
Improving Medicare in 2011: Fighting Medicare Fraud
March 21, 2011
Improving Medicare in 2011: Closing the Donut Hole
March 21, 2011
Improving Medicare in 2011: Annual Wellness Visits
March 21, 2011
Improving Medicare in 2011: Preventive Services
March 21, 2011
Medicare & the Affordable Care Act in 2011
January 20, 2011
Getting Your Money's Worth on Health Insurance
November 10, 2010
Explore your coverage and pricing options – Español
October 22, 2010
President Obama Explains Healthcare.gov
July 28, 2010
Families with Children and the Affordable Care Act
June 30, 2010
Large Businesses and the Affordable Care Act
June 30, 2010
People with Disabilities and the Affordable Care Act
June 30, 2010
Young Adults and the Affordable Care Act
June 30, 2010
Small Businesses and the Affordable Care Act
June 30, 2010
Seniors and the Affordable Care Act
June 30, 2010
Pregnant Women and the Affordable Care Ac
June 30, 2010
Preventive Services for Women and Families
June 22, 2010