MEDIA RELEASE

According to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 21,278 Hawaii residents with Medicare saved $6,891,558 on their prescription drugs in 2011 thanks to the Affordable Care Act

Savings for people with Medicare will increase over time. According to a new report issued today from HHS, the average person with Medicare will save nearly $4,200 by 2021 because of the new law.

“The Affordable Care Act is already saving money for millions of Americans with Medicare,” HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said. “As we move forward, we will close the donut hole completely and save even more money for everyone with Medicare.”

The Affordable Care Act provides a 50 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs and this year, a 14 percent discount on generics.

Last year, it provided a seven percent discount on covered generic medications for people who hit the prescription drug coverage gap known as the donut hole, with 2,814,646 beneficiaries receiving $32.1 million in savings on generics.

In 2011, the 21,278 residents of Hawaii who hit the donut hole saved an average of $324 on the cost of their prescription drugs.

Overall, 3.6 million Americans with Medicare saved $2.1 billion on their prescription drugs in 2011 thanks to the Affordable Care Act.

And data also show that women especially benefitted from the law’s provision with 2.05 million American women saving $1.2 billion on their prescription drugs.

By 2020, the donut hole will be closed completely. The new report released today by the Department of Health and Human Services finds that this provision and other features of the health reform law will generate substantial savings for people with Medicare.

Typical Medicare beneficiaries will save an average of nearly $4,200 from 2011 to 2021. People with high prescription drug costs could save as much as $16,000.

The savings are a product of provisions in the Affordable Care Act and other cost trends that:

* Decrease prescription drug costs for seniors
* Make preventive services like mammograms free for everyone in Medicare
* Reduce growth in Part B premiums (for physician services)
* Reduce growth in cost-sharing under both Parts A (hospital care) and Part B

HHS also has announced that in 2012, Medicare Advantage premiums have fallen by 7 percent on average and enrollment has risen by about 10 percent since last year.

For state-by-state savings figures, visit: www.cms.gov/Plan-Payment/

For the fact sheet, visit www.cms.gov/apps/media/fact_sheets.asp

For the report regarding savings those with Medicare will see over time, visit: http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/2012/MedicareBeneficiarySavings/ib.shtml