The 2016 Election, Medicare & You
The votes are in. Donald Trump is president of the United States. The questions to be asked: “how will the election impact Medicare?”
Medicare is considered by many to be one of the most needed and cherished government benefits. Any time the “wind blows in a new direction” one is naturally curios about how a government program might be impacted. It is our opinion that when seniors are given additional benefits, which occurred with the implementation of the Accountable Care ACT, it will be difficult for President elect Trump or Congress to take them away.
Let’s recap some of the ways the ACA had an impact on Medicare. One of the major benefits to seniors provide by the ACA was attention paid to the prescription drug (Pat D) doughnut hole. To clarify the doughnut hole is the coverage gap found in Medicare Part D. The ACA has caused the clear majority of seniors on Medicare to see their drug cost go down as the ACA begins to close the doughnut hole. As the doughnut hole closes, the savings will increase. The doughnut hole will be closed completely by about 2020 under Part D of Medicare when beneficiaries will pay a maximum of 25 percent of their portion for prescriptions.
Per the publication produced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) – “Your Guide to Medicare’s Preventive Services” over 22 preventive services like mammograms or colonoscopies are covered as a preventive service by Medicare. Per CMS, beneficiaries are expected to save on average, about $4,200 per person or about $2.3 billion dollars over a ten-year period beginning in 2006 due to lower drug cost, free preventive services and reduction in spending.
We believe that President elect holds high value to the concerns of senior citizens and Medicare. He has called for a change in U.S. law to allow importation of drugs from foreign countries including Canada to save Americans money. It is also reported that before he became a candidate, he praised single payer health care where the government pays for care for all citizens.
However, one of the most descriptive windows into the possibilities of Trump can be found in a quote provided by Washington Post columnist Marc Thiessen on June 20th, 2016, Every Republican wants to do a big number on Social Security, they want to do it on Medicare, and they want to do it on Medicaid. And, we can’t do that. It’s not fair to the people that have been paying in for years”
Yes, I am very optimistic that Trump will serve the senior community well as an advocate for Medicare and Social Security. The coverage gap found in Medicare Part D
To have a better understanding of the opportunities and choices you have in regards to Medicare we strongly recommend you consult with an independent insurance agent. For further information please visit www.medigappro.com. You may also reach is at 1-800-5356-8016 or [email protected]