Beneficiaries should be aware of changes with new health care law to avoid falling prey to Medicare fraud
Washington, DC— The National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA))— the leading national organization working to improve the lives of Hispanic older adults, their families, and caregivers— applauds the savings Medicare beneficiaries are receiving through the new health care law, the Affordable Care Act. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced beneficiaries have saved more than $3.5 billion on prescription drugs since the Affordable Care Act came into effect in March 2010. Additionally, in the first four months of this year, more than 416,000 beneficiaries saved an average of $724 on their prescription drugs after reaching the coverage gap known as the “donut hole.” This represents about $300 million in savings, which adds to the $3.2 billion saved between 2010 and 2011.
In addition to these savings, beneficiaries in traditional Medicare have taken advantage the free preventative care services the health care offers. Between January and April, more than 12 million have received at least one free preventative visit, including the annual wellness check-up.
“When you live on fixed income, every penny counts,” said Dr. Yanira Cruz, NHCOA President and CEO. “It is exciting to see seniors save money and still be able to get the prescription drugs they need to remain healthy. Additionally, the focus on preventive services is key in reducing long-term health care costs.”
As the health care laws continues to be implemented, it is important for everyone, including Medicare beneficiaries to understand what changes are being made and when they will be executed so they don’t become potential victims of health care fraud. For learn more about how the law affects Medicare beneficiaries, visit http://www.healthcare.gov/law/features/65-older/index.html.
NHCOA is a proud partner of the Administration on Aging in the fight against Medicare fraud. The National Hispanic SMP works to detect, protect, and report Medicare fraud within the Hispanic community. For more information, visit www.nhcoa.org/medicare.
