Reform act is helping seniors

By Don Rowen

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President Obama's landmark health reform is already helping Americans across the country - particularly seniors struggling to pay for Medicare costs and hold on to their health services.

For millions of seniors, the health care law means they can get lifesaving preventive care, such as cancer screenings and annual wellness visits, with no co-pay or deductible. This provision has already benefited more than 24 million seniors, including close to 400,000 in Iowa.

Millions more seniors have saved hundreds of dollars on their prescription drugs, including more than 42,000 in Iowa. This is a long overdue benefit for this country's elderly who had previously seen their health care costs go up and benefits go down year after year.

Before the new law, seniors had to pay the full cost of prescription drugs that fell into Medicare's so-called “doughnut hole.” But because reform is closing the doughnut hole, seniors are seeing a 40 percent drop in drug costs overall.

Now Medicare recipients get a 50 percent discount on brand name drugs and 14 percent discount on generics. Here in Iowa, more than 60,000 residents who hit the Medicare doughnut hole received their first $250 tax-free rebate in 2010.

Between the increased preventive care and decreased prescription drug costs, more Iowa seniors can afford the real health benefits they need to stay healthy and live longer.

Health reform is also helping seniors save on their Medicare Advantage premiums, which are already falling by

7 percent this year and expected to drop another 4 percent over the next year.

However, congressional Republicans are pushing to privatize Medicare, which would take away the guaranteed benefits seniors have earned and replace it with a voucher program. That would force every senior citizen to negotiate with insurance companies over their health coverage.

Seniors have gained far too much from the new health care law put it at risk now. Obama has proved he will fight for all Americans to have access to health care reforms, rather than put care at risk of privatization.

The health insurance reform helps not just seniors, but also middle-class families and young Americans, who are just starting to see the benefits. Don't let Republicans take all that away.

Don Rowen, Des Moines, is resident of the Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans. Comments: iowa.alliance@gmail.com