Lowering healthcare costs.
Lowering healthcare costs is critically important for our economy and everyone’s well-being.
In 2022, Democrats passed the Inflation Reduction Act with Vice President Harris’s tie-breaking vote. This new law gives Medicare the power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices –and it reduces costs for seniors in several important ways. Medicare has now capped the cost of insulin for seniors with diabetes at $35 a month. Recommended vaccines, like those to treat shingles, are now free for people with Medicare prescription drug coverage.
And, starting in January, total out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs will be capped at $2,000 a year, no matter how expensive your drugs are. This means that seniors will never pay more than a total of $2,000 per year for prescription drugs covered under Medicare –including expensive drugs that treat cancer and chronic illnesses.
Prescription drug companies will now need to pay a rebate to Medicare if they raise prices more than the rate of inflation. Coming in 2025, the Medicare Part D Coverage Gap, also known as the ‘Donut Hole’, will also be eliminated. Starting as well in this year’s open enrollment period, seniors can enroll in the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (MPPP), which allows you to spread out drug costs in monthly installments rather than paying upfront at the counter. This is another way the Inflation Reduction Act is helping seniors save. It’s also important to remember that the MPPP is something beneficiaries must opt-in to each and every year.
In addition to Medicare.gov, which has several tools to compare and evaluate plans, I encourage you to visit https://www.in.gov/ship/ and book an appointment with a Medicare expert to compare plans and answer questions. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE or 1-800-452-4800 to find a State Health Insurance Assistance Program location. With all of the changes happening this year in Medicare, it’s more important than ever for seniors to check that their plan will continue to be the best for them moving forward. Seniors need to review your Annual Notice of Change to check that: 1) Your medication is still covered in 2025 and if there are any medication restrictions, 2) Your pharmacy is still in network, 3) Your health care providers are still in network, and 4) You understand any premiums, deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and tier changes.
Medicare open enrollment is happening NOW until December 7. Get started today at medicare.gov. For more information on what the Inflation Reduction Act does for Medicare beneficiaries, check out this info sheet here or please contact my office.
If you aren’t 65 or older or otherwise qualify for Medicare, and you don’t currently receive employer-based insurance, open enrollment for health coverage starts November 1. And thanks to Democrats’ work in Congress, marketplace health insurance is more affordable than ever.
With the assistance provided by the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act – both of which I voted for -- 80% of federal marketplace enrollees can access an insurance plan for $120 or less per year. Marketplace enrollment has increased by 10 million (88%) since 2020. Nationally, the number of uninsured Americans reached an all-time low of 7.7% in 2023, and the total number receiving health insurance through the marketplace reached a record high of 21 million in 2024.
The enhanced subsidies are providing significant benefits in Indianapolis. In 2024, an estimated 47,000 people in our congressional district enrolled in marketplace health insurance coverage, an increase of 208% since 2020. As a result of our work, the average enrollee will save $590 in premiums this year. This progress is good for our families and helps improve the health of our communities.
Again, open enrollment for marketplace health insurance starts November 1 at healthcare.gov. Stay tuned for more updates from my office on how I’m fighting to make healthcare more affordable and easier to access for everyone.
Early Voting is Open!
Early Voting in Indianapolis is open NOW until November 4 at the Indianapolis City-County Building. Starting October 26 through November 3, you can also vote at one of eight additional locations across the city. Just as you can vote at any Vote Center on Election Day, any registered Marion County voter can cast their ballot in person at any Early Voting location. Don’t forget your valid photo ID and learn more at vote.indy.gov.
Success Story of the Week:
“In early September I contacted Congressman Carson’s office because I was leaving for Europe and I had not received my passport renewal from the U.S Department of State. I submitted a request on the Congressman’s web page, and Rep. Carson’s staff called me within the hour. She immediately took my information and contacted the passport renewal office. She called me with an update and tracking information the following morning, and within three days my passport was in my hands. I could not be more impressed by the responsiveness and attention my issue received. Most importantly, the staff was incredibly efficient, professional, friendly, and a truly impressive representative of Congressman Carson’s office.”
--Indianapolis resident
Team Carson is Here to Serve:
Did you know that in 2023, my office responded to over 70,000 of your messages and brought $1.5 MILLION directly back to Indianapolis families? Team Carson is here to serve you – get in touch to find out how we can help you navigate a federal agency, access government benefits, or recognize a community member’s milestone.
For updates throughout the week, don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Your Friend,
André