Carson: Health Care Reform Has Helped Thousands of Seniors in Indianapolis

October 28, 2010

CARSON: HEALTH CARE REFORM HAS HELPED THOUSANDS OF SENIORS IN INDIANAPOLIS

INDIANAPOLIS - Thousands of seniors across Indianapolis have already received the $250 ‘donut hole' check to help pay for prescription drugs with thousands more set to receive it before the end of the year, Congressman André Carson announced today.

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2,730 seniors in the 7th Congressional District have received $250 rebate checks. In total, these seniors have received $682,500 to help pay their high drug costs. The checks were provided by the health reform law to begin closing the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap.

"Many Hoosier seniors are already seeing the benefits of health care reform," said Congressman Carson. "Too many older Americans have to go without essential prescription drugs because they are on fixed incomes and can't afford them. These one-time tax-free rebate checks are helping to ease the burden of prescription drug costs as the Medicare Part D coverage gap begins to close."

An additional 3,670 seniors in Indianapolis are expected to enter the donut hole before the end of 2010 and will be receiving a $250 check to help with their drug costs. As a result, by the end of the year, a total of 6,400 seniors in the district will have received assistance to help cover the cost of their drugs. The total amount of assistance provided to seniors in the district will be $1.6 million.

Under health reform, the Part D donut hole benefits will increase beginning in January 2011, when all seniors who hit the donut hole receive a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs. This will save the average senior entering the donut hole more than $500 annually. These discounts will save seniors in the 7th District more than $3.4 million next year.

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