R.I. Medicare seniors saved $5.56M in ’11

By Richard Asinof
Contributing Writer
Twitter: @RichardAsinof

WASHINGTON – As open enrollment for Medicare beneficiaries ended on Dec. 7, government officials said that Rhode Islanders saved more than $5.56 million on prescriptions as a result of the health reform law.

In Rhode Island, 10,662 people with Medicare have saved $5,564,873 – averaging about $522 per person, according to data analyzed by officials at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Nationwide, 2.65 million with Medicare saved more than $1.5 billion on their prescriptions, averaging about $569 a person.

“Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, millions of Americans are receiving free preventive services and getting cheaper prescription drugs,” said Marilyn Tavenner, the acting administrator at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

At the end of November, Tavenner said more than 24.2 million people with Medicare have taken advantage of at least one free preventive benefit – including the new Annual Wellness Visit – made possible by the Affordable Care Act.

In Rhode Island, 80,714 people with Medicare have taken advantage of the free preventive coverage.