Jayapal Highlights New Medicare Savings For Seniors, Encourages Enrollment 

India-West Staff Reporter

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal is urging seniors to take advantage of new cost-saving options in Medicare as the Open Enrollment period, which began on October 15, continues through December 7. Jayapal emphasized that recent legislative efforts, including provisions from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), are already lowering health care and prescription costs for millions, with additional benefits scheduled to take effect in 2025.

Key improvements in Medicare this year include a $35 monthly cap on insulin costs for Medicare beneficiaries and full coverage of recommended vaccines, including shingles, tetanus, hepatitis, COVID-19, and flu, with no out-of-pocket expenses. Medicare’s low-income subsidy program under Part D has also been expanded to cover seniors earning up to 150% of the federal poverty level, offering extra savings for low-income individuals.

Additional savings measures are on the horizon: starting in 2025, Medicare beneficiaries will see a $2,000 annual cap on out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs. This year’s changes also ensure that drugs covered by Medicare Part B have lower coinsurance when drug prices rise faster than inflation. Another milestone, enabled by the IRA, is Medicare’s new authority to negotiate drug prices, with the first set of ten lower-cost drugs announced in August.

Jayapal highlighted that these reforms, championed by progressives in Congress, are part of a long-standing commitment to make health care affordable for all Americans. She also encouraged seniors to carefully review traditional Medicare plans during the enrollment period, noting that Medicare Advantage plans often overcharge and restrict necessary care.

For more information on Medicare Open Enrollment and the latest cost-saving benefits, seniors and caregivers can visit the Medicare website to explore options and make changes for the upcoming year.