Affordable Care Act Lowered Medicare Beneficiary Costs

1. Affordable Care Act Lowered Medicare Beneficiary Costs • Based on an HHS report, “the 2010 health care law will save Medicare beneficiaries $59 billion through 2016 and $208 billion through 2021.” • More than 5.1million seniors saved an average of $635 per personso far—and will continue to save while the donut hole is closed over the next 10 years. The average person will save nearly $4,200 by 2021, due to the ACA. • Since the Affordable Care Act was enacted, Seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans have seen their monthly premiums decrease by nearly 16 percent while enrollment has increased by 17 percent during this time, surpassing CBO projections. • More than 22.6 million seniors and people with disabilities accessed no-cost-sharing preventive services in 2011.  • Millions of women are taking advantage of no-cost sharing preventive health services in 2011, and they will be able to access more comprehensive women’s preventive care beginning August 2012.  Wendell Primus, PhD, Senior Policy Advisor, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi

2. The Affordable Care Act Improved Medicare’s Solvency • Based on a CMS report, ACA reduced “Medicare costs by $200 billion through 2016,” and ACA improved Medicare solvency by 8 years. CMS Report Trustee’s Report

3. ACA Contributed to Lower Overall Health Spending • Total health spending increasing at slowest rate in 50 years • Through joint efforts by HHS and the Department of Justice, nearly $4.1 billion returned to government in 2011.  • Planted many cost control seeds in ACA. Republicans fought these in 2010 election but endorsed them in the Republican budget. • Comparative Effective Research Follow-on Biologics • Accountable Care Organizations Patient-Centered Medical Homes • Health Information Technology Administrative simplification • CMS Center for Innovation Prevention & Wellness Initiatives • Bundling of Payments Steer people from ER to routine care Reductions in Hospital Readmissions Create incentives to reduce the number • Tax on High Cost Plans of medical errors • Rate Reviews/MLR Provider Rate Reductions

4. Republican Budget Shifts Costs to Seniors; • Causes Medicare to Wither on the Vine • and Ends Medicare Guarantee % of GDP Source: CBO