More than 100,000 Nevada seniors have received free preventive services

August 5, 2011

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid today announced that thousands of Nevada seniors have saved nearly $3 million on prescription drugs thanks to health insurance reform that was passed last year. Nevada seniors have saved an average of $526 on prescription drugs. These savings will be even higher over the coming years as the health insurance reform law completely phases out the Medicare prescription drug "doughnut hole" by 2014.

“Health insurance reform is putting money back into the pockets of Nevada seniors by lowering the cost of prescription drugs and providing free services that seniors desperately need,” Reid said.  “As the law is fully implemented, Nevadans will continue to see additional savings and improved care.”  
    
Thanks to health insurance reform, seniors who fall into the Medicare “doughnut hole” are paying 50 percent less for brand-name prescription drugs.  In Nevada, 5,524 Medicare beneficiaries who have already fallen into this gap have received a discount. Additionally, drug plan premiums are going down -- the average Medicare drug plan premium was $30.67 in 2011 and will be less for 2012.

On top of these drug savings, more than 100,000 Nevada seniors—nearly half of Nevada’s Medicare beneficiaries—have taken advantage of health reform's provision for free preventive care services that save lives and lower long-term health care costs.  

Health insurance reform continues to allow adult children to remain on their parents’ health insurance plan through age 26, lowers taxes for small businesses, and ensures that no child will ever again be denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition.  Additionally, Reid announced last month that Nevadans who previously couldn't find coverage but have enrolled in health reform's pre-existing condition insurance plan are saving nearly 40 percent on health insurance premiums. For more information visit www.pcip.gov.

For more information on Nevada seniors saving on prescription drugs, click here.  For more information on Nevada seniors using preventive services, click here.