Medicare Part D Works

According to a recently released study Medicare Part D is successful in assisting seniors in affording maintenance and other drugs that keep them out of hospitals and emergency rooms.   This results in an estimated $12 billion in savings per year or about $1200 per senior that was inadequately covered before the program came into effect in 2006.  The $12 billion is not enough to cover the $55 billion cost of Part D, but it is an indicator that  seniors are enjoying a better quality of life. 

As the discussions around how to reduce the cost of entitlement programs continue it will be important for politicians to keep in mind how all parts of the Medicare program affect each other.