Washington Senior Healthcare Reform Benefits

897,000 Senior Citizens in Washington Would Benefit In Various Ways

• Senior citizens health insurance premiums would be lowered because Medicare would no longer be overpaying private health insurance companies. Presently even the 77% of seniors not taking part in Medicare Advantage are overpaying thanks to high premiums. Most couples pay about $90 extra annually to help fund private health insurance plans. The new reform bill cuts such payments.
  
  
• There would be major savings on prescription drug costs. About 159,000 beneficiaries of Medicare in the state fall into the "doughnut hole" of coverage. This can mean on average $4080 in out-of-pocket costs annually. However, the healthcare reform bill would slash this amount by 50%.
  
  
• Free preventative services would be covered. Any recommended preventative testing would be free of charge. Presently a $800 colonoscopy is billed to seniors at $1868.  Free wellness visits would also be covered.