What? A large government entitlement program that comes in under budget and has high participant satisfaction rates?
That would be Medicare Part D. User satisfaction rates push 90 percent and the program’s cost is below budget, with an anticipated price tag of nearly $120 billion less than originally estimated over the next decade.
And here’s another gold to add to the Part D Olympic medal count – according to HHS, Medicare beneficiaries will pay almost the same premium for prescription drugs next year as they did this year.
Part D is the Michael Phelps of healthcare reform – providing victories today and a policy roadmap towards real healthcare evolution.
Premiums for drug plans that accompany basic Medicare coverage for the elderly and disabled will be an average of $30 in 2013, the department said today in a statement. The estimate is based on bids from private insurers who offer the plans to Medicare patients.
Smart partnership between government and the free market works
