In the second day in our week-long anniversary celebration of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), we now turn our attention to seniors.

The ACA has taken great strides to keep our seniors healthy and to bring them greater peace of mind when it comes to filling their prescriptions.

Thanks to the ACA, New York’s over 2.8 million Medicare beneficiaries can now get free preventative services – like mammograms and colonoscopies.   They can also get a free annual wellness visit with their doctor.  This means that health problems can be detected and treated sooner.

Seniors also no longer have to worry as much about the cost of their prescription drugs.  In 2010, more  than 252,000 New Yorkers who hit the Medicare donut hole got a $250 rebate, tax-free.  This year, they will get a 50% discount on brand name drugs if they hit the donut hole.  By 2020 the ACA will close the donut hole completely.  A typical senior on traditional Medicare is expected to save more than $3,500 over the next 10 years as a result of the new law.

This all adds up to great news for New Yorkers! Still got questions about how the ACA is helping seniors? Click below to learn more:

• HCFANY Policy Brief: “Health Reform: What’s in it for Seniors?”
• Click here for a comprehensive list of FAQ’s, courtesy of the AARP
• Click here for a short but interesting report from Healthcare.gov on the progress the ACA has made on reducing drug costs for people with Medicare.