On Friday, August 2, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra visited Community Health and Social Services Center (CHASS) – a local nonprofit focused on providing primary health care and support services – where he was joined by Congressman Shri Thanedar (MI-13). During his visit to CHASS, Secretary Becerra detailed the actions taken by the Biden-Harris Administration to lower health care costs for Michiganders. The Secretary and Congressman also participated in a fireside chat with local community members who have been positively impacted by the Administration’s new policies.
Lowering Health Care Costs and Increasing Coverage for Michiganders
Under President Biden’s new lower cost prescription drug law, a month’s supply of each Medicare-covered insulin product is capped at $35, and recommended, preventive vaccines are now free for adults with Medicare prescription drug coverage. Some enrollees now have their out-of-pocket drug costs capped at about $3,500 in 2024, and in 2025, out-of-pocket costs will be capped at no more than $2,000. Furthermore, for the first time ever, the law allows Medicare to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies for fair prices for prescription drugs – strengthening the program’s ability to serve people with Medicare now and for generations to come.
HHS estimates about $113 million in expected savings for Medicare Part D enrollees in Michigan, thanks to 2024 policies limiting Part D out-of-pocket costs. Additionally, more than 1.8 million Medicare Part D enrollees in Michigan can receive free recommended preventive vaccines, and more than 66,000 Medicare enrollees in Michigan who use insulin could have an average savings of $403 per year.
According to Secretary Becerra, more Michiganders have health coverage thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration. From 2013 to 2022 the uninsurance rate in Michigan fell from 11% to 4.5%. During the 2024 open enrollment period, over 418,000 Michiganders enrolled in coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In total, over 1.4 million people in Michigan are now covered through the ACA.
For more information, see the information handout on this page or visit https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ira-rx-prices-michigan.pdf
