In a particular occasion hosted by Congressman Steven Horsford (D-NV), Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, we put the difficulty of excessive prescription drug costs entrance and middle. Held in Las Vegas, the occasion featured a particular dialogue with HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra titled “Placing Cash Again within the Pockets of Seniors in Nevada,” particularly for Black seniors like me. The gathering drew a various group of seniors keen to debate healthcare affordability, emphasizing the significance of equitable entry to drugs and healthcare providers, notably for seniors and communities of coloration.
I had the chance to share my story on the occasion. As a Las Vegas resident and U.S. Marine veteran, I have been battling prostate most cancers. After I turned 65 and gained Medicare protection, I started remedy with Xtandi, a pill I must take day by day. A month’s provide of Xtandi is $7,000 month-to-month, making it inconceivable for me to afford alone. Fortunately, Medicare lately began overlaying the total value of Xtandi, lifting a major monetary burden off my shoulders.
My expertise affording life-saving prescription medicine is shared by many others. Fortuitously, President Biden’s decrease value prescription drug legislation is making a distinction. It consists of measures that may decrease out-of-pocket prices for hundreds of thousands of seniors and other people with disabilities. In Nevada alone, over 117,000 Medicare Half D enrollees are projected to collectively save greater than $31 million as a result of new 2024 insurance policies that restrict out-of-pocket prices.
A number of the advantages below President Biden’s decrease value drug legislation that I discover notably impactful embrace:
- Paying $35 per thirty days or much less for every Medicare-covered insulin product
- Receiving free really helpful preventive vaccines with Medicare Half D prescription drug protection, which incorporates vaccines for shingles and Tdap
- Holding drug corporations accountable by requiring them to pay a rebate to Medicare in the event that they increase drug costs sooner than inflation
- Anticipating decrease drug costs in 2026 by means of Medicare negotiations with collaborating drug corporations
- Offering extra help for affording premiums and out-of-pocket prices for certified enrollees
This gathering on a Juneteenth afternoon not solely highlighted the advantages of the brand new prescription drug legislation but additionally showcased the facility of group engagement and advocacy. It was a touching reminder that when folks come collectively, they will drive significant change and create fairness in healthcare. Celebrating Juneteenth displays the liberty and equality that traditionally eluded the Black group, whereas conversations like these remind us of the continuing work wanted for progress. The Biden-Harris Administration stays dedicated to constructing upon these efforts to make sure that healthcare stays a elementary proper for each citizen.
