Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), the 2010 landmark health care reform law, has already started changing the way Americans access health care, improving the quality of health care, and holding insurance companies responsible for providing health care. The ACA is going to improve various aspects of the way we receive health care, and provide care for the first time to millions of Americans – thousands of them New Mexicans.  The law will be fully implemented by the end of 2014.

New Mexico's seniors are already benefitting from 2010's Affordable Care Act, in big and small ways.  One of the biggest ways the ACA is improving health care for seniors is by fixing the "donut hole," the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap.  In 2010, the 19,957 New Mexicans who hit the donut hole received a one-time, tax-free $250 rebate.  These rebates totaled $5 million in rebate dollars to New Mexicans.  Then, last year, 18,755 of New Mexico's seniors received a 50% discount on certain name-brand prescription drugs in the donut-hole.  The donut-hole was a legislative error that is gradually being fixed; thanks to ACA, the donut-hole will be completely closed by 2020.  In the meantime, seniors won't be saddled with as many expensive prescription drug costs.

Many of the other improvements for seniors occur through ACA occur through Medicare, the federal health program for Americans ages 65 and older, and Medicaid, the federal health program for low-income individuals including seniors.  So far:

• Nearly all of New Mexico's 320,000 Medicare beneficiaries receive free preventative services.  Routine preventative services like mammograms and colonoscopies, as well as an annual wellness visit, are now completely covered under the Medicare program—with no copayment or deductible.
• New Mexico has already received $23.7 million for the Money Follows the Person program.  New Mexico is one of thirteen states to receive federal funding for this initiative, which is based on the idea that living in a comfortable, familiar environment—as long as that is a safe option—is better than being institutionalized.  This program provides alternative choices for individuals—including living at home or elsewhere in the community—who would otherwise be placed in a nursing home.
• New Mexico received $250,000 to educate Medicare beneficiaries about their benefits.  This is already helping New Mexico's seniors navigate the complicated Medicare system, allowing them to make the best choices for themselves.

There are many other important changes that will affect New Mexico's seniors in the upcoming years.  Please glance at the general timeline on this website, or explore in more detail on HealthCare.gov.