Will not help. I only hope the SCOTUS puts us out of its misery. Otherwise it will destroy the Democratic Party as the GOP hangs it around the neck for years to come. They will not repeal it they will use it as a club. We will be the clubee.

Less expensive meds means there will be less of people going without them.

The fact that improvements are being made manifest in only one to two years is quite encouraging. And the best is yet to come... when people who couldn't afford insurance start getting covered and don't have to go into emergency rooms (which we pay for in insurance premiums and payments to hospitals by the Goveernment) for medical attention means we will see much greater improvements - in the health of our population and the cost of health care (private insurance and medicare).

We'll see, but frequently the implied savings don't materialize. The usual explanation is that, yes they are healthier, but the result is that they don't die from "heart attacks, low blood sugar and asthma attacks" and so they continue to rack up costs to the system.

I'm glad they aren't dying, I'd just be careful about presuming how much will be saved because of that. The goal is making them live, not making them cheaper.

this shows costs are being lowered. And, if people don't go into the hospital as much it is clear costs for hospital care will go down.

Also, if the costs for those under medicare plan D have gone down for their meds then they are less likely to go without them. Certainly this results in an improvement in quality of healthcare.

THus, as Obama said - we can improve quality AND reduce costs.


thanks for your thoughts.

These are 2 standard metrics that health plans and self insured Employer groups routinely track. The data that supports this is not in dispute. Some active employer plans and carriers even have programs that offer some drug classes free, typically for diabetics and those with asthma or high blood pressure because they understand it will lower the cost of other medical care such hospitalizations. The Kaiser Foundation is a good source for information on the impact that government programs such as Part D that provides coverage for prescription drugs is having on overall healthcare costs. This coverage was improved in Obama's health care legislation primarily through the elimination of the donut hole over time and a 50% discount on Brand name drugs for those in the donut hole. These provisions are responsible for millions in savings to seniors which has been documented.