Is a blow coming to the pockets of millions of retirees in the U.S.?
The Donald Trump administration plans to end, after 2026, the subsidy program that helped keep premiums low for Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. According to The Wall Street Journal, the measure could affect about 25 million beneficiaries.
Although the government says the subsidies encouraged insurers to raise premiums and insists that affordable options will still exist, projections indicate that close to 45% of enrollees could face monthly increases of between US$11 and US$20 in 2027. At the same time, rising spending on high-cost medications, such as GLP-1s, continues to put pressure on the system. (The Wall Street Journal)
The debate over drug costs is thus back at the center of U.S. politics and could become one of the most sensitive issues in the next elections, especially for older adults living on fixed incomes.
The Donald Trump administration plans to end, after 2026, the subsidy program that helped keep premiums low for Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. According to The Wall Street Journal, the measure could affect about 25 million beneficiaries.
Although the government says the subsidies encouraged insurers to raise premiums and insists that affordable options will still exist, projections indicate that close to 45% of enrollees could face monthly increases of between US$11 and US$20 in 2027. At the same time, rising spending on high-cost medications, such as GLP-1s, continues to put pressure on the system. (The Wall Street Journal)
The debate over drug costs is thus back at the center of U.S. politics and could become one of the most sensitive issues in the next elections, especially for older adults living on fixed incomes.
