How does the Inflation Reduction Act affect my Health Insurance?
For the first time, Medicare is able to negotiate the price of high-cost drugs under the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. Signed into law by President Biden on August 16, 2022, this marks a historic piece of legislation passed to lower prescription drug prices and a milestone in reducing the cost of health care for millions of Americans enrolled in Medicare.
For Medicare populations in need of high-cost drugs, these changes are significant. However, these reforms will not be reflected immediately. While we wait for the roadmap to drug reform to take motion, you can start saving on supplemental prescription drug coverage on over 1,000 medications by signing up for Mira services today.
Impact on Medicare Recipients
Nearly 1 in 4 Americans struggle to afford prescription drugs. This bill protects Medicare recipients from catastrophic drug costs by establishing a $35 cap for a month’s supply of insulin beginning in 2023. In previous years, Medicare recipients would have to spend about $7,050 annually on out-of-pocket prescription costs to qualify for catastrophic coverage. Under the new law, out-of-pocket catastrophic coverage costs will drop to zero by 2024. In 2025, catastrophic coverage will be removed entirely because of the $2,000 annual Part D drug cost cap established in the IRA.
Additionally, co-pay for adult vaccines under Medicare Part D, Medicaid, and CHIP programs are eliminated under this law. New requirements for vaccinations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) are to be distributed at no cost. In previous years, this was optional coverage and dependent on states, with half denying coverage on vaccines recommended by the ACIP in 2018-2019.
Negotiating Drug Prices
The fight for increasing access and affordability to prescription drugs has been long-standing. Under this new law, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Federal Health Secretary are now allowed to negotiate the price of high-cost drugs with manufacturers. This means a significant reduction in price for costly prescriptions over the coming years, as shown in Figure 1.
Medicare will provide a framework to determine a baseline for negotiating fair pricing of drugs. Negotiations are expected to begin in 2026 and will start with a selection of 10 medications to deliberate. These drugs are not yet listed but include a number of parameters, such as having to be a certain number of years old and without competitors.
It is worth noting that this is not a novel idea as National Health Services in other countries routinely negotiate drug prices. For the United States, however, this means an estimated savings of over $98.5 billion for Medicare based on the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) score.
Implementation timeline of the prescription drug provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation
Impact on Medicaid Recipients
In terms of drug costs, the new law is not expected to impact Medicaid as it does for Medicare. Medicaid recipients will continue to be protected against high out-of-pocket drug costs through the established rebate system. The rebate system requires manufacturers to issue refunds if a drug's price increases faster than inflation.
The IRA extends subsidies through 2025 for people who have purchased health plans from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces, previously set to expire this year. The law builds on the original expansion of tax credits introduced by the American Rescue Plan in 2021.
Benefits for Medicaid populations under these new provisions include:
- $2.5 billion increase in Medicaid spending over ten years
- Increased access to adult vaccines with no cost-sharing
Get Mira - Health Benefits You Can Afford.
Get doctor visits, lab tests, prescription, and more. Affordable copays. Available in 45+ states. Only $45/month on average.
Marketplace Plans
The IRA extends premium subsidies in the Affordable Care Act’s marketplaces, making health care more accessible and affordable. Without this extension, approximately 3 million people would expect to lose coverage and become uninsured in 2023. Increase in healthcare coverage according to Health and Human Services (HHS) projections under the IRA now expects to extend coverage across all states in 2023:
| State | Number of Members |
|---|---|
| Alabama | ~44,000 members |
| Alaska | ~5,000 members |
| Arizona | ~41,000 members |
| Arkansas | ~18,000 members |
| California | ~361,000 members |
| Colorado | ~42,000 members |
| Connecticut | ~24,000 members |
| D.C. | ~1,000 members |
| Delaware | ~7,000 members |
| Florida | ~543,000 members |
| Georgia | ~142,000 members |
| Hawaii | ~5,000 members |
| Idaho | ~16,000 members |
| Illinois | ~66,000 members |
| Indiana | ~33,000 members |
| Iowa | ~15,000 members |
| Kansas | ~22,000 members |
| Kentucky | ~15,000 members |
| Louisiana | ~20,000 members |
| Maine | ~14,000 members |
| Maryland | ~38,000 members |
| Massachusetts | ~57,000 members |
| Michigan | ~63,000 members |
| Minnesota | ~27,000 members |
| Mississippi | ~29,000 members |
| Missouri | ~29,000 members |
| State | Number of Members |
|---|---|
| Montana | ~10,000 members |
| Nebraska | ~20,000 members |
| Nevada | ~21,000 members |
| New Hampshire | ~11,000 members |
| New Jersey | ~67,000 members |
| New Mexico | ~10,000 members |
| New York | ~49,000 members |
| North Carolina | ~135,000 members |
| North Dakota | ~6,000 members |
| Ohio | ~55,000 members |
| Oklahoma | ~38,000 members |
| Oregon | ~31,000 members |
| Pennsylvania | ~76,000 members |
| Rhode Island | ~7,000 members |
| South Carolina | ~60,000 members |
| South Dakota | ~8,000 members |
| Tennessee | ~56,000 members |
| Texas | ~370,000 members |
| Utah | ~52,000 members |
| Vermont | ~6,000 members |
| Virginia | ~63,000 members |
| Washington | ~52,000 members |
| West Virginia | ~5,000 members |
| Wisconsin | ~43,000 members |
| Wyoming | ~7,000 members |
Source: Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation Office of Health Policy
Inflation Reduction Act Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here's a list of frequently asked questions about the Inflation Reduction Act on health care.
Who does the IRA benefit most?
The IRA mainly benefits Medicare populations by lowering prescription drug prices in Medicare plans.
Will the IRA benefit everyone?
The IRA includes benefits to save families thousands of dollars, with provisions working to lower household costs through prescription drug coverage, home energy, and electric vehicles.
Virtual care for only $25 per visit
Virtual primary care, urgent care, and behavioral health visits are only $25 with a Mira membership.
Why won’t I see changes until 2026?
The federal government will begin negotiating prices for prescription drugs that Medicare populations spend the most money on in 2026. Once agreed upon, the law will reflect changes on the first 10 drugs selected to market. The process will begin by establishing the negotiation of 10 drugs under Part D in 2026, 15 under Part D in 2027, 15 under Part B and D in 2028, and 20 under Part B and D in 2029.
The federal government will begin negotiating prices for prescription drugs that Medicare populations spend the most money on in 2026. Once agreed upon, changes will be reflected on the first 10 drugs selected to market. The process will begin by establishing the negotiation of 10 drugs under Part D in 2026, 15 under Part D in 2027, 15 under Part B and D in 2028, and 20 under Part B and D in 2029.
Do I need to do anything or “sign up” to ensure the IRA benefits me?
You do not need to sign up for anything to ensure the IRA benefits you if you are already enrolled in Medicare or have a plan under the healthcare marketplace. If you are not enrolled in any coverage, set a reminder for upcoming health insurance enrollment dates starting November 1st, 2022 - January 15, 2023. Click here to navigate your health coverage options.
What is the Public’s Opinion on Medicare Drug Negotiations?
The latest Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) tracking poll shows a large sum of public opinion supporting the Federal Government in negotiating drug prices. For decades, lowering prescription drug prices in the U.S. has been at the top of healthcare issues the public has wanted Congress to address across all parties.
Bottom Line
The Inflation Reduction Act paves the way for making healthcare affordable again. It acts as a catalyst for future healthcare reform to build on. Drug pricing reforms represent a milestone in accessible care, predominately for our aging populations.
If you're looking to save on your healthcare needs, join Mira today for an average of $45 a month. We'll help you support your healthcare needs with discounted rates for doctor visits, urgent care visits, and up to 80 percent off on over 1,000 medications.
Regine Roquia is a Masters of Public Health Candidate at New York University studying Public Health Policy & Management. She is passionate about creating the culture she wishes to see by working to increase health literacy.
