The Trump administration plans to end a subsidy program that helped hold down premiums for Medicare drug plans, a move that could leave many seniors facing higher rates for their prescription coverage next year.
The move will eliminate a program that is giving insurance companies an estimated $3.6 billion in subsidies this year to blunt increases in premiums for the Medicare prescription plans, known as Part D. The program will end after 2026, according to administration officials.
High drug costs are a perennial issue—especially for seniors on fixed incomes—and healthcare affordability is expected to be a focus in the midterm elections. Roughly 25 million people have Part D plans, and they will learn about their 2027 rates in the fall. Medicare drug coverage premiums are rising because the plans have been hit by growing expenses for GLP-1 medications and other specialty drugs.
Original WSJ article paywalled.
All those old folks and Medicare red state disabled MAGAs that voted for trump because scary darker-skinned people and all America needs is a good curb-stomping gestapo to put all those uppity commie starbucks-drinking protesters in their place are now going to reap the benefits of their vote yet again…with higher drug prices.