AARP: "Many who choose the least expensive Medicare drug plan in their area that covers all their drugs could pay less this year than getting those same drugs from Canada,” according to an AARP Bulletin investigation.

The Medicare prescription drug program (Medicare Part D) has been a great success. More than 39 million seniors and disabled Americans now have comprehensive prescription drug coverage, and those enrolled in the program are overwhelmingly satisfied with their prescription drug plans. Seniors are also seeing savings on average of $1,200 according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Recently released polls show consistently that Medicare Part D enrollees are overwhelmingly satisfied with the coverage they are receiving under the Part D program. A recent survey by Medicare Today reported that 88 percent of seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D are satisfied with the program – an increase of 10 percent since the benefit began.

What’s more, the price to the government for the prescription drug benefit is much lower than originally expected. In March 2009, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released new baseline spending projections that reduced its 10-year forecast for the total cost of the prescription drug program by $520 billion as compared to its 2006 forecast for the same 10 years (FY 2007-2016).
Not only is Part D working, it is exceeding expectations by providing satisfaction and patient access to life-saving medicines at a lower cost to patients and taxpayers than thought possible.