In a March 17 Press Herald column, Harris Van Pate asserts that the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has made it more difficult for seniors to afford the drugs they need, partly due to increasing premiums for the Medicare Part D drug benefit.

My experience is different. I’m covered by original Medicare, and I evaluated the Medicare Part D plans available in Maine for 2025 using the analysis tool at Medicare.gov. I enrolled in a WellCare plan with a premium of zero and a $2,000 annual cap on out-of-pocket costs for covered drugs.

Many seniors can budget $2,000. This $2,000 cap was part of the IRA, which Mr. Van Pate conveniently failed to mention. He also didn’t mention that the IRA limits the monthly cost for insulin to $35 for Medicare beneficiaries and also gives Medicare the authority to negotiate prices for selected costly medications. The first round of these negotiations were successfully completed and will lead to large savings starting in 2026.

Van Pate also references “studies” and “experts” who assert that the IRA will inhibit innovation, but doesn’t identify them. So their objectivity cannot be assessed. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projections of the IRA’s impact on innovation were much lower.

The IRA passed Congress in 2022 with no Republican support and was signed into law by President Biden. I thank the Democrats and President Biden for helping me afford the medications I need. Shame on Sen. Susan Collins for opposing this legislation.

John Kelly
Portland