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Dear Friend,
I hope you’ve had a great summer.
In August, I made a few visits to senior centers in eastern Connecticut to discuss pressing issues affecting seniors. I want to share an update with you on my continued work to protect Social Security benefits, lower prescription drug costs, and address fraud schemes.
Lowering Health Care Costs, Empowering Medicare to Negotiate Rx Drug Prices
August marked the one-year anniversary since the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law. The bill was narrowly passed by Congress, and I'm proud to have supported it. One year in, provisions in the bill are making long-awaited reforms to the Medicare program and already lowering costs for seniors in eastern Connecticut.
Some of those cost savings are in effect right now, like the new $35 per month cap on insulin costs, a new price cap that will keep prescription drug costs from being jacked up at a rate faster than inflation, as well as tax credits to keep health care premiums low. Since the Inflation Reduction Act’s enactment a year ago, 2,600 people here in Connecticut’s Second Congressional District are saving an average of $560 annually because of the law’s cap on insulin prices for seniors on Medicare. 18,000 people in the area are also benefiting from the tax credits that lower health care premiums and help everyday Americans, which is saving the average person $1,840 in premiums this year.
In the coming two years, even more cost saving provisions—like a cap on out-of-pocket costs—will kick in and help ensure every resident in eastern Connecticut can afford the health care they need.
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| Click here to listen to more from Connecticut Public. |
One of the most significant reforms we included in the Inflation Reduction Act empowers the Medicare program to negotiate prices with pharmaceutical companies. This week, Medicare announced the first 10 medications that will undergo price negotiations. The list includes blood thinners, diabetes, arthritis, and other medications that 123,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Connecticut use. Finally, American seniors won’t be paying 2.5 times more than the rest of the world for the medications they need.
Negotiation on these medications will take place in 2024, with their new, negotiated prices taking effect at the start of 2026.
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| Average annual out-of-pocket costs for these drugs were as high as $6,497 per person last year |
This week's announcement is the start of a cumulative process which could lead to as many as 60 medications with lower, negotiated prices by 2029. In the new Congress, I’m working to extend these cost savings to working age Americans as well. The days of having drug manufacturers dictate unfair prices is finally coming to an end.
Protecting Ourselves from Fraud
This summer has seen a high tide in fraud. Americans lost almost $9 billion to fraud in 2022. That’s 30% more than the previous year, and here in Connecticut, people reported over 19,000 cases of fraud – primarily through imposter scams, like a car warranty offer, and online shopping scams. There were also over 8,000 reported cases of identity theft in the state in 2022 – which is significantly higher than most states. Personally, I continue to hear stories of scammers targeting people in the Second District, and unfortunately, our older residents are experiencing the greatest financial loss.
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| Rep. Courtney convened an information session with the FTC's Karen O’Connell at the Rose City Senior Center to help seniors fight fraud. |
We need to spread the word on the scams that are out there and steps we can take to protect ourselves. I recently invited the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Karen O’Connell to Norwich’s Rose City Senior Center to share information on how to identify common scams and report them. I encourage seniors to visit a local senior center or visit ftc.gov/scams to learn more and report any suspicious activity to reportfraud.ftc.gov.
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| Click here for more information on fraud from the FTC. |
Strengthening the Social Security Program
This month marks the 88th anniversary of the Social Security program – guaranteeing seniors can retire with dignity after a lifetime of hard work. Social Security is our most effective anti-poverty program and it allows beneficiaries to pay rent, buy groceries, and fill their prescriptions.
Right here in eastern Connecticut, over 155,000 constituents, including retirees, children, and veterans, receive Social Security benefits every year. Unfortunately, if Congress does not act to strengthen benefits, workers who retire after 2034 will receive only 77 percent of their full Social Security benefits.
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| Rep. Courtney spoke with seniors to an audience at the Quinebaug Valley Senior Center in Brooklyn. |
In August, I met with seniors from the Quinebaug Valley Senior Center to hear first-hand how the program supports their livelihood. We also had a great dialogue on my work to protect the program for years to come through the Social Security 2100 Act. The bill, led by my friend Congressman John Larson, will strengthen Social Security’s finances and the program’s benefits, not cut benefits as some in Congress have proposed.
The bill is endorsed by the AFL-CIO, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, the CT Alliance for Retired Americans, and more. I look forward to continue urging my colleagues in Congress to pass this critical bill.
If you need assistance receiving social security benefits or working with the Social Security Administration, please reach out to my Norwich office at (860) 886-0139.
Improving Access to Internet
Access to affordable, reliable internet is a vital utility for every household. It connects people to new opportunities and in smaller towns, it’s becoming an increasingly important resource for local news and information amid the closing of so many smaller media outlets.
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| Rep. Courtney visited the Marlborough Senior Center to discuss the Affordable Connectivity Program with AARP CT State Director Nora Duncan, CT Consumer Counsel Claire Coleman, and Executive Director of the Connecticut Library Consortium Ellen Paul |
I visited the Marlborough Senior Center with Connecticut Consumer Counsel, Claire Coleman, as well as AARP CT, and the Connecticut Library Consortium in Marlborough to discuss the Affordable Connectivity Program. It’s made possible by the Infrastructure Law and is helping 163,000 people in our state stay connected, half of whom are seniors.
In June, we announced Connecticut will receive $144 million from the Infrastructure Law to improve broadband infrastructure – helping ensure that gaps in coverage in our state, particularly in rural towns, are filled. Coupled with this work, the Affordable Connectivity Program provides those who need it with access to affordable internet services. Click here to learn more about the ACP.
Thank you for taking some time to read my update. For weekly news from eastern Connecticut and Congress, subscribe to my weekly eNewsletter.
If we can be of any assistance, don't hesitate to give my Norwich office a call at (860) 886-0139.
Sincerely,
Joe Courtney
Member of Congress
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