Thousands of people died after losing help from Medicare drugs. What’s wrong with this

New research reveals a link between disruption in Medicare prescription drug coverage and mortality among the most vulnerable elderly in the United States. According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the mortality rate of low-income elderly people who lost access to Medicare Part D low-income subsidy (LIS) increased between 4% and 22%. Meanwhile, a separate Mass General Brigham Young study found that nearly 3 million Medicare beneficiaries lost D insurance companies between 2024 and 2025, a sharp surge compared to previous years.

The twins’ development projects involve pictures of Medicare recipients who rely on prescription drugs. As policy changes reshape the landscape of health insurance, what happens when some measures that omit costs lead to a life-threatening gap for others?

Drug access directly affects survival

Penn Medical and Harvard University studies examined nearly a million low-income Medicare beneficiaries who lost Medicaid coverage—and with that, a low-income subsidy worth about $6,200 a year helps afford the drug.

“When Medicare beneficiaries lose Medicaid every year, and there are more than 900,000 people per year, they also have the potential to lose LIS and thus be able to afford the medications they need,” said Eric T. Roberts, associate professor of general medicine at the Perelman University School of Medicine in Pennsylvania.

The research team identified the death pattern. Those who lost subsidies earlier had 4% higher mortality rates than those who had been retention longer. For some groups, the consequences are getting worse:

• Individual mortality increased by 22% using HIV antiretroviral therapy
• More than 2,900 people died during the study period
• More than half of those who lost Medicaid recovered within one year, suggesting that many were mistakenly discarded despite still being eligible

José F, a senior writer and associate professor at Harvard University. Figueroa highlights the importance of life-saving for continuity of coverage: “These findings suggest that helping low-income Medicaid Sterbed qualify for Medicaid Sterbed and retain LIS and that LIS can be saved because it can save lives because it can save use of essential medicines.”

Market disruption caused by inflation reduction bill

With the challenges facing low-income subsidy programs, wider disruption has emerged in Medicare Part D. New JAMA study shows that 7.5% of beneficiaries (representing 2.9 million people) lost D Part D insurance companies between 2024 and 2025. This marks a sharp increase in the past few years, when only 0.1% to 2.3% of experienced insurance companies exported.

The surge coincides with the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which has made significant changes to Medicare D prescription drug benefits. While reforms improve affordability through measures such as the $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap, they also increase financial risks for insurers.

The independent Part D plan was particularly affected, with 10.8% of participants losing coverage, while the Medicare Advantage Advantage Perficripper Perfient Percription Plans losing coverage. Enhanced plans had higher interruption rates (8.9%) than standard plans (1.3%).

Coverage causes treatment interruption

The consequences of these market changes go beyond administrative troubles. When patients have to change plans, differences in the community (covering medication lists) can undermine treatment options and potentially reduce medication adherence.

“The exit of these insurers will lead to less competition, which may lead to less patient choices and ultimately higher out-of-pocket expenses.” Mass Brigham’s regulatory therapy program and legal program.

For vulnerable people with complex medical needs, this disruption can have serious implications. Pennsylvania Medical studies show that those using more expensive drugs and greater clinical needs are at risk of the highest mortality rate when they lose coverage.

Potential solutions are coming soon

Researchers have proposed several policy approaches to address these emerging challenges. “Congress may need to take steps to stabilize the situation. This may include lowering the legal cap on the annual deductible, which is currently $590, or introducing a public sector D independent option to promote competition,” CAI noted.

The Pennsylvania Medical Team emphasized the importance of continuity in existing programs. “Save Medicaid coverage for older adults is critical to ensuring LIS is maintained, as policy makers consider significant changes in Medicaid programs,” Roberts added.

Since Medicare Part D covers more than 38 million Americans, the stakes are high. With the implementation of the Inflation Lower Act continuing until 2025 and beyond, health policy experts will be watching closely to see if the benefits of reducing out-of-pocket expenses outweigh market disruptions that currently affect millions of Americans.