Fewer people will now be eligible for help paying for access to primary care physicians and prescription medications.
The changes to the Medicare Savings Plan will affect more than 8,000 people here in Maine. The state estimates roughly 2,600 of them will no longer receive any benefits from the program at all.
John Hennessy, a spokesperson for AARP, says this will greatly impact people who are on both Plan B and Plan D, and sharply criticized approval of the cuts.
"These are people's parents, these are somebody's grandparents, these are people who have paid their dues. We don't think the budget should be balanced on the backs of Maine seniors," said Hennessy.
AARP plans to monitor the issue closely. The state estimates reductions to the savings plan alone will save nearly $800,000 this fiscal year.
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