Des Moines Sun

Iowans have until December 7, 2025, to review and make changes to their Medicare plans during the annual open enrollment period. Enrollment continues online at medicare.gov despite the government shutdown. Individuals can create or log into their accounts to compare available plans, find providers, and speak with representatives.

For 2026, Medicare Part D out-of-pocket drug costs will be capped at $2,100. Senator Chuck Grassley highlighted his role in passing reforms that introduced voluntary prescription drug coverage under Medicare and said he has worked to ensure the program operates as intended by Congress.

Grassley advised new enrollees to consider a drug plan with a low monthly premium even if they do not currently need prescription medications, noting that delaying enrollment could result in a penalty of an additional 1 percent of the national base beneficiary premium for each month delayed. He recommended reviewing the “annual notice of change” from insurers to verify if current prescriptions remain covered and whether preferred providers are still in-network. The Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) offers free and confidential counseling for Iowans who want more information about their options. Appointments can be made at shiip.iowa.gov or by calling (800) 351-4664.

Regarding oversight of federal health programs, Grassley emphasized his ongoing efforts to address wasteful spending and fraud. He stated: “As a taxpayer watchdog, I conduct robust oversight of federal programs to ensure hard-earned taxpayer dollars aren’t lost to waste, fraud and abuse. When there’s a whiff of wrongdoing, I use my oversight tools to get answers.” Grassley recently sent a letter to UnitedHealth Group seeking information on its Medicare billing practices after reports alleged that misdiagnoses may have resulted in $8.7 billion in extra payments in 2021.

He noted concerns about fraudulent activities raising costs for both beneficiaries and taxpayers: “Stories like these undermine confidence in our health care system and fraudulent activity drives up costs to beneficiaries and the taxpayer.” He added that he has pressed the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to recover improper payments and strengthen management of funds, citing over $87 billion in improper Medicare payments in fiscal year 2024.

Grassley’s oversight also extends to fraud within Obamacare-related programs. His office received information indicating some insurance agents used targeted online ads for fraudulent enrollments, leading up to five million consumers being improperly enrolled in subsidized federal marketplace plans—an estimated cost of $20 billion to taxpayers. Last year he questioned CMS following findings that California had wrongly claimed nearly $53 million in Medicaid reimbursements for undocumented immigrants. More recently, he contacted Dr. Mehmet Oz, CMS administrator, about provider tax practices potentially being used as kickback schemes.

Grassley concluded: “Proper stewardship of federal health care programs is essential to keep affordable access to health care for tens of millions of Americans for whom these taxpayer-funded programs are intended to serve.”