Inflation Reduction Act Research Series: Projected Impacts for Rural Medicare Enrollees

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is helping people with Medicare, including over 8 million Part D enrollees who reside in rural areas. This fact sheet outlines the potential impacts of the IRA’s key drug-related provisions for rural Medicare enrollees. Our review shows that in 2020, about 281,000 rural enrollees would have benefitted from the IRA’s $35 insulin cap and in 2021 about 481,000 rural enrollees would not have had any out-of-pocket costs for recommended Part D covered adult vaccines. Under the IRA’s Part D redesign, about 289,000 rural enrollees who do not receive financial assistance are projected to save $1,000 or more in 2025. Additional benefits are expected for this population from other IRA drug-related provisions.