Medicare beneficiaries will receive free preventive care services like mammograms and certain colon cancer tests and a free annual physical starting in 2011; By 2018, seniors can expect to save on average almost $200 per year in premiums compared to what they would have paid without the new law, and most beneficiaries will also see a significant reduction in their Medicare coinsurance as a result of the Affordable Care Act; and The life of the Medicare Trust Fund is extended by 12 years.

"These checks represent just one way that Medicare is going to work better for seniors and persons with disabilities under the Affordable Care Act," said Don Berwick, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. "Seniors will see lower prescription drug costs when they are in the donut hole, access to preventive services and annual wellness visits without cost-sharing, and higher quality care. And our efforts to crack down on fraud and waste are making beneficiaries safer and Medicare stronger financially, adding years to the Medicare trust funds."

"Often, seniors reach the donut hole because they are on costly medications to help them manage chronic conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes," said Kathy Greenlee, assistant secretary for aging. "These checks will help America's seniors afford the medications they need to manage those illnesses, keeping them healthy and improving their quality of life."

Medicare beneficiaries who do not already receive Medicare's Extra Help receive these checks automatically in the mail when they reach the donut hole; there is no requirement to sign up. Seniors should never give out personal information to anyone who is not a trusted source.

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