Shortly after retiring in 2022, I was shocked to learn that my Medicare plan did not cover the shingles vaccine, leaving me with an out-of-pocket bill of over $400. Like many retirees, I had assumed that essential preventive care would be fully covered.  Fortunately, a friend advised me to wait u ntil January 2023, when the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) would eliminate cost-sharing for all Advisory Committee Immunization Practices recommended vaccines under Medicare Part D. Sure enough, when I returned to my pharmacy a few months later, my vaccines were completely covered.This policy change has been a game-changer. According to Health and Human Services, in 2023 alone 10.3. million Medicare Part D enrollees received recommended vaccines — primarily for shingles and RSV — at no cost, saving beneficiaries over $400 million. Beyond these personal savings, Medicare itself will save money by preventing costly hospitalizations and complications from vaccine-preventable diseases.Despite these clear benefits, the current administration is actively working to gut key provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act, threatening programs that make health care more affordable for seniors. If these changes go through, Medicare recipients could once again face steep out-of-pocket costs for vaccines and other essential care.This is a step in the wrong direction. The IRA has helped millions of seniors stay healthier while also reducing overall Medicare spending. We must push back against efforts to dismantle these protections and ensure that affordable preventive care remains a priority.  I encourage all Medicare enrollees and concerned citizens to urge Utah Sens. John Curtis and Mike Lee to preserve the IRA provisions — our health and financial well-being depend on it.  Julie BosenPark CityThe post Game-changer appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less