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Over the last few weeks, my team and I have talked with hundreds of seniors across Michigan. Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist is continuing his Thriving Seniors tour of the state, stopping most recently in Lansing and Flint. We’ve talked about high prescription costs, the struggles of living on a fixed income, and how Michiganders are facing impossible decisions between paying for medication and putting food on the table. We know these challenges aren’t new, but right now, high costs are stretching budgets even thinner.
As the first Age-Friendly state in the Midwest, I’m proud that we have worked tirelessly to ease these challenges and lower costs especially for older Michiganders. Over the last three years, I’ve worked across the aisle to lower the costs of child care, car insurance, health care, and prescription drugs, and I’ve proposed repealing the retirement tax to put more money in your pockets.
Now we’re building on that work: earlier this week, I signed an Executive Directive to make sure that Michigan seniors see all the benefits promised under the newly passed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). I directed state departments and agencies to use every tool in their toolboxes to pass savings on to Michiganders, including making sure seniors and families have the information and resources they need to take advantage of lower costs. Thanks to the new IRA and my directive:
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Michigan seniors on Medicare will have their prescription drug costs capped at $2,000 a year—no matter how many prescriptions they have—and insulin capped at $35 a month.
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We will also help save over 300,000 Michiganders nearly $800 a year on premiums.
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Plus, all families will save at least $500 a year on energy costs and middle-class Michiganders will get thousands of dollars in tax credits for buying electric vehicles made right here in Michigan.
These provisions to lower costs and put money in people’s pockets are a great step forward. I will work hard to make sure Michiganders can see and feel the benefits of the IRA, especially our older Michiganders living on fixed incomes.
Tough times don’t last, but tough people do. It’s time they got some relief. Let’s get it done.
 Gretchen Whitmer
Governor of Michigan
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