Close the Health Care “Doughnut Hole”
Millions of Americans are falling into the “Doughnut Hole,” or Medicare Part D coverage gap. Once the costs for prescription drugs reach the initial coverage limit, Medicare recipients have to pay out-of-pocket for their prescriptions on top of their premiums until they reach the catastrophic coverage threshold.
This coverage gap increases the cost of health care for many older Americans — often, they don’t know what hit them until they open their medical bills. The “doughnut hole” is getting bigger as drug prices outpace inflation, and Americans can’t keep up.
Nearly 20 percent of Medicare beneficiaries delayed or did not fill prescriptions because of cost and many others don’t take their medications just to stay out of the hole. This coverage gap is dragging too many people down, putting both their health and their bank accounts in danger.
Urge Congress to take advantage of the upcoming health care reform and close the “doughnut hole” so Americans don’t have to pay full cost for their drugs as well as drug plan premiums.
