Alert
“Doughnut Hole” in Medicare Part D Leads to Health Concerns for Seniors
Results from a study at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health implicate the coverage gap, or “doughnut hole,” in Medicare’s Part D coverage as cause for concern about seniors’ health. Enacted three years ago, the Part D plan is intended for those seniors who face extremely high prescription drug costs. The plan requires beneficiaries to pay an initial deductible for prescriptions, followed by a 25 percent co-payment on further medical charges up to $2,250. The coverage doughnut hole comprises the subsequent payments in-full that seniors must make until a $5,100 total is reached. The studies showed that the seniors who hit this coverage gap have a 14 percent drop in medication usage to offset the costs.
…from Alliance for Retired Americans Friday alert.
