'Doughnut hole' unites seniors wary of health bill
Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 6:58 am
MIAMI – Lawmakers have wooed seniors skeptical of the health care overhaul by emphasizing the plan would close the "doughnut hole" — a gap in Medicare drug coverage that can cost thousands of dollars a year.
But getting support for the entire overhaul from this powerful voting bloc has been difficult, despite Democrats repeated town hall meetings, interviews and congressional hearings.
Janet Cohen, 75, would like to see the doughnut hole closed, but like many, she still is uncertain about the health bills.
Cohen and her 97-year-old mother are both in the doughnut hole because their out-of-pocket drug costs exceeded $2,700 this year. Rather than just a copay, each one now must foot the entire cost of their medications for the rest of the year, or until their annual spending reaches $4,350, which isn't likely to happen. If it does, the government will again subsidize the costs.
Story Link: 'Doughnut hole' unites seniors wary of health bill - Yahoo! News
But getting support for the entire overhaul from this powerful voting bloc has been difficult, despite Democrats repeated town hall meetings, interviews and congressional hearings.
Janet Cohen, 75, would like to see the doughnut hole closed, but like many, she still is uncertain about the health bills.
Cohen and her 97-year-old mother are both in the doughnut hole because their out-of-pocket drug costs exceeded $2,700 this year. Rather than just a copay, each one now must foot the entire cost of their medications for the rest of the year, or until their annual spending reaches $4,350, which isn't likely to happen. If it does, the government will again subsidize the costs.
Story Link: 'Doughnut hole' unites seniors wary of health bill - Yahoo! News