Full drug costs hitting Medicare members already (The Arizona Republic)

Arizona seniors and people with disabilities are learning the hard way about a feature in the new Medicare drug plan that can cause them to pay, at times unexpectedly, three to four times more for their drugs.

Medicare drug plan (Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune)

MEDICARE DRUG PLAN THE PLANS Any Medicare beneficiary can buy a Medicare Part D drug insurance policy — a stand-alone plan or similar plans included in broader health coverage offered by Medicare Advantage plans. Many beneficiaries can get similar coverage through former employers, including the military or government. Low-income people may qualify for subsidized plans that offer nearly free

Part D ‘doughnut hole’ threatens to burn holes in senior citizens’ pockets (EARTHtimes.org)

The euphoria over Medicare’s Part D drug plan is slowly dying as the senior citizens are coming to realize that the plan has holes that could cost them a big bundle on medicines. The hole, called ‘doughnut hole’, requires them to spend about US$3,600 from their own pockets once their Medicare tab reached US$2,250.

Incumbent says money saved, more benefit from Medicare Plan D (South Bend Tribune)

SOUTH BEND — U.S. Rep. Chris Chocola is well aware of the “doughnut hole” and why it exists, because he was one of the members of Congress who voted for Medicare Part D legislation when it passed in late 2003.

Chocola, Donnelly take look at Part D (South Bend Tribune)

The so-called “doughnut hole” built into the Medicare Part D prescription drug legislation passed in late 2003 may soon become a yawning chasm for many seniors.

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