Improving Medicare Closing the Medicare prescription drug doughnut hole BY RON POLLACK I Ron Pollack is the executive director of Families USA and a proud granddad. t seems like a bad dream: Your prescription drug coverage stops just when you need it the most. But sadly, it’s been a reality for millions of people with Medicare. When the Medicare prescription drug program (Part D) was created in 2003, it included a large gap in coverage that’s known as the “doughnut hole.” After beneficiaries reached an initial limit of total drug expenses ($2,840 in 2011), they had no prescription drug coverage until they got to the other side of the doughnut hole—by spending $3,600 more out of their own pockets—and reached the catastrophic limit for the year. Many 24 GRAND MAY JUNE 2011 had to choose between buying their medications and buying groceries. But things are getting better. Under the Affordable Care Act the nearly 4 million Medicare beneficiaries who fell into the doughnut hole in 2010 each received a $250 check to help with the cost of their Good news you can use • “Medicare’s New Preventive Care • “Medicare’s New Wellness Visit: • “Help Is on the Way: 12 Reason