‘Doughnut hole’ unites seniors wary of health bill
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.
Medicare Part D established a new prescription drug benefit in 2006. The doughnut hole was designed to reduce the overall cost of the program. An estimated 3.4 million seniors fall into it each year.
Most people never see the other side of the doughnut hole. They simply wait for New Year’s Day. The House health care bill would close the gap gradually until it’s eliminated in 2022.
There are about 39 million people aged 65 and older in the U.S. and they voted at a higher rate than any other age group in the 2008 election, according to the Census Bureau. The 40-million-member AARP has endorsed the House’s version of the bill, but voters aren’t yet sold on the plan.
The latest Kaiser Health Tracking Poll, released last month, found just 32 percent of those 65 and older believed passage of a health bill would leave them and their families better off, compared with 44 percent of respondents under the age of 65.
When asked about elements of the health overhaul plan that are “extremely” or “very” important, the doughnut hole was the No. 3 issue for Republicans, and No. 4 for both Democrats and independents.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091204/ap_on_he_me/
us_health_overhaul_prescription_drugs