This weekend, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services mailed the one millionth $250 check

[hedgehog]

to a senior who had reached the current gap in prescription drug coverage. The checks are part of the Affordable Care Act's expansion of seniors' benefits and the provision to close the "donut hole" gap by 2014.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/08/30/landmark-number-donut-hole-rebate-checks-passes-one-million


Please commence with routine criticism of the health care reform bill.

[dflprincess]

1. A person who hits the "donut hole" is looking at as much as $3400

in out of pocket prescription costs. The $250 drops it to $3150 (or so). Perhaps it's better than nothing - but not by much.

There was no excuse for the donut hole to begin with and even less for the insurance bill to take 10 years to close it once and for all.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

2. I knew you could do it (nt)

[impik]

3. Heee. It is an art, isn't it?

[dflprincess]

4. And I knew there would be some here that would prefer to ignore the facts

and pretend that the problem had been solved.

A $250 check is meaningless if a person can't afford to get their prescriptions.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

6. Ignoring the facts. Yup. That's me.

Now that you've extrapolated my meaning, I can't wait to hear what my motivations are.

[dflprincess]

8. I don't know what your motivations are

but I know you have your "facts" are wrong. If you follow the links from the White House link you posted you will find that the donut hole will not close in 2014 as you state, but "by 2020".

http://www.healthcare.gov/news/blog/donuthole.html

•Starting in 2011, you will receive a 50% discount on brand-name drugs in the donut hole, and you will start to pay less and less for your generic Part D drugs in the donut hole.

•Starting in 2013, you will pay less and less for your brand-name Part D prescription drugs in the donut hole.

•By 2020, the coverage gap will be closed, meaning there will be no more “donut hole,” and you will only pay 25% of the costs of your drugs until you reach the yearly out-of-pocket spending limit.

•Throughout this time, you will get continuous Medicare Part D coverage for your prescription drugs as long as you are on a prescription drug plan. (translation: as long as you are handing a chunk of your retirement income over to the same old crooks that were robbing you before "reform" passed)

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

9. I stated nothing of the sort...

Since I never presented any facts of any kind, I'm not quite certain how I got any facts wrong.

Perhaps you've been mixing your prescription medicines.

[dflprincess]

11. I apologize,

The 2014 date was in the original post not yours. Thank you for pointing out my error in such a mature way.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

12. You're quite welcome (nt)

[tallahasseedem]

10. LOL!

You're just...awesome! :)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

7. I never understood why there had to be a donut hole in the first place

Some seniors might actually survive if everything is covered?

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

13. Because drug companies spent $158m on lobbying in 2004

And if they didn't get the Doughnut Hole, that would have been a total waste of money.

:sarcasm:

Campaign Finance Reform. Until it happens, nothing happens.

[Nikki Stone1]

5. $250 doesn't cover much: a month or less than a month of a single prescription med sometimes

The other 11 months, what then?

Also, the health insurance giveaway bill hasn't gone into effect yet. It will be worse for us all when it does.