The doughnut hole threatens diabetcs- and I don’t mean the kind you eat

Here is another reason that we see so many admissions to hospitals due to diabetic complications… the doughnut hole. Just what is this you ask? Medicare beneficiaries were responsible for pay as soon as they incurred costs of $2,400 among pharmacy costs. After a beneficiary then spent $3,850 out of their own pocket- coverage kicked in again. That coverage gap is commonly referred to as the doughnut hole. Mind you this doesn’t apply to low-income seniors who qualify for a subsidy.

It was found that 15% of those who hit the doughnut hole stopped taking their medication all together and another 1% cut back on their medication use…while 5% switched medications. So darn scary. Just think what this does to an elderly persons diabetes. We need to come up with solutions to end these type of problems. I don’t have the answers- wish I did, but here is to finding something that is beneficial for all!