Seniors uneasy about health care overhaul, but rally behind cutting prescription drug costs

‘Doughnut hole’ unites seniors wary of health bill

MIAMI — Two words are coming up often as Democrats try to shore up support for their health overhaul: “doughnut hole.”

The doughnut hole is a gap in Medicare prescription drug coverage that can cost seniors thousands of dollars each year. Lawmakers trying to woo seniors skeptical of their health care plans have been emphasizing their plan to close the doughnut hole because there is wide support to end the gap in coverage. However, polls show seniors continue to wonder if that alone is enough to back the entire health care overhaul.

Some 3.4 million seniors are affected by the coverage gap, which can cost them more than $4,000 a year. Many go without their medicine rather than pay out-of-pocket for the drugs.