Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Ed Markey (D-Malden) announced that new data show that as of October 1, 2010 3,330 seniors in the 7th Congressional District of Massachusetts have so far received the $250 ‘donut hole’ checks that were provided due to the new health care reformlaw, to help close the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap – as of October 1, 2010.  In total, these seniors in our district have received atotal of $825,000 to help pay their high drug costs.

One of the immediate benefits of the health reform legislation signed into law in March is this assistance to seniors with high drug costs.  This year, all seniors who have prescription drug expenses of $2,830 or more – and thereby enter the Medicare Part D ‘donut hole’ coverage gap – are receiving a one-time tax-free $250 rebate check. 

“From donuts todollars, these checks are a sure bet to reduce prescription drug costs for seniors,” Rep. Markey said.  “The benefits of health reform are clear for Massachusetts seniors: lower costs, closure of the donut hole,strengthening Medicare, and extension of Medicare’s financial solvency.”

Furthermore, an additional 5,300 seniors in our Congressional District are expected to enter the donut hole before the end of 2010 and will also receive a $250 check to help with their drug costs. As a result, by the end of the year, a total of 8,600 seniors in our district will have received assistance to help cover the cost of their drugs. The total amount of assistance provided to seniors in the district will be $2.2 million.

Checks are being mailed out every couple of weeks. Nationwide, as of October 21, 2010, more than 1.8 million seniors have received the $250 rebate check.  It is estimated that by the end of the year about 4 million seniors will have received the check nationwide.

In addition, under health reform, Part D ‘donut hole’ benefits will increase beginning in January 2011, when all seniors who hit the donut hole receive a 50% discount on brand-name drugs, saving the average senior entering the donut hole more than $500 annually.  These discounts will save seniors in the district more than $4.5 million next year. 

The benefits to seniors with high drug costs increase on a regular basis under the health reform law.  The discount on brand-name drugs increases to 52.5% in 2013 and to 55% in 2015.  The savings continue to grow until the donut hole is completely eliminated in 2019.

Rep. Markey concluded, “These are real savings for our seniors, and further evidence of why the attempts by Republican leaders in Washington to repeal or defund the new health carelaw would be so harmful to those relying on Medicare to pay for their prescription drugs.”