Press Releases

Washington, DC – Today, Milwaukee seniors in Medicare who enter the prescription drug benefit plan “donut hole” this year will start receiving $250 rebate checks to help them afford prescription drugs due to recently enacted health reform.

The “donut hole” is a coverage gap in which seniors with drug costs between $2,830 and $6,440 pay 100% of their drug costs while still paying their premium.  Last year, 74,400 Wisconsinites spent part of the year in this coverage gap. 

This is the first step included in recently enacted health insurance reform to ultimately close the “donut hole” by 2020.  Next year seniors in the coverage gap will receive a 50% discount on brand name prescription drugs.

Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) said, “Paying 100% of prescription drug costs is a huge burden on our seniors.  This will make a real difference and help them afford needed medicine.”

Rebate checks will continue to be mailed throughout the year as seniors enter the coverage gap.