AARP Launches Online Doughnut Hole Calculator

This may be of interest from the AARP PA E-News for July 2009:

Summer is a time of year when many people in Medicare Part D fall into the dreaded doughnut hole. In fact, some 28% of Pennsylvania Medicare Part D enrollees in 2007 found themselves in the coverage gap that requires enrollees to pay 100 percent of their medication costs.

Thankfully, AARP has developed a new interactive online tool to help Pennsylvanians reduce their Part D spending by identifying safe, effective alternatives, such as generic or therapeutically similar drugs. Even if you don’t hit the doughnut hole, the tool can give you options to lower your out of pocket drug costs.

It is easy to use. Fill in your zip code, click on your health plan, list your drugs. The calculator will tell you how long your coverage will last before you will hit the doughnut hole. You will receive a list of less expensive medications. The calculator also allows you to print a letter—in English and in Spanish—you can give to your doctor for each medication alternative that may save you money.

More good news? Any information stays private! In fact, it goes away as soon as you exit the calculator.

So go to the tool and see how much money you can save. The tool can be found at www.aarp.org/doughnuthole.

Thanks to AARP Pennsylvania for permission to share!