Seniors, Medicare drug coverage and the doughnut hole

A Kaiser Family Foundation study finds that fewer Medicare drug plan enrollees are hitting the coverage gap. Those who are in it, however, bought fewer drugs.

The Associated Press/Washington Post: Study: Fewer Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Enrollees Hit Coverage Gap Known As Doughnut Hole
Fewer Medicare prescription drug plan enrollees are falling into a coverage gap known as the doughnut hole in which they bear the full cost of their prescriptions, according to a study from the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation (9/7).

Kaiser Health News: Capsules: Seniors Falling Into Doughnut Hole Buy Fewer Drugs
About 12 percent of people receiving the Medicare prescription drug benefit in 2009 fell into the gap in coverage -; the much maligned 'doughnut hole' -; according to a study. While in the doughnut hole beneficiaries bought fewer drugs, including about 11 percent fewer monthly prescriptions in 2009, compared to when they're still getting prescriptions subsidized, said the study by the Kaiser Family Foundation. … Other studies have shown a similar effect (Galewitz, 9/7).