Who believes that Democrats vow to close Medicare doughnut hole (AP)?”
Medicare’s coverage gap for prescription drugs – $3,610 next year – has steadily gotten bigger since the benefit’s inception. But if Democrats have their way on health care overhaul, the dreaded “doughnut hole” will shrink by $500 right away and go away altogether by 2019. With the elderly worried that Medicare cuts in the health care bill will put the quality of their own care in jeopardy, Democrats belatedly are scrambling to convince them otherwise. Lawmakers are eager to make amends with a pivotal political constituency ahead of next year’s midterm elections. Senate Democratic leaders this week joined their House counterparts in vowing to close the coverage gap if President Barack Obama’s health care remake passes. “I personally am committed to fully closing the doughnut hole once and for all,” Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said on the Senate floor. “The legislation we will send to President Obama for signature will make good on his promise, and ours, to forever end this inde
Democrats vow to close Medicare ‘doughnut hole’ By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR (AP) – 5 hours ago WASHINGTON — It’s an annual ordeal for many seniors living on a budget. Medicare’s coverage gap for prescription drugs — $3,610 next year — has steadily gotten bigger since the benefit’s inception. But if Democrats have their way on health care overhaul, the dreaded “doughnut hole” will shrink by $500 right away and go away altogether by 2019. With the elderly worried that Medicare cuts in the health care bill will put the quality of their own care in jeopardy, Democrats belatedly are scrambling to convince them otherwise. Lawmakers are eager to make amends with a pivotal political constituency ahead of next year’s midterm elections. Senate Democratic leaders this week joined their House counterparts in vowing to close the coverage gap if President Barack Obama’s health care remake passes. “I personally am committed to fully closing the doughnut hole once and for all,” Majority Leader Harry Re
