Thinking about health, Medicare and drug coverage

One of the benefits of the Affordable Care Act to Medicare beneficiaries has been the gradual closing of a big and costly gap called the “doughnut hole” in the prescription drug program, Medicare Part D. By the end of 2020 – if “Obamacare” is not repealed or altered substantially by Congress – the doughnut hole will be completely closed.

In 2010, people hit the “doughnut-hole” coverage gap when the total amount they and their plan had paid for prescription drugs reached $2,800 in a coverage year. At that point, people had to pay the full cost of their prescription drugs until they had reached...