AARP Offers Tips for People Receiving Medicare Prescription Drug Rebate Checks

Heads up! The first checks are to be mailed next week
People in Medicare Part D who reach the prescription drug coverage gap or "doughnut hole" this year will automatically receive a rebate of $250 to help with their drug costs and other expenses. As part of the new health care law, the rebate check is the first step in the gradual closing of the doughnut hole, which will help make prescription drugs more affordable for people in Medicare Part D. Closing this gap has been a top priority for AARP members and all older Americans.
Did you know: More than 3 million people fall into the doughnut hole each year, and millions more live in fear of reaching this expensive gap in coverage??
Research shows that people who have trouble paying for their prescription drugs are more likely to skip doses or stop taking their medications altogether, which can lead to more serious health problems and higher long-term costs both for them and for our health care system as a whole.
Starting in 2011, people who reach the doughnut hole will receive a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs. By 2020, the doughnut hole will be eliminated entirely.
Helpful tip:
* You may be able to save on your prescription drugs. By entering the name of each of your drugs, its dosage, and how often you take it into AARP's Doughnut Hole Calculator you can see when you are likely to enter the doughnut hole.
You should also...
Check AARP.org for more information on how the new health care law will affect you and your family.