Politics & Government

Opinion: One Healthcare Doughnut Hole Closes, But Another One Opens in NJ

Outreach and public education are critical if state's Medicaid expansion is to reach the bulk of uninsured New Jerseyans.

By Joel Cantor, Courtesy of NJ Spotlight

As Americans slog through open enrollment for both the Affordable Care Act marketplace and the Medicare prescription drug benefit (also known as Part D), thoughts naturally go to doughnut holes.

When Congress and the Bush Administration crafted the Medicare Part D benefit, it was politically important that large numbers of seniors quickly get tangible benefits from the new program. Policymakers also wanted to protect beneficiaries with catastrophically high prescription costs. 

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So to keep the program’s hit to the federal budget acceptable, the original Part D program left a gaping coverage gap -- widely known as the doughnut hole -- after initial benefits for the many ended but before the catastrophic coverage kicked in. One of the most popular features of the ACA is the closing of the Part D doughnut hole.

Read more at NJSpotlight.com

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NJ Spotlight is an issue-driven news website that provides critical insight to New Jersey’s communities and businesses. It is non-partisan, independent, policy-centered and community-minded. 


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