'Donut Hole' Medicare Recipients Get a Check and a Promise

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that 221,744 Medicare beneficiaries in Florida have received prescription-drug cost relief through the Affordable Care Act.

Nationally, 3 million eligible beneficiaries who fell into the drug coverage gap known as the donut hole during 2010 have been mailed a one-time, tax-free $250 rebate check.

Eligible beneficiaries who fell into the coverage gap during 2010 are continuing to automatically receive rebate checks.Starting this year, eligible beneficiaries in the coverage gap will receive a 50-percent discount on covered brand-name medications while in the donut hole.

In addition, in 2011 Medicare will begin paying 7 percent of the price for generic drugs during the coverage gap.