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AARP Launches Money-Saving Prescription Drug Resource

By the end of this summer, more than one million older Americans will have fallen into the “doughnut hole”—a coverage gap in Medicare’s prescription drug program that leaves individuals on the hook for all of their own drug costs while still paying premiums. AARP is launching a new online resource to help older Americans avoid this dreaded coverage gap.

The AARP Doughnut Hole Calculator, available at www.aarp.org/doughnuthole , guides visitors through their prescription drug options using localized information about their plans and prescriptions to determine if or when they will fall into the coverage gap. In about 15 minutes, visitors can view a graph of their out-of-pocket spending by month, look up lower cost drugs for their conditions, create a Personal Medication Record and print out personalized letters to their doctors to help start a conversation about safely switching prescriptions. A brochure about the calculator is also available by calling the AARP Arkansas State Office toll free at 866-554-5379.

“About thirty-three percent of Arkansans in Medicare Part D fall into the gap each year, and millions more nervously wonder if they might fall in,” said Maria Reynolds-Diaz, state director of AARP Arkansas. “For the first time, people in Medicare have a simple way to learn if they’ll fall into the doughnut hole and find ways to avoid it by switching to safe, less expensive medications.” Research has shown people cut back on their prescription drugs when their costs become unaffordable, which can lead to more serious health conditions and larger health care bills.

“We’ll make the AARP brochures about the Medicare Part D doughnut hole calculator available to Medicare beneficiaries, as we help them enroll and re-enroll in Medicare Part D,” said Melissa Thomas, director of the State Health Insurance Program (SHIIP). “It could be very helpful to people who use very expensive brand name drugs,” Thomas added. “The calculator tool offers a more complete list of generics that beneficiaries can discuss with their doctors,” said Elaine Eubank, director of CareLink, the area agency on aging in central Arkansas. “There’s even a handy letter that people can send to their doctors about using less expensive generics. We’re glad to make the AARP brochures available to our clients.”

As a part of its Health Action Now campaign, AARP is calling on Congress to close the doughnut hole and lower prescription drug prices so that no one has to go without the prescriptions they need to stay healthy. Yesterday, AARP joined President Obama to endorse an agreement by Senate leaders and the pharmaceutical industry that would reduce brand name drug costs for most people who fall into the doughnut hole by half.

The calculator is powered by DestinationRx as part of a special arrangement between AARP and Medicare. The data is the same used by the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder, giving users the most accurate and up-to-date drug pricing information available.