This data spotlight examines the coverage gap, or "doughnut hole," in Medicare drug plans available in 2009. While in the gap in coverage, Part D enrollees (other than those receiving low-income subsidies) are required to pay 100 percent of total drug costs until they reach the catastrophic coverage level.

In 2009, nearly all Part D plans have a coverage gap, though one in four plans offer limited coverage in the gap -- generally coverage for all or some generic drugs, though some plans also cover some or a few brand-name drugs.

The spotlight is one in a series analyzing key aspects of the Medicare Part D drug plans that will be available to beneficiaries in 2009. These spotlights were prepared by a team of researchers at Georgetown University, NORC and the Kaiser Family Foundation.

 Data Spotlight (.pdf)