Medicare Part D 2011 Data Spotlight: The Coverage Gap

This data spotlight examines the availability of gap coverage in the private Medicare Part D drug plans offered to beneficiaries in 2011, the first year of the phase-out of the gap, as required under the 2010 health reform law. The changes for 2011 include a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs purchased during the gap in coverage, reducing an enrollee’s potential out-of-pocket costs in the gap from about $3,600 to $1,800.

The analysis was conducted jointly by Jack Hoadley and Laura Summer of Georgetown University, Juliette Cubanski and Tricia Neuman of the Kaiser Family Foundation, and Elizabeth Hargrave of NORC at the University of Chicago.

Data Spotlight (.pdf)