Page 10 - November Rolling Stone

Page 10 November, 2016
JOIN US! Golden Meals!
Experience Golden Meals, meals that taste as good as they look and are healthy too. Golden meals offer a warm and caring atmosphere with friendship and fun.
Come for a visit and see for yourself. Golden Meals is for persons 60 and older and their spouses. Everyone is welcome.
THE DREADED DONUT HOLE!
One of Merriam-Webster's definitions of "hole": a wretched or dreary place
It was May of this year and my friend Dennis was picking up 3 brand name prescriptions at a local pharmacy. Dennis is in his late 60's and has a Medicare Drug Plan. His co-pays had been high this year, but still manageable. The pharmacy technician found 3 bags behind the counter and said with a slightly nervous tone, “Did they tell you how much this would cost?"
Welcome, my friend, to the Medicare Drug Donut Hole....
The Donut Hole (or Coverage Gap) is not as big a problem as it once was and most Medicare beneficiaries will be able to avoid it in the future. But, if you are one of the unlucky ones taking high cost prescription drugs, you may need to deal with it for the next 3 years.
What is it?
In the early part of this century there were few discounts available for Medicare recipients who took prescription medications. A major step to address that issue began in January 2006 when Medicare Part D plans became available for the first time. Back then, the drug plans provided discounts up to a certain point and then suddenly stopped. Most people received no more discounts for the balance of the year. It was more like a Donut Cliff than a Donut Hole. Once the full retail price of your meds hit a certain level, no more discounts! And yes, there is another level of coverage beyond the "hole", but only a small percentage reach that final stage.
In 2010 a provision of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) started to improve the situation by "filling in the hole". Unfortunately, it seems like one shovel at a time. The hole is still there in 2017, but it's not as deep as it once was. Another spoiler alert- the Donut Hole will be filled by 2020.
This year (2016), once the full retail price of your drugs reaches $3,310 you have reached the edge of the "hole". You still get a discount but end up paying 45% of full price for brand names and 58% for generics. In 2017 those percentages change to 40% and 51% respectively. See the chart below to see what the percentages are in future years.
Insured's cost in the Donut Hole- percent of retail cost: Brand Names Generics
2017 40% 51% 2018 35% 44% 2019 30% 37% 2020 25% 25%
There is no plan to drop prices below the 25% level, so 2020 represents the end the Donut Hole as we know it. We can outlive this thing!
WHO DOES IT IMPACT?
Medicare beneficiaries with Medicare Drug Plans. Brand name drugs (you know, the commercials you see on TV, quickly followed by lawyer ads saying you can get a big cash award) accelerate your progress toward "the hole". If a medication has a retail cost of $1,000 you are headed toward the Donut Hole very rapidly regardless of your current co-pay. As you can imagine, having several high price drugs on your list quickly gets you to Donut Hole Land.
Cont. on page 12, Donut
NICAA GOLDEN MEALS - NOVEMBER
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
1
Ham & Beans, Cornbread, Applesauce, Margarine & Milk
2
Salisbury Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Carrots, Peaches, Bread, Margarine & Milk
3
Easy Chicken Casserole, Chessy Potatoes, Broccoli, Fruit, Bread, Margarine & Milk
4
Chili Dog, Potato Salad, Fruit, Bun & Milk
Potato Bar Returns
to the Freeport Central Kitchen
7
Tuna & Noodles, Peas, Fruit, Bread, Margarine & Milk
8
Pork Fritter, Augratin Potatoes, Green Beans, Fruit, Bread, Margarine & Milk
9
Spaghetti, Mixed Vegetables, Fruit, Bread, Margarine & Milk
November Birthdays
10
Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes, Carrots, Fruit, Bread, Margarine & Milk
Veterans Day All Sites Closed
14
BBQ Chicken, Potatoes, Peas, Fruit, Bread, Margarine & Milk
15
Stuffed Green Peppers, Rice, Mixed Vegetables, Fruit, Bread & Margarine
16
Honey Baked Ham, Sweet Potatoes, Baked Beans, Fruit, Bread, Margarine & Milk
17
Baked Cod, Scalloped Potatoes, Broccoli, Fruit, Bread, Margarine & Milk
18
Beef Stew, Biscuit, Applesauce, Milk Potato Bar Returns
to the Freeport Central Kitchen
21
Chili, Applesauce, Cornbread, Margarine & Milk
22
Swedish Meatballs, Seasoned Rice, Green Beans, Fruit
23
Baked Turkey, Dressing, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Bread, Margarine & Milk
Thanksgiving All Sites Closed
All Sites Closed
28
Sloppy Joes, Potato Wedges, Fruit, Bun & Milk
29
Ham & Beans, Cornbread, Applesauce, Margarine & Milk
30
Salisbury Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Carrots, Peaches, Bread, Margarine & Milk
All meals include milk, bread and margarine. Menu subject to change without notice.
Crum & Forster Site
524 W. Stephenson, Lower Level Freeport, IL 61032
Tel: 815.232.8896
Other NICAA Golden Meal Sites Rock City - Dew Drop Inn Elizabeth - Welcome Inn
NICAA Meal Sites
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