What is the donut hole for 2025?
Asked by: Fidel Torphy | Last update: July 2, 2025Score: 4.6/5 (56 votes)
Will the donut hole go away in 2025 Medicare Part?
The Medicare Part D coverage gap explained. Good news for 2025: In 2025, the Medicare Part D coverage gap, also known as the “donut hole,” will be eliminated under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Part D plan members will also enjoy the security of an annual maximum out-of-pocket cost for prescription drugs.
What is the prescription cap for 2025?
Starting Jan. 1, 2025, millions of Americans who get their prescription drugs through Medicare could get a major financial break when a $2,000 out-of-pocket spending cap on medications goes into effect.
Can I use GoodRx if I'm in the donut hole?
Key takeaways:
You may want to consider using GoodRx instead of Medicare when Medicare doesn't cover your medication, when you won't reach your annual deductible, or when you're in the coverage gap phase (“donut hole”) of your Medicare plan.
How long do you stay in the donut hole with Medicare?
Starting in 2025, Medicare no longer has a 'donut hole,' or coverage gap. In prior years, you paid up to 25% out of pocket for covered medications in the donut hole phase. Starting in 2025, once you reach the annual out-of-pocket cap ($2,000 in 2025), you're done paying out of pocket for the year.
How Medicare Part D Works (2025)
Is there a way to avoid the donut hole?
Tips on How to Avoid the Donut Hole Coverage Gap
Discuss lower-cost drug alternatives with your healthcare professionals. Seek out discounts on medications. Choose generic drugs over brand-name drugs.
How to get out of the Medicare donut hole?
- Lower the costs of your prescription medications by choosing a Part D plan with a formulary that includes your medications.
- Shop around to see if you can find a pharmacy that offers your medications at a lower cost.
How much do you pay for prescriptions in the donut hole?
Just like in the initial coverage period, when you entered the donut hole, you would be responsible for paying 25% of the costs of your medications.
Are they getting rid of the donut hole?
Starting on January 1, 2025, the donut hole will be eliminated. And there will be a Part D $2,000 out-of-pocket spending cap, after which enrollees won't pay anything for covered medications for the rest of the year.
Which is better, Medicare Part D or GoodRx?
Consider using a GoodRx coupon instead of Medicare in the following situations: Your medication isn't covered by your Medicare plan. The medication costs less with a GoodRx coupon than with your Medicare copay. You don't expect to reach your annual deductible.
What is the new Medicare rule for 2025?
Medicare Part D cap of $2,000
Beginning January 1, 2025, people with Part D plans through traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage won't pay more than $2,000 over the calendar year in out-of-pocket costs for their prescription medications.
Why are people leaving Medicare Advantage plans?
Key takeaways: People leave Medicare Advantage plans because out-of-pocket costs vary between plans, network restrictions can cause frustration, prior authorization requests can delay care, and it can be difficult to use the additional benefits they provide.
How many prescriptions does the average 65 year old take?
Older adults are also more likely than their younger counterparts to be taking multiple prescription medications. More than half of adults 65 and older (54%) report taking four or more prescription drugs compared to one-third of adults 50-64 years old (32%) and about one in ten adults 30-49 (13%) or 18-29 (7%).
Why do people say not to get a Medicare Advantage plan?
Disadvantages of Medicare Advantage plans can include difficulty switching out of the plans later, restrictions on care access, limited provider networks, and limitations on extra benefits.
How much will Medicare cost in 2025 for seniors?
The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees will be $185.00 for 2025, an increase of $10.30 from $174.70 in 2024. The annual deductible for all Medicare Part B beneficiaries will be $257 in 2025, an increase of $17 from the annual deductible of $240 in 2024.
What happens when you reach the donut hole?
They often have to pay thousands of dollars for prescription drugs until they cross this coverage gap. However, once a person crosses the donut hole, they reach “catastrophic coverage.” Once they reach this stage, they only need to pay about 5% of the cost of the prescription drugs.
How to avoid the donut hole?
Purchase your generic drugs and pay the cash price at a pharmacy that does not have your insurance information. Purchase your brand name drugs at another pharmacy and pay the insurance copay. This strategy will reduce your out-of-pocket costs in Stage 2, and often keep you from falling in the Stage 3 donut hole.
What is the maximum out-of-pocket for Medicare Part D in 2025?
In 2025, the coverage gap will be eliminated, and annual out-of-pocket Part D costs are capped at $2,000. This means if you take high-cost medications covered by Part D, you could see major savings. After meeting the out-of-pocket limit, you pay $0 for covered drugs for the rest of the year.
Who eliminated the Medicare donut hole?
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) signed by President Biden in 2022 will eliminate the Prescription Drugs Coverage Gap (known as the donut hole) for Seniors in 2025. Most Medicare drug plans have a coverage gap (also called the "donut hole").
What is a social security donut hole?
The “donut hole” refers to a gap in taxable income for Social Security purposes. Currently, the amount of income subject to Social Security payroll taxes is capped at $168,600 for 2024 and it will rise to $176,100 in 2025. Earnings above this threshold are not taxed for Social Security.
Is Medicare Part D mandatory?
Enrollment in Part D is generally voluntary, however, some people are required to be enrolled, and others should not enroll.
How to get out of Medicare donut hole?
Once total spending for your covered drugs exceeds $6,550 (the “catastrophic coverage” threshold for 2021), you are out of the coverage gap and you will pay only a small co-insurance amount. For more from Medicare on coinsurance drug payments, click here.
Does GoodRx count towards the donut hole?
Avoid falling into the Medicare donut hole too soon
You can use your Medicare plan for your more expensive brand drugs, and use GoodRx to purchase your less expensive generic medications. The cost of drugs purchased under GoodRx will not count against your coverage limit - thus keeping you out of the donut hole longer.
Will the donut hole go away in 2025?
As in 2024, there is no beneficiary cost sharing above the annual OOP threshold in 2025. The coverage gap phase (also known as the “donut hole”) will be eliminated, which will result in standard Part D coverage consisting of a three-phase benefit: a deductible phase, an initial coverage phase, and a catastrophic phase.