Paul Tonko: “I think what is important to note is the nomenclature on this one is rather offensive. We talk about the doughnut hole…”

“I think what is important to note is the nomenclature on this one is rather offensive. We talk about the doughnut hole as being Medicare part D, but who is paying that? Is Medicare paying that? No, our senior community. Our senior citizens are asked to contribute. It is not Medicare paying for that portion. So this one was cleverly devised. Cleverly devised. You can almost see the game of footsie going on because somewhere people sat down and thought, We can come up with this great, clever name, sounds attractive, sounds tempting, a doughnut hole. I can tell you many seniors come to me and tell me within a matter of months in any calendar year, I am at that threshold. For those who are not familiar with it, think of the simple doughnut with the hole in the middle. You get covered for a while, then you don't, and then you do. It is that threshold. Actuarial measures could have told them right when you have to peak there to get people into their own pocket paying for this device that is hurting our senior community. So when we talk again about freedom, this is freedom from the doughnut of the worst kind. This is freedom from digging into your pocket and paying for your pharmaceutical needs to stay well or to stay alive. So this measure is great about freeing us from that doughnut hole; but this is not Medicare funded, this is out of the individual's pocket, and it is hurting our senior community. And by the year 2018, we will close that doughnut hole completely.”