Delray Beach, Fla. – Like 3 million or more seniors, Anne Syrop, 87, faces a coverage gap in the new Medicare prescription drug program – a doughnut hole, in Washington-speak – that represents a personal financial strain as well as a political issue of uncertain impact.
“The doughnut hole is a problem, and it’s going to continue to develop as a problem,” says Ron Klein, a Democrat trying to exploit the issue in his race against veteran Rep. E. Clay Shaw along Florida’s Atlantic Coast.
The potential for political trouble isn’t lost on Republicans, since seniors must pay premiums year-round, even if their coverage is interrupted.
“A lot of them are going to reach that doughnut hole right before the elections,” Shaw said.
But during the first fall campaign since the program’s inception, there is evidence the drug benefit may be less of an issue than Democrats have hoped, muted by polls showing satisfaction with the program among seniors.
