Harry & John got $250 donut-hole checks

Harry Liggett and John Olesky got their $250 checks from Medicare because they hit the donut hole in their prescription costs. If you hit the donut hole this year, you'll get your $250 automatically, too -- Aetna Medicare and others tell the government when you're in the donut hole.

You reach the donut hole when the total cost of your prescriptions -- paid by Aetna plus what you paid -- hits $2,830 for 2010. Theoretically, you can get out of the donut hole before the year is out, but it's not likely. Once you're in the donut hole, you pay 100% of the costs for brand-name drugs. Your $5 and $10 co-pays stay the same before and after you hit the donut hole.

John hit the donut hole in May. It can be up to three months from the time you hit the donut hole before you get your $250 check. The $250 is about what one prescription costs Harry and John once you're in the donut hole.

Click on the headline for a previous story on the $250 payments.

What about you? Have you gotten your $250 donut-hole check yet? Email details to John Olesky at

Jo4wvu@sbcglobal.net