Examining Medicare enrollees in eight states, a study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine isolated certain factors associated with increased entrance into Medicare’s prescription drug payment gap, the “doughnut hole”.  The authors found that gap entry was significantly higher among women and those with diabetes and dementia.  In addition, though not as strongly correlated as diabetes or dementia, the study found that individuals with mental health conditions were also more likely to fall into the coverage gap.

Ettner, S.L., et. al. (2010). Entering and exiting the Medicare Part D coverage gap: role of comorbidities and demographics. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 1525-1497. doi: 10.1007/s11606-010-1300-6. http://www.springerlink.com/content/j8k2095028081pm2/?p=91d782ba4c694955a84c4e29ec2b64d9&pi=17

Authors: Susan L. Ettner, Neil Steers, O. Kenrik Duru, Norman Turk, Elaine Quiter, Julie Schmittdiel and Carol M. Mangione