Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that so far less than 2 percent of seniors with Medicare prescription drug coverage have benefited from a change their law made to the so-called donut hole in Medicare Part D.

Despite the Administration’s efforts to paint this announcement as a victory for seniors, it is clear this provision has simply run-up costs for seniors while delivering little to no benefit.  At a cost of more than $1 trillion, the Democrats’ health care law destroys access to affordable prescription drug coverage for millions of seniors.  Previous findings from the Medicare Trustees revealed that 9 in 10 seniors will lose their retiree prescription drug coverage through their employer. Additionally, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office found that seniors will see a 9 percent increase in Part D premiums because of the Democrats’ health care law.

So, while less than 2 percent of seniors have been helped, more than 90 percent of seniors will lose the prescription drug coverage they have and like and also see nearly double-digit premium increases.  That’s about as helpful to seniors’ health as an actual donut hole.