DEAR SUN SPOTS: Can you please find information about a call that I received offering me a free medical alert system along with $3,000 worth of coupons for groceries and even gas.

She told me that it was a promotion and the company is called Senior Alert Care.

It’s not the first call that I have received about medical alert items. I’m wondering if it is a scam. I did not agree to receive it.

Thank you for any help. — No Name, Auburn

ANSWER: It does appear to be a scam. Sun Spots found several online postings from newspapers and law enforcement agencies warning seniors about Senior Alert Care, as well as several other companies with similar names.

The Better Business Bureau has a lengthy posting about these scams, including this from the legitimate firm Life Alert:

“Life Alert, the California firm that advertises ‘I’ve fallen and I can’t get up,’ has sued two businesses that used names similar to its brand in robo-call marketing schemes. Life Alert also has posted a warning about the scammers on its website. The company says it does not employ telemarketers to make cold calls to potential customers.

“’These calls are not made by Life Alert,’ the company says on its website. “All of these are telemarketing scammers trying to mislead and defraud consumers by using our trademarked name so they can get your address, credit card number and bank information to charge you.”

Michelle L. Corey, BBB president and CEO, said: “The BBB advises consumers to hang up if they receive unsolicited calls for medical equipment from unfamiliar companies. In many cases, these robo-calls are fraudulent attempts to obtain financial information that can be used to commit identity theft or that result in recurring charges to a victim’s credit card or bank account.”

Sun Spots hangs up, politely, on all telemarketers. 

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am hoping you can help me with a rather important question that will help many people. Did I read correctly in the articles about the Affordable Care Act that the doughnut hole is going away?

For those unaware of what the doughnut hole is, it’s a nightmare for those insured by Medicare. Once you spend X amount of dollars on prescriptions, you are then liable for a very large portion of your prescription cost after that. You fall in the “doughnut hole.”

In my case, all fat dumb and happy I went to get my $400 prescription and was ready to pay a $30 co-pay when they said: “Oops, sorry you’re in the doughnut hole. It will be $295 today!”

I understand there is some help available to cover while you’re in this hole, but not all are eligible.

Was I correct in reading that the doughnut hole is going away or being reduced? Good news, please! — Peter, New Gloucester

ANSWER: Thanks to the ACA (aka Obamacare) the doughnut hole is being phased out and will disappear entirely by 2020.

According to Medicare.gov, this is being done by gradually reducing what percentage you pay for drugs while you are in the doughnut hole, until it reaches 25 percent in 2020. By 2020, you’ll pay only 25 percent for covered brand-name and generic drugs during the gap — the same percentage you pay from the time you meet the deductible (if your plan has one) until you reach the out-of-pocket spending limit (up to $4,750 in 2013).

Year /Name Brand Drugs /Generic Drugs

2013 /47.5% /79%

2014 /47.5% /72%

2015 /45% /65%

2016 /45% /58%

2017 /40% /51%

2018 /35% /44%

2019 /30% /37%

2020 /25% /25%

In 2013 you will hit the doughnut hole once you and your plan have paid  $2,970.

You can follow your progress toward the doughnut hole on the explanation of benefits statements that your receive regularly in the mail.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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