 [ Symptoms ] i have been on medication since 2000 for my multiple sclerosis this year in april i fell into the doughnut hole  my medicine cost went up extraordinarily high from 27 50 last year to 55 in january 144 in april and each month it was starting to go go higher it came to the point i was no longer going to be able to afford my medication so i called around and found some help with my medicine through the chronic disease fund why after all of these years is this happening to me [ Disease ] when you enter the part d prescription drug doughnut hole  you pay a higher percentage of your drug costs the doughnut hole starts once you and your plan have paid a total of 2 970 toward your medication costs this year you do receive a discount of 52 5 on covered brand name drugs and 21 off generics until you have reached the end of the coverage gap 4 750 that is when catastrophic coverage kicks in you might want to also look into medicare extra help which helps pay drug costs for people with low incomes