Final answer:
In Medicare Part D, beneficiaries enter a phase known as the "Coverage Gap" where they must pay the full cost of their medications. This phase ends when the beneficiary reaches a certain out-of-pocket threshold, at which point catastrophic coverage begins.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Medicare Part D, once the initial coverage limit is reached, beneficiaries enter a phase known as the "Coverage Gap" or "donut hole" where they must pay the full cost of their medications. This is a period where beneficiaries are responsible for a higher percentage of the cost of their prescription drugs. The Coverage Gap ends when the beneficiary reaches a certain out-of-pocket threshold, at which point catastrophic coverage begins.