English · Slang Attested

donut hole

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

An income bracket where one is without benefits, even though benefits are available in the next lower and next higher brackets.

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Very few younger Americans have probably ever heard of the “donut hole” in Medicare's prescription drug program, but if you're on Medicare and need expensive drugs it's likely you have.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “donut hole” mean?

An income bracket where one is without benefits, even though benefits are available in the next lower and next higher brackets.

Is “donut hole” formal or informal?

donut hole is generally slang.

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