Islanders with Medicare prescription drug coverage who reach the so-called “;doughnut hole”; this year, requiring them to pay the full cost of their drugs, will automatically receive a $250 federal check starting next month.

The payment will go to people with Part D coverage who hit the $2,830 ceiling for regular coverage.

At that point, beneficiaries must pay the full cost until “;catastrophic”; drug coverage kicks in at $6,440. The difference is $3,610.

The one-time payment is the first step toward eliminating the doughnut hole in 2020 under the new health care law, according to AARP.

Next year, Medicare Part D enrollees reaching the coverage gap will receive a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs and a 7 percent discount on generic prescription drugs.

When the gap is wiped out in 2020, beneficiaries who now pay 100 percent of their drug costs in the doughnut hole will pay a co-payment or co-insurance of no more than 25 percent.

AARP Hawaii State Director Barbara Kim Stanton said in a news release that the checks “;will provide welcome relief to Hawaii seniors struggling to meet the rising cost of prescription drugs.”;

“;We're also advising residents to be on the alert for potential scams,”; she said. “;Anyone who approaches a senior with a 'promise' to help get their check more quickly should be reported to the authorities immediately.”;

Typically, someone saying he or she is a Medicare official offers to expedite the check and asks for a Social Security number, said AARP spokesman Bruce Bottorff.

“;This is outright fraud,”; he said.

Once Medicare records show someone has hit the coverage gap, a check will be mailed to the address used by Social Security to reach the beneficiary, he said.

AARP listed 92,179 Hawaii Medicare beneficiaries with Part D prescription drug coverage last year, including 30 percent receiving low-income subsidies.

Pamela Cunningham, coordinator of Sage PLUS, the health information arm of the Executive Office on Aging, said the program is beginning to get more calls from people hitting the doughnut hole. It usually occurs in June and July, she said.

“;People who reached it already this year don't have to do anything,”; she said.

Checks will start going out on June 15 based on Medicare records, and they'll continually go out as people reach the coverage gap, she said.

Hawaii led the country in 2007 in the percentage of Medicare beneficiaries who fell into the doughnut hole — 33 percent, or 33,000 seniors, according to AARP.

However, Cunningham said, “;We've got rich retirement benefits here.”;

With extended coverage, state, county and federal retirees and 28,000 people with both Medicare and Medicaid benefits don't hit the gap, she said.

“;A lot of people are thinking Medicare is going to take away benefits (under the new health care law),”; Cunningham said. But she said the measure “;is strengthening Medicare and fraud-fighting measures. That is how they will really save the program, by cutting out abuses.”;

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United Media contributed to this report.