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The 2020 Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Guidelines determine the income level requirements for people applying for the Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) program, also known as the "Extra Help" program that helps pay Medicare prescription drug costs.

Starting in 2020, the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) income brackets will be adjusted for inflation.  Consequently, people at the low end of their 2019 IRMAA income bracket wil . . .

CMS released the 2021 low-income premium subsidy amounts (or Benchmark premiums) for Medicare Part D plans on July 29, 2020. In 2021, four regions will lower their Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) benchmark premiums and 30 regions will increase their benchmark premium.

If the retail value of your formulary drug purchases are over $345, you will enter the 2021 Donut Hole and, as was true in 2020, you will receive a 75% discount for all formulary drugs while in the Coverage Gap.

On February 5, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2021 Advance Notice and Draft Call Letter that included the 2021 proposed defined standard benefits for Medicare Part D prescription drug plan coverage - and proposed changes to Medicare plans.

Updated  2/5/2020 See:  2020 Federal Poverty Level Guidelines (FPL): 2020 LIS Qualifications and Benefits   (https://Q1News.com/812.html) The 2019 Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Guidel . . .

CMS released the 2020 low-income premium subsidy amounts (or Benchmark premiums) for Medicare Part D plans on July 31, 2019, and in 2020, 33 regions will lower their Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) benchmark premiums and only 1 region will raise their benchmark premium.

The Donut Hole (or Coverage Gap) is a term used to describe a "gap" or pause in your Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage where - prior to 2011 - you were 100% responsible for the cost of your . . .

On April 1st, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2020 Announcement and Final Call Letter that includes the defined standard benefits parameters for 2020 Medicare Part . . .

Medicare Part D prescription drug plans expressly excludes coverage for vitamins - although some Medicare plans do cover "excluded" drugs such as B-12 vitamin injections as "Bonus" or Supplemental dru . . .

Since 2011, people with Medicare who earn over $85,000 have been paying an additional monthly premium or Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) for their Medicare Part D prescription drug p . . .

In certain situations, people with Medicare may be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) allowing them to join a Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare Part D prescription drug plan , or switch . . .

2020 Update   See: 2020 State Low-Income Subsidy Benchmark Premium Amounts - with a comparison of benchmark changes since 2006 at https://Q1News.com/763.html. The Centers for Medicare and Me . . .

About $3,019 - maybe even a little more depending on your Medicare Part D plan. However, your actual savings in the 2019 Donut Hole will depend on several things including: (1)  How much yo . . .

The Social Security Administration announced on October 13, 2020 that "Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will increase 1.3 percent . . .

As in past years, some 2020 Medicare Part D plans are changing their cost-sharing designs for 2021 prescription drug purchases.  Cost-sharing is what you will pay for your Medicare Part D formula . . .

Twenty-five 2021 Medicare Advantage plans that offer drug coverage (MAPDs) will have an ICL over the standard $4,130 and nine MAPDs will have an ICL under $4,130 - and one stand-alone 2020 Medicare Part D plan (PDP) will have an ICL under the standard $4,130.

The 2021 Medicare Advantage plan information recently released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) shows that Medicare beneficiaries can expect a few more Medicare Advantage pl . . .

The September 2020 Medicare Part D plan formulary (or drug list) updates included 86 new drug codes or NDCs representing 46 different medications, including 18 new generics. The NDC uniquely identi . . .

As you may know, Medicare Part D prescription drug plans update their plan formularies (drug lists) throughout the plan year and the September 2020 Medicare Part D formulary updates included 46 new d . . .

The September 2020 Medicare Part D plan drug list updates include 13 newly-introduced generic drugs - and 16 newly-introduced brand-name drugs, including: ARAZLO®, Bynfezia®, DAYVIGO®, HELIDAC THERAPY®, ISTURISA®, LYUMJEV®, NEXLIZET®, ORIAHNN®, QINLOCK®, RELAFEN DS®, RE

The total number of 2021 Medicare Advantage plans will increase by 13% in 2021, however, many 2020 Medicare Advantage plans will be terminated or merged into other 2021 plans. Therefore, many counties will see significant changes in their 2021 Medicare Advantage plan landscape.

Each year a Medicare Advantage plan's Maximum Out-of-Pocket (MOOP) threshold can change and in 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will allow Medicare Advantage plans to increase their Maximum Out-of-Pocket limit to $7,550 -from the 2020 MOOP limit of $6,

As can be seen in the table below, in 2021, there will be 1,248 Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage (MAPDs) having a $0 Part D initial deductible and a $0 monthly premium ($0/$0 . . .

The Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan (SNP) landscape will be changing again in 2021, with 15% of 2020 SNPs discontinued and the introduction of so many new SNPs that we have a 14% increase in the total number of 2021 SNPs across the country.

As noted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), monthly Medicare Advantage plan premiums have remained stable or declined over the past several years — and this trend cont . . .

An analysis of 2021 Medicare Advantage plan data shows that there will be 13% more Medicare Advantage plans available in 2021 as compared to 2020. Across the country, the total number of 2021 Medicare Advantage plans will increase to 4,568, as compared to 4,047 plans in 2020.

An initial review of 2021 stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) recently released by CMS shows that Medicare beneficiaries will have a few more low-premium Medicare Part D PDP options but, many current plan members may pay higher 2021 monthly PDP premiums.

Based on the current 2020 Medicare Part D plan enrollment (September 2020) and increases in 2021 Medicare Part D plan premiums, we estimate that around 67% of current 2020 PDP enrollees may have a premium increase in 2021 - unless they change plans in 2021.