PDP-Facts: 2014 Beyond the Numbers
Medicare Part D Plan Landscape Summarized

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Beyond the Numbers:

Alaska’s 2014 Medicare Part D plan choices in plain text

Based on the 2014 Medicare Part D plan information released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Alaska seniors and Medicare beneficiaries will find that 2014 will bring a number of changes to prescription drug coverage and they should be prepared to examine their current 2013 plans closely to see what changes are on the horizon for 2014. Please note that the information we provide below is based only on stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (or PDPs).  As many people know, a number of the Medicare Advantage plans also include comprehensive prescription drug coverage, along with Medicare Part A (hospitalization) and Medicare B (physician) benefits (also called MA-PD plans).  However, because MA-PDs include many additional features (including Part A & B coverage) as compared to a stand-alone Medicare Part D plan, we do not try to compare the stand-alone drug plans directly with MA-PDs.

What is new for 2014 Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans?

First, the number of prescription drug plans available in Alaska has increased. However, Twelve (12) companies will offer 2014 Medicare Part D plans in all states across the country.  In addition, a wide assortment of regional and local Medicare Part D plans are offered within each state or CMS region, with the average number of prescription drug plans offered per state increasing from 31 plans in 2013 to 34 plans in 2014. Locally, Alaska residents will find that the total number of stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans has increased from 23 in 2013 to 28 in 2014. As a note, if you find that your current 2013 Part D plan is not being offered in 2014, you may wish to review your Part D plan’s Annual Notice of Change (or ANOC) letter to see if you will be automatically moved to another 2014 prescription drug plan or whether you will need to actively choose a new Medicare Part D plan for 2014. 72% of Alaska seniors can expect to see their monthly prescription drug plan premiums increase in 2014. Across the country, the national average monthly Medicare Part D premium will increase from $53.26 in 2013 to $53.8 in 2014.  Based on the 2013 enrollment figures, 63% of Medicare Part D beneficiaries nationwide (over 11 million people) could experience an average increase in premium of $6.22, unless they switch to a lower priced plan.  At home, Alaska residents will also notice an increase in their Medicare Part D premiums.  72% of Alaska seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a stand-alone Medicare Part D plan, (or around 20,506 people) will see an average increase in monthly premiums of $7.27 in 2014 -- if they do not switch to a lower cost prescription drug plan.  Overall, monthly 2014 prescription drug plan premiums in Alaska will increase 0.54% from a 2013 average monthly cost of $51.23 to a 2014 average Part D plan premium of $51.77. The average monthly premiums discussed above treat all Medicare Part D plans equally.  Perhaps a more telling average is the weighted average - that is, looking at each plan’s monthly premium based on number of people enrolled in that plan.  Based on the weighted average, Alaska residents can expect to see a 9% increase in their monthly premiums. This means that if everyone stays in their current 2013 prescription drug plan through 2014, then across the state we can expect beneficiaries to pay 9% more for their monthly premium. The range of monthly drug plan premiums will decrease. Across the country, 2014 Medicare Part D plan premiums range from a low of $12.50 (Humana Walmart Rx Plan (PDP) in AK) to a high of $174.70 (BlueMedicare Rx-Option 2 (PDP) in FL) .  Comparatively, the premiums within Alaska will range from $12.50 (Humana Walmart Rx Plan (PDP) in AK) to $136.50 (Aetna Medicare Rx Premier (PDP) in AK) - as compared to the 2013 Alaska monthly premium range of $15.00 to $108.50.  Of those 2014 plans, 3 plan(s) will have a premium under $25 (in 2013, 2 Part D plan(s) were offered in Alaska with a premium under $25).  Fewer Medicare prescription drug plans will offer some level of coverage gap protection. The selection of prescription drug plan coverage options has also changed with fewer companies offering 2014 Part D plans with donut hole coverage.  In 2013, 7 plan(s) offered plans with some form of donut hole coverage and in 2014 that number will decrease to 6.  People are reminded to see which drugs are actually covered in the donut hole because some Part D plans only cover a "few" drugs through the coverage gap. More Medicare prescription drug plans will offer plans with enhanced options. Alaska residents will find that more Part D plans will offer enhanced prescription drug coverage options with 12 enhanced Part D plans in 2014 as compared to 9 in 2013.  Enhanced Medicare Part D coverage includes prescription drug plans that have a lower or no initial deductible and a variation of cost-sharing (for instance, copayments instead of co-insurance).  For example, in 2014, more Alaska Part D plans will offer prescription drug coverage with a $0 initial deductible (12 in 2014 as compared to 8 in 2013). Low-Income Subsidy Recipients in Alaska will have more Part D plans that qualify for the $0 monthly premium. Alaska Medicare beneficiaries who qualify for full "Extra Help" will find that more Part D plans qualify for the $0 premium Low-Income Subsidy as compared to last year.  In 2013, 7  Medicare Part D plans qualified for the $0 premium Low-Income Subsidy as compared to 11 Part D plans in 2014.  Please note, if you received "Extra Help" in 2013 and your plan does not qualify for the $0 premium in 2014, you may be automatically moved to a new Part D plan that does qualify for the $0 premium.  If this occurs, please check to be sure that your prescriptions are covered on your new plan.  If they are not, you can switch to a plan that will cover your medications. So what is the Bottom Line? Review your 2014 Medicare prescription drug plan options. Alaska seniors and Medicare beneficiaries will see more prescription drug plan choices in 2014 and higher premiums.  In addition, behind the numbers, some of 2013’s more popular Medicare Part D plans will change their 2014 plan structure.  Some plans are adding initial deductibles or changing cost-sharing limits (for instance, how much you pay for a covered drug).  Also, all plans changed their initial coverage limit -- defining when you enter the coverage gap.   Accordingly, people are reminded to consider their 2014 prescription drug plan options carefully.  If you are a Medicare beneficiary and make no decision to change your existing prescription drug coverage, you will be automatically reenrolled in your existing prescription drug plan - along with any changes that have been made in coverage or cost for 2014.  If your prescription drug plan is discontinued, and you are not automatically moved into a new plan, then you will need to enroll in another Part D plan or not have prescription drug coverage in 2014.  For more information, Q1Medicare.com has developed national and state one-page interactive summaries of prescription drug plan information. Questions? Please let us know by clicking here for our Customer Help Desk. Click here to review Medicare Part D plan statistics for the 2014 plan year.

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