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 continues into 2020 with most Medicare Advantage plans (MA and MAPD plans combined) continuing to have premiums under $50 per month - and 57% of all Medicare Advantage plans having monthly premiums of $25 or less.
- In 2020, 43% of all Medicare Advantage plan will have a $0 premium. As a comparison, 39% of all 2019 Medicare Advantage plan have a $0 premium.
- Overall, 79% of the 2020 Medicare Advantage plans (MA and MAPD) will have a premium of $50 or less. Overall, 76% of the 2019 Medicare Advantage plans have a premium of $50 or less.
| Premium Range | 2020 MA/MAPD Plans | 2019 MA/MAPD Plans | 2018 MA/MAPD Plans | 2017 MA/MAPD Plans | 2016 MA/MAPD Plans | |||||
| # | % |
# | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | |
| Total Plans | 4,405 | 3,817 | 3,259 | 2,899 | 2,794 | |||||
| MSA no Premium | 6 | 0.14% | 6 | 0.16% | 3 | 0.09% | 4 | 0.14% | 4 | 0.14% |
| $0 Premium Plans | 1,895 | 43.02% | 1496 | 39.19% | 1166 | 35.78% | 992 | 34.22% | 973 | 34.82% |
| Premium >$0-$25 | 637 | 14.46% | 438 | 11.47% | 400 | 12.27% | 287 | 9.90% | 276 | 9.88% |
| Premium >$25-$50 | 951 | 21.59% | 974 | 25.52% | 813 | 24.95% | 769 | 26.53% | 694 | 24.84% |
| Premium $0-$50 | 3,483 | 79.07% | 2,908 | 76.19% | 2,379 | 73.00% | 2,048 | 70.65% | 1,943 | 69.54% |
| Premium >$50-$75 | 304 | 6.90% | 298 | 7.81% | 261 | 8.01% | 269 | 9.28% | 267 | 9.56% |
| Premium >$75-$100 | 230 | 5.22% | 230 | 6.03% | 234 | 7.18% | 227 | 7.83% | 215 | 7.70% |
| Premium >$100-$200 | 325 | 7.38% | 313 | 8.20% | 318 | 9.76% | 285 | 9.83% | 299 | 10.70% |
| Premium >$200-$300 | 54 | 1.23% | 60 | 1.57% | 57 | 1.75% | 57 | 1.97% | 61 | 2.18% |
| Premium >$300 | 3 | 0.07% | 2 | 0.05% | 7 | 0.21% | 9 | 0.31% | 5 | 0.18% |
The corresponding chart below illustrates the stability of Medicare Advantage plan premiums for plan years 2014 through 2020 - with an increase in lower-premium (or $0 premium) Medicare plans.
Please remember: The overall stability of Medicare Advantage plan premiums does not indicate that your current 2019 Medicare Advantage plan premium will remain the same in 2020. To see how your 2019 Medicare Advantage plan premium is changing in 2020, please use our Medicare Advantage plan comparison tool (MA-Compare.com/2020) - just enter your Zip Code to get started.
You can also telephone Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 to speak with a Medicare representative for more information about how your Medicare Advantage plan is changing in 2020,
Reminder: October 15th starts the annual Open Enrollment Period
The annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period (or Annual Coordinated Election Period -- AEP) for 2020 Medicare Part D plans and Medicare Advantage plans begins on October 15th and continues through December 7th, with 2020 Medicare plan coverage beginning on January 1, 2020.
In addition, members of Medicare Advantage plans are given a second annual enrollment period once the new plan years begins. The annual Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) begins on January 1st, 2020 and continues through March 31st. During the MA-OEP, current members of 2020 Medicare Advantage plans can change to a different 2020 Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare and enroll in a stand-alone Medicare Part D plan (PDP), with their new 2020 Medicare plan coverage beginning on the first day of the month following their enrollment.