In 2016, 34.82% of Medicare Advantage plan will have a $0 premium and an additional 10% of the 2016 Medicare Advantage plans will have a premium between $0.10 and $25. Overall, 69.54% of the 2016 Medicare Advantage plans will have a premium of $50 or less.
As a comparison, in 2015, 34.55% of Medicare Advantage plan had a $0 premium and an additional 9% of the 2015 Medicare Advantage plans had a premium between $0.70 and $25. Here is a table showing how the MA/MAPD premiums have varied over the past three years.
| Premium Range | 2016 MA/MAPD Plans | 2015 MA/MAPD Plans | 2014 MA/MAPD Plans | |||
| # | % | # | % | # | % | |
| Total Plans | 2794 | 2628 | 2645 | |||
| MSA no Premium | 4 | 0.14% | 7 | 0.27% | 6 | 0.23% |
| $0 Premium Plans | 973 | 34.82% | 908 | 34.55% | 968 | 36.60% |
| Premium >$0-$25 | 276 | 9.88% | 224 | 8.52% | 294 | 11.12% |
| Premium >$25-$50 | 694 | 24.84% | 689 | 26.22% | 576 | 21.78% |
| Premium $0-$50 | 1943 | 69.54% | 1821 | 69.29% | 1838 | 69.49% |
| Premium >$50-$75 | 267 | 9.56% | 258 | 9.82% | 258 | 9.75% |
| Premium >$75-$100 | 215 | 7.70% | 183 | 6.96% | 205 | 7.75% |
| Premium >$100-$200 | 299 | 10.70% | 294 | 11.19% | 282 | 10.66% |
| Premium >$200-$300 | 61 | 2.18% | 61 | 2.32% | 51 | 1.93% |
| Premium >$300 | 5 | 0.18% | 4 | 0.15% | 5 | 0.19% |
The corresponding graph better illustrates the same stability of Medicare Advantage plan premiums for plan years 2014 through 2016.
Reminder: October 15th starts the annual Open Enrollment Period
The annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period (or Annual Coordinated Election Period) for 2016 Medicare Part D plans and Medicare Advantage plans begins on Thursday, October 15th and continues through Monday, December 7th, with 2016 Medicare plan coverage beginning on Friday, January 1, 2016.