Q1Group 2018 MA/MAPD Analysis: 2018 Medicare Advantage plan (MA and MAPD) premiums remain low

As noted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), monthly Medicare Advantage plan premiums have remained stable over the past several years  -and this trend continues into 2018 with most Medicare Advantage plans (MA and MAPD plans combined) continuing to have premiums under $50 per month.

• In 2018, 36% of all Medicare Advantage plan will have a $0 premium and an additional 12% of the 2018 Medicare Advantage plans will have a premium between $0.01 and $25.  As a comparison, 34% of all 2017 Medicare Advantage plan have a $0 premium
  
  
• Overall, 73% of the 2018 Medicare Advantage plans (MA and MAPD) will have a premium of $50 or less.  Overall, 70% of the 2017 Medicare Advantage plans will have a premium of $50 or less.
  

Here is a table showing how the MA/MAPD premiums have varied over the past four years.

Premium Range	2018 MA/MAPD Plans		2017 MA/MAPD Plans		2016 MA/MAPD Plans		2015 MA/MAPD Plans
	#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%
Total Plans	3,259		2,899		2,794		2,628
MSA no Premium	3	0.09%	4	0.14%	4	0.14%	7	0.27%
$0 Premium Plans	1166	35.78%	992	34.22%	973	34.82%	908	34.55%
Premium >$0-$25	400	12.27%	287	9.90%	276	9.88%	224	8.52%
Premium >$25-$50	813	24.95%	769	26.53%	694	24.84%	689	26.22%
Premium $0-$50	2379	73.00%	2048	70.65%	1943	69.54%	1821	69.29%
Premium >$50-$75	261	8.01%	269	9.28%	267	9.56%	258	9.82%
Premium >$75-$100	234	7.18%	227	7.83%	215	7.70%	183	6.96%
Premium >$100-$200	318	9.76%	285	9.83%	299	10.70%	294	11.19%
Premium >$200-$300	57	1.75%	57	1.97%	61	2.18%	61	2.32%
Premium >$300	7	0.21%	9	0.31%	5	0.18%	4	0.15%

The corresponding chart illustrates the stability of Medicare Advantage plan premiums for plan years 2014 through 2018 with an increase in lower-premium Medicare plans.

Please remember: The overall stability of Medicare Advantage plan premiums does not indicate that your Medicare Advantage plan premium will remain the same in 2018.  To see how your 2017 Medicare Advantage plan is changing in 2018, please use our Medicare Advantage plan comparison tool (MA-Compare.com/2018).

For more information, you can telephone Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 to speak with a Medicare representative.

Reminder: October 15th starts the annual Open Enrollment Period
The annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period (or Annual Coordinated Election Period) for 2018 Medicare Part D plans and Medicare Advantage plans begins on October 15^th and continues through December 7^th, with 2018 Medicare plan coverage beginning on January 1, 2018.