MedicarePartD.guide

A non-government resource built from CMS public data

Q1Group 2019 PDP Analysis: 2007 to 2019 stand-alone Medicare Part D premiums - The highs and lows

Annual Medicare plan changes · published Sep 29, 2018

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the 2019 stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) designs and, based on the Medicare Part D plan provider bids, CMS reported that the average 2019 base monthly premium should be around $32.50 per month, a decrease of around $1.09 from the $33.59 actual average premium reported in 2018 ($33.50 was projected last year).

How does the CMS average base Medicare Part D premium compare to the actual 2019 stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs)?

Here are a few highlights featuring some of the highest and lowest monthly Medicare Part D premiums.

  • The lowest-premium 2019 stand-alone Medicare Part D plans
The stand-alone Medicare Part D plan with the lowest monthly premium in 2019 is the WellCare Value Script (PDP), with a monthly premium ranging from $10.40 per month in Texas to $16.90 in Arkansas and Louisiana).  

Although the 2019 WellCare Value Script (PDP) has the lowest premium in 39 states, the EnvisionRxPlus (PDP) will be the lowest premium plan in 11 states across the country with a monthly premium of $12.90 in California and about $14.50 in many other states.

  • The lowest-premium 2019 stand-alone Medicare Part D plan - with a $0 deductible
The 2019 Medicare Part D plan with the lowest monthly premium and a $0 initial deductible that is offered in most states is (once again) the SilverScript Choice (PDP) plan, with premiums starting at $23.20 per month in Arkansas.

However, the 2019 Aetna Medicare Rx Value Plus plan is the lowest-premium $0 deductible plan in Alaska ($58.80), Arizona ($58.80) and Colorado ($58.70) - and the SilverScript Plus is the lowest-premium $0 deductible PDP in Georgia ($50.90),  South Carolina ($52.20), and Texas ($51.60).

  • The 2019 stand-alone Medicare Part D plan with the highest-premium
The 2019 Medicare Part D plan with the highest monthly premium is the Blue Rx PDP Complete (PDP) in Pennsylvania and West Virginia at $156, compared last-year's 2018 Texas Blue Cross MedicareRx Plus (PDP) at $197.10 per month.

And for a bit of history, the chart below shows how the Low/High Medicare Part D premiums have varied over the past years.

Medicare Part D premium range - highs and lows
For more information, please see our PDP-Facts.com/2019 for Medicare Part D premium highs and lows in your state.

Reminder!
The annual Open Enrollment Period (or Annual Election Period) for Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Part D drug plans begins on October 15 and continues through December 7, 2018.  Don't forget that your Medicare plan costs and coverage can change each year - so be sure to ensure that you have chosen the most economic healthcare coverage.

If you or another Medicare beneficiary needs assistance understanding how your 2018 Medicare plan is changing or to learn more about your 2019 Medicare plan coverage options, please call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and speak with a Medicare representative.