More importantly, almost 3 million Medicare beneficiaries currently enrolled in
stand-alone 2020 Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) will see at least a 20%
increase in their monthly premium if they stay enrolled in their current plan into 2021 -
with over 900,000 people currently enrolled in a 2020 Part D plan seeing their premiums
double in 2021.
| 2021 PDP Premium Increase/Decrease Summary | ||
| Percentage Premium Increase | Nbr of Members* | Cumulative Nbr of Members* |
| 100% or more | 429,251 | 429,251 |
| 50% to 99% | 474,078 | 903,329 |
| 20% to 49% | 2,085,573 | 2,988,902 |
| 10% to 19% | 4,418,654 | 7,407,556 |
| 1% to 9% | 5,810,962 | 13,218,518 |
| no change | 415,418 | |
| -1% to -9% | 5,204,115 | 5,204,115 |
| -10% to -19% | 1,078,543 | 6,282,658 |
| -20% to -49% | 185,722 | 6,468,380 |
| -50% to -63% | 14,588 | 6,482,968 |
*Note: These enrollment figures do not include members who will be crosswalked to a new plan or who are eligible for the Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy. Some of the largest 2021 Medicare Part D plan premium increases are highlighted in the table below:
| Highlights of the Larger stand-alone
Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Premium Increases |
||||||
| 2021 Plan Name | 2020 Premiums |
2021 Premiums |
Premium Increase | Percent Increase | States | Members Affected |
| Elixir RxSecure (PDP) Humana Premier Rx Plan (PDP) was the 2020 EnvisionRxPlus (PDP) | Ranging from $20.00 to $35.80 |
Ranging from $14.10 to $37.50 |
up to $20.80 |
up to 146% |
24 states |
705,961 members will see at least a 42% premium increase. Members in PA & WV will see a 146% premium increase |
| Mutual of Omaha Rx Plus (PDP) | Ranging from $46.00 to $63.90 | Ranging from $68.00 to $100.00 | up to $48.30 | up to 93% | all states | 21,937 members will see at least a 21% increase in premium |
| Humana Walmart Value Rx Plan (PDP) | $13.20 | $17.20 | $4.00 | 30% | all states | 887,626 members will see at 30% increase in premium. |
| MedicareBlue Rx Standard (PDP) | $42.00 | $66.40 | $24.40 | 58% | in Region 5 | 191,432 members |
Approximately 6.5 million Medicare beneficiaries will see a decrease in their 2021 Medicare Part D plan premium. The largest decrease is the Texas Express Scripts Medicare - Value (PDP) plan where the premium will fall from $52.10 in 2020 to $16.80 in 2021.
Where can you see how your 2020 Medicare plan is changing in 2021?
You can use our PDP-Compare and MA-Compare tools to learn more about how 2020 Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans are changing in 2021. Both PDP-Compare and MA-Compare show changes in all 2020/2021 stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) and Medicare Advantage plans (MAs or MAPDs) across the country and include changes in plan features such as premium, deductible, cost-sharing and formulary size changes.
Our Medicare plan compare tools also highlight 2020 plans that will be merged or discontinued in 2021 and new plans that will be added in 2021.
Reminder about looking beyond your plan's low premium
If you are using several brand-name medications or an expensive specialty medication, your monthly Medicare plan premiums may not be a significant part of your annual medication costs. Be sure to consider the entire cost of your drug coverage when choosing a Medicare plan: premiums, co-payments, co-insurance, additional Donut Hole coverage, and catastrophic coverage.
Not sure whether your 2020 Medicare plan is still the most economical 2021 plan option?
You can telephone Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 to speak with a Medicare representative. You ask questions about your Medicare plan coverage and learn more about your 2021 Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plan options.