For example, 38,740 members of BlueRx in Pennsylvania and West Virginia will see a $150 increase in their initial deductible and a $7.30 increase in their premium. Residents of Kansas and Missouri will see their 2011 Blue MedicareRx Value plan deductible increase from $150 to the standard deductible of $320 in 2012. Missouri’s premium will also increase by 9% to $39.20 while Kansas’s premium will decrease slightly to $40.20.
WellCare Classic members in NY, NJ, NC, NV, and HI will see their $310 deductible reduced to a $0 deductible. The WellCare Classic in all other states will continue to have the 2012 standard $320 deductible. New York will see the largest WellCare Classic premium increase (18%). New Jersey and Nevada will not only no longer have a deductible, but will see the largest WellCare Classic premium decrease (17%).
Medco Medicare Prescription Plan – Choice members will see their $250 deductible reduced to $150. Alabama and Tennessee plan members will also see a 20% increase in premium, with the 2012 premium being $74.90. While Illinois members will see an 18% decrease in their premium ($90.70 in 2012).
The 1,048,876 people currently enrolled in the First Health Part D Premier (PDP) plan will see their 2011 initial deductible of $150 increase to $250 and some will see their monthly premium increase as much as 10% (AR). The majority will see their monthly premium decrease, with those in Alabama and Tennessee decreasing by $12.30 or 29% (see the Texas First Health Part D Premier plan changes here).
Across the nation, the MedicareRx Rewards Plus (PDP) members will see the largest premium increases. Residents of District of Columbia, Delaware, and Maryland will see a 110% increase in premium, Florida 107%, Hawaii 103%, and New Mexico members will see a 100% premium increase. Some of the larger premium increases are shown in the chart below:
| Largest Premium Increases | |||||
| Plan Name | 2011 Premium |
2012 Premium |
% Change |
$ Change |
States |
| MedicareRx Rewards Plus (PDP) | $50.40 | $105.80 | 110% | $55.40 | DC DE MD* |
| Blue Shield Medicare Rx Plan (PDP) | $62.70 | $108.20 | 73% | $45.50 | CA |
| CVS Caremark Value (PDP) | $31.40 | $50.60 | 61% | $19.20 | CO |
| CVS Caremark Value (PDP) | $25.70 | $40.50 | 58% | $14.80 | AZ |
| HealthSpring Prescription Drug Plan | $24.40 | $38.10 | 56% | $13.70 | NM |
*All MedicareRx Rewards Plus (PDP) members will see significant premium increases. The smallest of which is 46% for New York state residents.
Please note, not all Medicare Part D plans change significantly each year. For example, if you are one of the 262,922 Californians who are enrolled in the WellCare Classic plan, the chart below shows how your plan has changed since it was introduced in 2007. Notice that the initial deductible for the WellCare Classic plan has followed Medicare’s annual defined standard benefit parameters most years.
| WellCare Classic (PDP) - California | ||||||
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
| Monthly Premium | $9.70 | $19.00 | $24.00 | $24.30 | $31.50 | $31.50 |
| Initial Deductible | $265 | $250 | $295 | $310 | $310 | $320 |
Other plans have actually changed names and consolidated or are now discontinued. For instance, as many people may recall, in 2011, the Cigna Plan Two was discontinued and the Cigna Plan Three was renamed Cigna Plan Two. Cigna continues to trim down their plans for 2012 and the 2011 Cigna Plan Two is being discontinued in 23 state, including AK, CA, CO, DC, DE, GA, HI, ID, KS, LA, MD, ME, MS, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OK, OR, UT, WA and WI. As an example, here are the Cigna Plan changes for the 102,286 plan members in New York:
| Plan Name | Premium | Deductible | Gap Coverage | Cost-Sharing | |||
| Tier 1 |
Tier 2 |
Tier 3 |
Tier 4 |
||||
| 2011 CIGNA Medicare Rx Plan One | $33.50 | $310 | No Gap Coverage | $3.00 | $31 | $78 | 25% |
| 2012 CIGNA Medicare Rx Plan One | $34.10 | $320 | No Gap Coverage | $3.00 | $20 | $34 | $85 |
| 2011 CIGNA Medicare Rx Plan Two | $71.20 | $0 | Many Generics and Few Brand | $0.00 | $3.00 | $36.00 | $78.00 |
-- This Plan not offered in 2012 -- |
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