If your stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) - or Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage (MAPD) - has an initial deductible, you will usually pay 100% of your prescription drug costs
until you have met the deductible. For example, if your Medicare plan has a $405 deductible, you will pay retail price for your medications until you have spent $405 and then your plan coverage will begin (and you will only pay a portion of the retail cost, such as a $30 co-pay or 25% co-insurance on your medications).
Reminder: Many 2018 Medicare Part D plans have certain drug tiers excluded from your initial deductible. For example, you may find that your 2018 Medicare Part D plan has a $405 initial deductible, but the deductible only applies to medications on formulary Tier 3, Tier 4, and Tier 5 - and your lower-costing Tier 1 and Tier 2 drugs are covered before meeting the $405 deductible.
About 8.9 million people will only see a small $5 increase in their initial deductible.
Reminder: Many 2018 Medicare Part D plans have certain drug tiers excluded from your initial deductible. For example, you may find that your 2018 Medicare Part D plan has a $405 initial deductible, but the deductible only applies to medications on formulary Tier 3, Tier 4, and Tier 5 - and your lower-costing Tier 1 and Tier 2 drugs are covered before meeting the $405 deductible.
About 8.9 million people will only see a small $5 increase in their initial deductible.
The 2018 standard Medicare Part D prescription drug plan initial
deductible will increase to $405 from the $400 standard
deductible in 2017 and this small $5 increase in deductibles will impact about 8,900,000 people currently enrolled in a 2017 stand-alone Medicare Part D plan.
However, over 400,000 people will see an increase in their 2018 initial deductible of $30 or more.
In fact, approximately 408,000 stand-alone Medicare Part D beneficiaries are enrolled in PDP that will have an initial deductible increase from $30 to $85.
The chart below highlights some of the increases in 2017 / 2018 Medicare Part D plan deductibles.
In fact, approximately 408,000 stand-alone Medicare Part D beneficiaries are enrolled in PDP that will have an initial deductible increase from $30 to $85.
The chart below highlights some of the increases in 2017 / 2018 Medicare Part D plan deductibles.
|
2018 Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Deductible Increases |
||||||
|
2018 Plan Name |
Deductible |
States |
Members Affected |
|||
2018 |
2017 |
Incr. |
% Incr. | |||
| SilverScript Choice (PDP) | $100 | $0 | $100 | AZ | 56,856 | |
| Regence Medicare Script Basic (PDP) | $310 | $225 | $85 | 38% |
ID, UT | 2,949 |
| BlueRx Option I (PDP) | $405 | $330 | $75 | 23% | AL, TN | 25,478 |
| EnvisionRxPlus (PDP) | $300 | $260 or $270 | $30 or $40 | 11% or 15% | many states | 233,789 |
| BlueMedicare Rx-Option 1 (PDP) now BlueMedicare Premier Rx (PDP) | $275 | $335 | $85 | 31% | FL | 218,213 |
| Aetna Medicare Rx Saver (PDP) | Range $235 - $400 | Range $265 - $400 | Range -$115 - $70 | -30% - +23% | 67 states had a decrease and 8 states had an increase | 1,310,298 |
The good news: about 1.3 million people will actually see a decrease in their current initial deductible.
As in past years, some stand-alone Medicare Part D plans (PDPs)
have chosen to reduce their initial deductible for the 2018 plan year.
Members of the Cigna-HealthSpring Rx Secure-Extra (PDP) will now have a
$0 deductible in all states. Members of the Aetna Medicare Rx Saver
(PDP) will have a change in initial deductible ranging from decrease of $115 (AR) to an increase of $70 (SC). About 1,300,000 members across various Medicare Part D plans will see a decrease of between $5 to $115.
How to see the changes in your 2018 initial deductible.
Our PDP-Compare and MA-Compare tools show the basic coverage changes of 2018 stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) and Medicare Advantage plans (MAs or MAPDs) across the country and include 2017/2018 changes in plan features such as premium, deductible, cost-sharing and formulary size changes. Our compare tools also highlight plans that will be merged, discontinued, or added in 2018.
Not sure whether you want an initial deductible?
Medicare beneficiaries can telephone Medicare at 1-800-633-4227, speak with a Medicare representative, and learn more about Medicare plan coverage and their 2018 Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plan options.