Increases in your 2015 monthly plan premiums – unless you change Medicare Part D plans. Based on plan enrollment (and not considering 2015 Medicare plan cross-walks or reassignments), about 70% of the people currently enrolled in a 2014 stand-alone Medicare Part D plan will see an average monthly premium increase of around $6.64 per month – that is, if they stay with their 2014 prescription drug plan into 2015 instead of enrolling into another, more affordable Medicare Part D plan or Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage.
Slightly fewer stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan choices in 2015. The average number of stand-alone 2015 Medicare Part D plans offered in each state dropped to 29 plans from the average of 34 plans available in 2014.
Fewer 2015 Medicare Part D plans with premiums under $25 with the lowest-costing 2015 Medicare Part D plan being the SilverScript Choice plan in New Mexico ($12.60) or the Humana Walmart Rx Plan in all other states (around $15.60 per month in most states).
Some popular Medicare Part D plans will be changing their names in 2015 or are discontinued. You can see more 2015 Medicare Part D plan changes using our PDP-Compare tool found here: PDP-Compare.com/2015.
Most 2015 Medicare Part D plans will have an Initial Deductible (however, it may not be the standard $320). More 2015 Medicare Part D plans will offer Donut Hole or Gap coverage for purchases made while in the gap. Also, the 2015 Donut Hole discount will increase to 55% for brand-name drugs and 35% for generic medications.
Most states will have fewer Medicare Part D plans that qualify for the state’s Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) $0 premium. For instance, Arkansas will offer 7 LIS-qualifying 2015 Medicare Part D plans as compared to the 12 LIS-qualifying plans offered in 2014.
For specific state changes, please use the following links to our interactive 2015 PDP-Facts.