According to the recently released Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 2020 Medicare plan data, most Medicare beneficiaries across the country will have access to more Medicare Advantage plan and stand-alone 2020 Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) options.

Our analysis of the stand-alone Medicare Part D plan data supports the CMS press release finding the total number of stand-alone 2020 Medicare Part D plans will increase to 948 plans offered across the country as compared to 901 plans offered in 2019.

The average number of stand-alone 2020 Medicare Part D plans per state will increase to 28 plans - as compared to the 2019 national average of 26 stand-alone PDPs per state.

Below is a chart showing how the average number of stand-alone Medicare Part D plans per state has changed since 2007.


New York will have the largest increase in stand-alone PDPs with four (4) additional plan choices in 2020.

And although most other states will gain one to three (3) additional 2020 PDPs, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, and New Mexico will have one less PDP option in 2020.


The Lows and Highs

As was true in past years,  Alaska Medicare beneficiaries will again have the smallest selection of 2020 stand-alone Medicare Part D plans with 24 plan options - an increase over the 22 PDP choices offered in 2019.

California will offer the widest selection of 32 stand-alone 2020 Medicare Part D plans - an increase over the 30 PDP options in 2019. 

For more information, a detailed overview of the 2020 stand-alone Medicare Part D landscape data can be found at PDP-Facts.com or in the Q1Medicare.com PDP-Facts section with Part D plan summaries on a national and state level.


Reminder:  No need to rush.

Medicare Part D plan carriers can start marketing their plans on October 1st and the annual Medicare Part D annual Open Enrollment Period for Medicare Part D plans and Medicare Advantage plans begins on October 15th and continues through December 7th, with 2020 Medicare plan coverage beginning on January 1st

For more information, starting October 1st, Medicare beneficiaries can telephone Medicare at 1-800-633-4227, speak with a Medicare representative, and learn more about their 2020 Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plan options.


A note about Medicare Advantage plans

The above information is from our Medicare Part D plan landscape summaries and based only on stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (or PDPs) and does not include Medicare Advantage plan data.  However, a number of the 2020 Medicare Advantage plans may be available in your area and can include comprehensive Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, along with Medicare Part A (hospitalization), Medicare Part B (out-patient and physician), and additional healthcare - and non health-related - benefits (these Medicare plans are also called MAPD plans).  You can use https://MA-Finder.com/2020 to review Medicare Advantage plans.

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