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On April 1st, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2020 Announcement and Final Call Letter that includes the defined standard benefits parameters for 2020 Medicare Part . . .

Updated October 14, 2019 with CMS revised landscape data.The Medicare Advantage plan Maximum Out-of-Pocket (MOOP) threshold limits how much you will spend on co-payments and co-insurance for eligible . . .

On January 30th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released Part II of the 2020 Advance Notice and Draft Call Letter that included proposed defined standard benefits for 2020 Med . . .

Updated October 14, 2019 with CMS revised landscape data. In general, as compared to past years, there will be an increase in the total number of 2019 Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (SNPs . . .

As was true in past years, many 2018 stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans will be increasing their monthly premiums in 2019.  In fact, based on current Medicare plan enrollment, a . . .

Seniors, Medicare plan providers, and caregivers can expect a few changes in the 2019 Medicare Part D program.  Below are a few highlights from the final 2019 Call Letter and a 1,156 page Medic . . .

Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs and MAPDs) can change every year and even if you stayed with your same plan from 2018, there are a number of possible reasons why you may be paying more . . .

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 prescrip . . .

With each new plan year - and throughout the plan year - your Medicare Part D plan (PDP) or Medicare Advantage plan that provides prescription coverage (MAPD) can change their formulary or drug list, . . .

As in past years, some 2018 Medicare Part D plans are changing their cost-sharing designs for 2019 prescription drug purchases.  For example, the Cigna-HealthSpring Rx Secure-Extra (PDP) will add . . .

The Medicare.gov plan finder has add a temporary new feature to the "add your prescription drugs" section of the plan finder.  Towards the bottom of the page, you will see a button "Find Your Sav . . .

If you do not enroll into a new 2020 Medicare Part D plan or Medicare Advantage plan, you will be automatically re-enrolled into your current Medicare plan for 2020 (if it is available) and your 2020 Medicare plan may cost you more and provide different coverage than in 2019.

With each new plan year - and throughout the plan year - your Medicare Part D plan (PDP) or Medicare Advantage plan that provides prescription coverage (MAPD) can change their formulary or drug list, . . .

Medicare plans change every year and during the next seven weeks, you will have the opportunity to add, change, or drop your Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare Part D prescription drug plan - with your new plan changes taking effect January 1st, 2020.

Each Medicare Part D plan has a national pharmacy network that includes 50,000 to 60,000+ pharmacies and both "preferred" and "standard" pharmacies can be included in a Medicare prescription drug plan . . .

As in past years, some 2019 Medicare Part D plans are changing their cost-sharing designs for 2020 prescription drug purchases.  For example, the Cigna-HealthSpring Rx Secure (PDP) will add an ad . . .

Twenty-two 2020 Medicare Advantage plans that offer drug coverage (MAPDs) will have an ICL over the standard $4,020 and 13 MAPDs will have an ICL under $4,020 - and one stand-alone 2020 Medicare Part D plan (PDP) will have an ICL under the standard $4,020.

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 prescrip . . .

Based on current enrollment, around 11.3 million Medicare beneficiaries will see their stand-alone 2019 Medicare Part D premiums increase in 2020 - with 1.5 million people currently enrolled in Part D plans that will see their premiums double in 2020.

Over 1.1 million people are currently enrolled in non-renewing 2019 Medicare Advantage plans and may lose their 2020 Medicare plan coverage unless they enroll in a 2020 plan - and 3 million other people will be automatically moved to another 2020 Medicare plans