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On February 5, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2021 Advance Notice and Draft Call Letter that included the 2021 proposed defined standard benefits for Medicare Part D prescription drug plan coverage - and proposed changes to Medicare plans.

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 . . .

On April 6, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final 2021 Announcement that included the 2021 defined standard benefits for Medicare Part D prescription drug plan coverage.

Without taking into account the Medicare plan enrollment or plan popularity, the average monthly Medicare Part D premium will actually decrease slightly in 2013.  The average monthly premium acro . . .

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 . . .

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 . . .

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 . . .

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, . . .

In early April, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2018 Rate Announcement and Final Call Letter with the finalized defined standard benefits for 2018 Medicare Part D pre . . .

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 . . .

Based on the current 2020 Medicare Part D plan enrollment (September 2020) and increases in 2021 Medicare Part D plan premiums, we estimate that around 67% of current 2020 PDP enrollees can expect a premium increase in 2021 - unless they change plans in 2021.

Stand-alone 2021 Medicare Part D plan premiums range from a low of $5.70 to the highest premium of $205.30. The average national 2021 Part D premium is $41.38 (without considering plan enrollment).

Based on the recently released 2021 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) landscape data, most states will offer slightly more Medicare Part . . .

The total number of stand-alone 2021 Medicare Part D plans will increase to 996 plans offered across the country as compared to 948 plans offered in 2020 with the average number of 2021 Part D plans per state increasing to 29 plans.

The vast majority 2021 stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans will have some initial deductible ranging from $100 to $445

A preliminary analysis of the 2021 stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) data released by CMS shows that, Medicare beneficiaries will have more 2021 Medicare Part D PDP choices, but many people may pay slightly higher 2021 monthly PDP premiums.

On September 24, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that 2021 Medicare Advantage plan premiums will continue to decline - and Medicare plan choices and suppleme . . .

Based on the 2021 Medicare Part D plan bids and current plan enrollment, the 2021 average weighted Part D premium is projected to be around $30.50 per month, an increase of $0.50 from the $30 premium projected for 2020.

No, not to the public.  Next year's Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plan information will not be officially released until October 1st. If you are currently enrolled in a 2020 Medicare . . .

On April 6, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final 2021 Announcement that included the 2021 defined standard benefits for Medicare Part D prescription drug plan coverage.

Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs and MAPDs) change every year and no matter whether you joined a new plan or stayed with your same plan from 2019, there are a number of possible reason . . .

On February 5, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2021 Advance Notice and Draft Call Letter that included the 2021 proposed defined standard benefits for Medicare Part D prescription drug plan coverage - and proposed changes to Medicare plans.

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, . . .