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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 . . .

The Medicare Advantage plan Maximum Out-of-Pocket (MOOP) threshold limits how much you will spend on co-payments and co-insurance for eligible Medicare Part A (in-patient or hospitalization) and Medi . . .

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 . . .

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 . . .

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, . . .

Medicare Part D prescription drug plans change every year and no matter whether you joined a new plan or stayed with your same plan from 2020, there are a number of possible reasons why you may be pa . . .

On January 15, 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final 2022 Announcement that included the 2022 defined standard benefits for Medicare Part D prescription drug plan coverage.

Many people are reluctant to change their Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan year-to-year. However, millions of beneficiaries will see significant changes in their 2021 Medicare costs and coverage. Use this list to help you look for possible change in your coverage.

Each Medicare Part D plan has a national pharmacy network that includes 50,000 to 65,000+ pharmacies and both "preferred" and "standard" pharmacies can be included in a Medicare prescription drug plan . . .

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, . . .

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 prescr . . .

Based on current enrollment, 13.2 million Medicare beneficiaries will see their stand-alone 2020 Medicare Part D premiums increase in 2021 - with almost 3 million Medicare beneficiaries seeing at least a 20% increase in their monthly premium.

Over 1.8 million people are currently enrolled in a 2020 Medicare Part D plan that is changing names in 2021 - and may have significant changes in plan features (for example a 90% increase in monthly premiums.

Over 1.1 million people are currently enrolled in non-renewing 2020 Medicare Advantage plans and may lose their 2021 Medicare plan coverage unless they choose to enroll in another 2021 Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan.

Over 1.5 million people are currently enrolled in non-renewing 2020 Medicare plans and may be automatically moved to a different 2021 Medicare plan unless they choose during the annual Open Enrollment Period.

As in past years, some 2020 Medicare Part D plans are changing their cost-sharing designs for 2021 prescription drug purchases.  Cost-sharing is what you will pay for your Medicare Part D formula . . .

Twenty-five 2021 Medicare Advantage plans that offer drug coverage (MAPDs) will have an ICL over the standard $4,130 and nine MAPDs will have an ICL under $4,130 - and one stand-alone 2020 Medicare Part D plan (PDP) will have an ICL under the standard $4,130.

The 2021 Medicare Advantage plan information recently released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) shows that Medicare beneficiaries can expect a few more Medicare Advantage pl . . .

The total number of 2021 Medicare Advantage plans will increase by 13% in 2021, however, many 2020 Medicare Advantage plans will be terminated or merged into other 2021 plans. Therefore, many counties will see significant changes in their 2021 Medicare Advantage plan landscape.

Each year a Medicare Advantage plan's Maximum Out-of-Pocket (MOOP) threshold can change and in 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will allow Medicare Advantage plans to increase their Maximum Out-of-Pocket limit to $7,550 -from the 2020 MOOP limit of $6,