A preliminary analysis of the 2019 stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) data recently released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) shows that, Medicare beneficiaries will have more 2019 Medicare Part D PDP choices and many people will pay slightly higher 2019 monthly PDP premiums (unless they choose a lower-premium 2019 plan).

Here are a few more 2019 landscape highlights with links to additional information and graphics:

• More 2019 stand-alone Medicare Part D plan choices.
  Continuing last year’s increase in the number of Medicare Part D plan options, there will be even more 2019 stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans offered in every state.  The average number of 2019 stand-alone Medicare Part D plans offered across the country will increase to 26 plans as compared to the national average of 23 stand-alone PDPs in 2018.
  
  No states will see a decrease in the number of stand-alone 2019 Medicare Part D plan options.  Florida will have six (6) additional plan choices and most other states will see between three (3) and five (5) additional PDP options.  You can click here to read more about plan availability and see a chart of how the average number of stand-alone Medicare Part D plans has changed since 2007.
  
  
  
• More lower-premium 2019 Medicare Part D plans offered in most states.
  Not only will you see more stand-alone 2019 Medicare Part D plan (PDP) choices, but you may also notice that more lower-premium Medicare Part D plans are offered in 2019.  For example, Medicare beneficiaries in California, Colorado, and New Mexico will find three (3) additional 2019 Medicare Part D plans with premiums under $25 as compared to 2018.
  
  
  
• The lowest and highest premium stand-alone Medicare Part D plans:  The lowest premium 2019 Medicare Part D plan will be the Texas WellCare Value Script (PDP) with a premium of $10.40.  The same WellCare plan will be available in all states with a premium up to $16.90 (Arkansas and Louisiana).  In other states, the EnvisionRxPlus (PDP) will have the lowest monthly premium ($12.90 to $14.50) and the Aetna Medicare Rx Select (PDP) plan will have the lowest monthly premium in Arizona at $12.20.
  
  The 2019 Medicare Part D plan with the most expensive premium will be the Blue Rx PDP Complete (PDP) in Pennsylvania and West Virginia at $156 per month.  You can click here to read more about the Medicare Part D plans with the lowest and highest premiums and how the range of premiums has changed since 2007.
  
  
  
• Many Part D beneficiaries will see an increase in their 2019 monthly premiums:  Although the national average 2019 stand-alone Medicare Part D premium will decrease by 10%, when premiums are weighted by current plan enrollment, the average weighted Medicare Part D plan premium will increase slightly (2%) to $41.29.  In fact, based on 2019 PDP premium increases and current plan enrollment, around 61% of all Medicare beneficiaries currently enrolled in a stand-alone 2018 Medicare Part D plan (PDP) will see an increase in their 2019 monthly premium -- unless they change coverage to a more affordable 2019 Medicare Part D (PDP) or Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage (MAPD).  You can click here to view a chart of how the average and average enrollment-weighted Medicare Part D plan premiums have changed since 2007.
  
  
  
• Slightly Fewer 2019 Medicare Part D plans qualifying for the LIS $0 premium:  Accordingly, most states will have the same or slightly fewer 2019 Medicare Part D plans qualifying for the state’s benchmark premium.  The state offering the smallest selection of $0 premium LIS PDPs continues to be Florida, again offering only two 2019 $0 premium LIS plans.  California and Louisiana had the largest increase in LIS qualifying plans with the addition of two 2019 Medicare Part D plans qualifying for the $0 premium.  You can click here to read more about $0 premium LIS plan availability and see a chart of how the average number of $0 LIS qualifying Medicare Part D plans has changed since 2007.
  
  
  
• Slightly fewer stand-alone Medicare Part D plans with a $0 initial deductible:  As was true this year, most 2019 Medicare Part D plans will have an initial deductible ranging from $15 to the 2019 standard initial deductible of $415.  As an example, of the 26 plans available in Ohio, eight (8) stand-alone Medicare Part D plans will have a $0 initial deductible in 2019. You can click here to see a chart showing the changes in the total number of Medicare Part D plans offering a $0 deductible since 2007.
  
  
  
• All 2019 Medicare Part D plans will have the standard 2019 Initial Coverage Limit of $3,820.  (Note: The initial coverage limit is the retail value of your formulary drug purchases that determines when you enter the Donut Hole or Coverage Gap.)  Remember, a few Medicare Advantage plans that offer prescription drug coverage (MAPDs) may offer a higher Initial Coverage Limit, meaning some MAPD members will be able to buy more formulary medications before reaching the 2019 Donut Hole.
  
  
  
• The Donut Hole discount will increase for all Medicare beneficiaries. 
  The 2019 Donut Hole discount will increase to a 75% discount for brand-name drugs (you pay 25% of retail) and a 63% discount for generic medications (you pay 37% of retail).  Remember, all Medicare Part D plans honor the Donut Hole discount.  You can click here to read more on the 2019 Donut Hole.
  
  
  
• Fewer 2019 Medicare Part D plans will offer additional Donut Hole coverage.  About 23% of all stand-alone 2019 Part D plans offer some level of Gap Coverage - in addition to the Donut Hole discount.
  
  
  
• Some 2019 Medicare Part D plans are changing names:  As in past years, a few 2019 stand-alone Medicare Part D plans (PDPs) in your area may be changing their name.  As an example, the 2018 First Health Part D Value Plus plan will become 2019 Aetna Medicare Rx Value Plus (PDP) plan.  You can see more Medicare Part D plan changes using our 2018/2019 PDP-Compare tool found here (example showing California PDP changes):  PDP-Compare.com/2019/CA.

As a reminder!
The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) for 2019 Medicare Part D plans and Medicare Advantage plans begins on Monday, October 15^th and continues through Friday, December 7th – with new Medicare plan coverage beginning on Tuesday, January 1, 2019. Starting October 1^st, you can telephone Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 to learn more about your 2019 Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plan options.


Please no unauthorized reproduction of our online content.
All of our content, including this information, is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without our express permission. We also ask that you do not submit this material or any of our content to another website for re-publication. However, you are welcome to forward this email in its entirety to friends, family, and colleagues.

Copyright Q1Group LLC, Saint Augustine, Florida (2018)