“It’s important to shop around,” said Tom Kornfield, vice president of Avalere Health, a Washington, D.C.-based strategic advisory firm. The average Part D drug premium will rise to a projected $41.34 a month in 2016, inching above $40 per month for the first time, according to an analysis by Avalere Health that included basic plans and so-called “enhanced” plans that may offer more comprehensive coverage.
Medicare rates and costs for 2016 for initial deductible will increase by $10 to $320. For initial coverage limit it will increase from $2, 850 to $2,960. Out-of-Pocket Threshold will increase from $4,550 to $4, 700. Coverage Gap (donut hole) will begin once you research your Medicare Part D plan’s initial coverage limit, which is $2,960 and will end when you spend $4,700.
In 2016, Medicare Part D enrollees will receive a 55% discount on the total cost of their brand name drugs purchased while in the donut hole.
The 50% discount paid by the brand-name drug manufacturer will still apply to getting out of the donut hole, however the additional 5% paid by your Medicare Part D will not count toward your TrOOP. Enrollees will pay a maximum of 65% co-pay on generic drugs purchased while in the coverage gap.
The average monthly premiums for Medicare plans in 2015 will be $33.90, which is an increase of 9.5%, or $2.94, over the current year. However, as a result of more people seeking out lower-cost plans, CMS estimates, which the average premium will hike will actually be $1.30 per month.
For some 30% of beneficiaries – Part B premiums stand to rise by as much 52% for 2016. This includes new beneficiaries, high-income beneficiaries already subject to higher Part B premiums, and Medicare recipients who have not yet begun to collect Social Security. If you fall under this group you are not protected under the so-called hold harmless provision of federal law that limits the dollar increase in the Part B premium to the dollar increase in an individual’s Social Security benefit, to prevent a scenario where an individual’s Social Security check would decline from one year to the next.
And CMS anticipates that just more than 60% of beneficiaries who will opt for private coverage will see no Medicare premium increases in 2016. Beneficiaries in every state except Alaska can opt for a Medicare Advantage plan in 2016 instead of the traditional fee-for-service program.
Medicare premiums 2016 | Medicare Costs 2016 | Medicare Rates 2016 | Advantage Plans Costs 2016
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