Latest Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Amendments Will Benefit Seniors

Most of the 50 million Americans with the Medicare prescription drug plan will be affected by upcoming changes in 2023 and 2024. Typically, this critical protection is obtained either separately or as a component of a Medicare Advantage plan.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced modifications included in the Inflation Reduction Act enacted by the U.S. Senate and evaluated by the House before President Joe Biden’s signing for those beginning in 2024.

Acknowledging the timeframe and effects of changes can save you money and improve the overall advantages and pleasure of your Medicare prescription drug plan, as many people are permitted to change their plans annually.

Medicare Part D Premium Savings 2023

Individuals obtaining Medicare Part D prescription coverage alone might anticipate a slight decrease in monthly fees.

The CMS expects that the average monthly premium for prescription medication coverage in 2023 will decrease to $31.50 from the current average of $33.08.

According to the American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance (AAMSI), the average consumer can save between $550 and $750 annually by switching Medicare Part D coverage.

For example, Cook County, Illinois, has approximately 18 different Medicare Part D plans and the most recent data from AAMSI shows that the monthly expenses for a 65-year-old woman range from $6.90 to $94.30.

Available programs may include a co-payment for preferred generic medications ranging from $5 to $19 per prescription. The in-network deductible for 2022 for the 18 plans ranges between $0 and $480.

The maximum Part D deductible may increase in 2023

Seniors may benefit from a projected decrease in monthly costs, but the highest deductible for Medicare Part D coverage is scheduled to increase to $505 in 2023. This is an increase from the existing amount of $480. Furthermore, the out-of-pocket maximum that programs can impose will increase from $7,050 to $7,400 in 2019.

Reviewing your coverage before Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is a sensible financial move many people miss. AEP begins on October 15 and ends on December 7.

Medicare Star Ratings Will Grow in Significance

Medicare has awarded star ratings to Medicare Advantage and Part D medication programs. The ratings represent the experiences of registered plan participants and are published annually. Plans are scored on a scale from one to five stars, with one star indicating bad performance and five stars indicating exceptional performance.

Medicare will modify the weights of several components used to calculate star ratings to aid consumers in assessing customer satisfaction with Part D prescription drug coverage. For instance, complaints regarding a specific health plan will weigh 4. When calculating the average star rating, more weight will be given to feedback from members who choose to quit a particular plan.

Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Benefits Will Change In 2024.

With the Inflation Reduction Act, Democrats are close to achieving a long-term objective. For the first time, Medicare will be authorized to negotiate prescription pricing beginning in 2026. Medicare Part D beneficiaries account for approximately one-third of all drug costs.

The new law grants the federal government the authority to negotiate the prices of certain costly pharmaceuticals. In 2026, Medicare will be able to bargain for the prices of ten certain medications. This rises to fifteen medications in 2027 and 2028, then twenty in 2029.

Furthermore, the new law caps seniors’ out-of-pocket expenses for prescription medications at $2,000. Pharmaceutical companies will also be required to pay refunds if their drug prices increase faster than inflation.

Finally, the law restricts the monthly price of insulin for Medicare enrollees to $35. This is a substantial benefit for the 3,300,000,000 beneficiaries who use a common kind of insulin. According to recent data, the average Medicare user taking insulin spent $54 per prescription in 2020.

Simple Methods for Locating the Best Drug Plan Options

Comparing Medicare drug coverage can be accomplished with ease. Medicare insurance information-providing independent agents are frequently willing to conduct comparisons for their clients.

Numerous superior internet Medicare prescription plan price comparison tools allow you to swiftly locate plan possibilities in your ZIP code. AAMSI experts recommend searching for a website that provides information and plans cost comparisons without demanding the insertion of personal information. The organization makes a tool available on its website.

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Bio:
Mike was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 13, 1946. He was brought up in the
suburb of Skokie on Chicago’s northwest side and graduated from Niles Township (
East ) high school In 1964. Two years later he joined the US Air Force in November of
1966. After 2 years of Intense training he volunteered for Viet Nam and was sent to
Bien Hoa Airbase, which was 25 miles from Saigon, the nation’s capital. He
volunteered for a number of especially dangerous missions on his days off, such as
flying as a door gunner on a US Army helicopter and as a technical assistant on a
psychological operation on an Air Force O-1E observation aircraft. Capping off his
impressive accomplishments was winning the coveted Base Airman of the Month for
March 1969, a feat which was featured in the Pacific Stars And Stripes newspaper
read by every service man stationed in the Pacific theater of operations. After his
Viet Nam tour of duty he was stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Arizona
where he met and married his wife, Lequita.
He graduated from Arizona State University in May, 1973, and after a 30-plus year
career as a financial advisor he joined a number of service organizations including
Easter Seals and Valley Forward, sponsor of EarthFest. He was also involved with the
National Federation of Independent Business and became the longest-serving
chairman of the Leadership Committee ever. He spoke before the ( AZ ) House Ways
and Means & Senate Finance committees. He then joined Disabled American
Veterans ( DAV ) in September of 2015. He rose quickly through the ranks and
became Chapter 8 Commander in May of 2019 where he served with Distinction for 3
years before being “ termed out”. The next year, as Vice Commander, he won the
title of National Champion Recruiter!