WASHINGTON BUREAU — Average monthly premiums will rise about $2 to $30 for standard Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage next year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says.
The basic premiums paid by Part D enrollees cover about one-fourth of the cost of the standard Part D drug benefit. States usually pay the Part D premiums for low-income enrollees.
The average value of the Part D benefit, premium subsidy, and cost-sharing subsidy for low-income enrollees will be about $4,000 in 2010, CMS officials report.
Premiums and benefits for Medicare Advantage plans and more details about the Part D plans will be announced in September,
CMS officials also will be releasing the list of plans that will be giving up their Medicare contracts in 2010, according to Jonathan Blum, acting director of CMS' Center for Health Plan Choices.
