This spotlight analyzes the premiums charged by the 1,824 stand-alone Medicare Part D plans that will be offered in markets across the country in 2008. The analysis finds premiums charged for Part D plans range widely, from $9.80 per month to $107.50 per month. The average monthly premium would increase from $27.39 in 2007 to $31.99 if enrollees remain in their current plans next year – a 17 percent increase. Nearly one in five of this year’s enrollees will experience an annual increase of at least $120 if they stay in the same plan next year. The data spotlight also looks at premium changes in the stand-alone plans with the highest enrollment this year and shifts in the overall marketplace.

The spotlight is one in a series analyzing key aspects of the Medicare Part D drug plans that will be available to beneficiaries in 2008. These spotlights were prepared by a team of researchers at Georgetown University, NORC and the Kaiser Family Foundation.

 Data Spotlight (pdf)