This spotlight analyzes the premiums charged by the 1,689 stand-alone Medicare Part D plans that will be offered in markets across the country in 2009. The analysis finds premiums charged for Part D plans range widely, from $10.30 per month to $136.80 per month. If current enrollees remain in their current plan for next year, the weighted average monthly premium for PDPs would increase by $7.40 per month, from $29.89 in 2008 to $37.29 in 2009. 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 2009. These spotlights were prepared by a team of researchers at Georgetown University, NORC and the Kaiser Family Foundation.

 Data Spotlight (.pdf)