Medicare Part D Spotlight: Part D Plan Availability in 2011 and Key Changes Since 2006

This initial analysis examines the private stand-alone Part D drug plans will be available to Medicare beneficiaries in 2011 and provides an early look at key trends in the options, premiums, and other plan characteristics.

It finds that the average Medicare beneficiary will have a choice of 33 Part D stand-alone prescription drug plans in 2011, despite a 30 percent reduction in the total number of stand-alone plans available nationwide. Monthly premiums for stand-alone prescription drug plans will rise by 10 percent, on average, to $40.72 in 2011 if beneficiaries stay with their 2010 plans.

The analysis is based on the 2010 Medicare drug plan information released in late September by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The analysis was conducted jointly by researchers at Georgetown University, the Kaiser Family Foundation and the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.

Data Spotlight (.pdf)