Millions of seniors enrolled in some of the most popular Medicare prescription drug plans face double-digit premium hikes

Posted by National Health Index Medicare News Wednesday, September 26th, 2012

By Ricardo Alonso Zaldivar on September 25, 2012.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of seniors enrolled in some of the most popular Medicare prescription drug plans face double-digit premium hikes next year if they don’t shop for a better deal, says a private firm that analyzes the highly competitive market.

Seven of the top 10 prescription plans are raising their premiums by 11 percent to 23 percent, according to a report this week by Avalere Health.

It’s a reality check on a stream of upbeat Medicare announcements from the Obama administration, all against the backdrop of a hard-fought election. In August, officials had announced that the average premium for basic prescription drug coverage will stay the same in 2013, at $30 a month. Read more