Low-cost Part D plans available to low-income members

Medicare Part D beneficiaries willing to carefully sort through Medicare Advantage programs may find programs with low premiums and deductibles.

According to an analysis from research firm HealthMetrix, 23 Medicare Part D Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans offer $0 monthly premiums and $0 deductibles with some coverage in the doughnut-hole gap in coverage. The catch is that the plans are available only in specific regions and only to low-income subsidized beneficiaries. HealthMetrix examined more than 400 programs and noted that most beneficiaries will see premiums increase by 17% for the 2008 plans. Most low-income-subsidized beneficiaries are randomly assigned plans by CMS, rather than assigned to programs that best fit their needs, a process that has sparked