US Medicare says Part D and Advantage premiums will fall in 2025
By Ahmed Aboulenein
WASHINGTON, Sept 27 (Reuters) -Average premiums and benefits for Medicare's prescription drug program and private Medicare plans are projected to remain stable in 2025 with premiums slightly declining, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said on Friday.
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
The premiums are of interest to consumers enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans run by private insurers who are then paid by the government, and the health plans themselves, who set premiums and benefits based on the reimbursement rates.
The government has been trying bring down MA prices to the level of original Medicare, the government health plan for those age 65 and older.
Private health insurers had argued cutting their rates would limit what benefits they offer, but the government's projections on Friday showed they remain stable. Shares of health insurers had fallen between 6% and 12% in April when the rates were announced.
CONTEXT
Medicare is the U.S. government's health insurance program for people over the age of 65 and the disabled.
Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurers who are paid a set rate by the government to manage healthcare for Medicare beneficiaries who want extra benefits not offered in regular Medicare coverage.
Medicare also contains an optional prescription drug coverage program known as Part D.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which runs Medicare, announced in April its final 2025 rates for MA payments, which included a 0.2% cut.
The cut is part of a three-year plan to decrease payments to MA plans as part of an effort the government says will bring them more in line with original Medicare.
BY THE NUMBERS
Medicare Advantage plan enrollment will grow to 35.7 million people in 2025, or 51% of all Medicare beneficiaries, up from 50% in 2024.
Average MA monthly premiums are projected to fall by $1.23 from $18.23 in 2024 to $17 in 2025.
Almost 60% of beneficiaries will have zero-dollar premiums in 2025 and 83% will have the same premiums or lower if they stay with their current plan, including 20% who will see premiums fall.
Average Part D premiums are projected to fall by $7.45 in 2025 to $46.50, down from $53.95 in 2024.
Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein
Editing by Bill Berkrot
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
