Staying with your
2019 plan into 2020?
If you decide to stay with your current 2019 Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan into 2020 – and you understand how your Medicare plan is changing – you do not need to do anything – and you will be automatically re-enrolled into your Medicare plan along with any changes your plan is making for 2020. In addition to our list of Top Ten plan changes below, be sure to review your plan’s Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) letter to learn more about your 2020 Medicare plan coverage.
(1) Your 2019 Medicare plan may no longer be offered in 2020.
Over 1.1 million people are currently enrolled in a 2019 Medicare Advantage plan (MA or MAPD) that will no longer be available in 2020. Although a number of counties around the country will experience significant changes in their Medicare Advantage plan landscape, the counties seeing the largest number of terminated 2020 Medicare Advantage plans are: Miami-Dade, FL losing 17 plans and Jefferson County, PA losing 15 plans. You can click here to read more in our article about Medicare plans affected by Service Area Reductions.
If you decide to stay with your current 2019 Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan into 2020 – and you understand how your Medicare plan is changing – you do not need to do anything – and you will be automatically re-enrolled into your Medicare plan along with any changes your plan is making for 2020. In addition to our list of Top Ten plan changes below, be sure to review your plan’s Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) letter to learn more about your 2020 Medicare plan coverage.
(1) Your 2019 Medicare plan may no longer be offered in 2020.
Over 1.1 million people are currently enrolled in a 2019 Medicare Advantage plan (MA or MAPD) that will no longer be available in 2020. Although a number of counties around the country will experience significant changes in their Medicare Advantage plan landscape, the counties seeing the largest number of terminated 2020 Medicare Advantage plans are: Miami-Dade, FL losing 17 plans and Jefferson County, PA losing 15 plans. You can click here to read more in our article about Medicare plans affected by Service Area Reductions.
(2) You may be automatically reassigned to a
different 2020 Medicare plan.
Over 2 million Medicare Advantage plan members and an additional 740,000 members of stand-alone Medicare Part D plans will be automatically “crosswalked” or merged into another Medicare plan in 2020. For example, members of the 2019 Humana Enhanced (PDP) will be automatically reassigned to the 2020 Humana Premier Rx Plan (PDP). You can click here to read more about Medicare Part D plan mergers or consolidations.
Over 2 million Medicare Advantage plan members and an additional 740,000 members of stand-alone Medicare Part D plans will be automatically “crosswalked” or merged into another Medicare plan in 2020. For example, members of the 2019 Humana Enhanced (PDP) will be automatically reassigned to the 2020 Humana Premier Rx Plan (PDP). You can click here to read more about Medicare Part D plan mergers or consolidations.
(3) Your 2019 Medicare plan may change its name.
The nearly 2 million members of the 2019 Humana Walmart Rx Plan (PDP) will find their plan’s name changing to the 2020 Humana Premier Rx Plan (PDP), with a larger formulary and significantly higher premiums (same plan ID, but a different plan name). And the new 2020 Humana Walmart Value Rx Plan (PDP) will be introduced with a premium of $13.20 in every state.
The nearly 2 million members of the 2019 Humana Walmart Rx Plan (PDP) will find their plan’s name changing to the 2020 Humana Premier Rx Plan (PDP), with a larger formulary and significantly higher premiums (same plan ID, but a different plan name). And the new 2020 Humana Walmart Value Rx Plan (PDP) will be introduced with a premium of $13.20 in every state.
(4) Your monthly 2020 Medicare Part D premium
may be increasing.
Without changing stand-alone Medicare Part D plans, over 4 million Medicare beneficiaries will see a monthly 2020 Medicare Part D premium increase of over 20% - with 1.5 million people currently enrolled in a 2019 Part D plan seeing their premiums double in 2020. The good news is about 8.4 million people will see a 2020 premium decrease of up to 73%.
You can click here to see examples of 2019 Medicare Part D plans that are increasing their 2020 premiums. Please keep in mind that there may be low- or $0 premium Medicare Advantage plans (MAPDs) available in your area.
Without changing stand-alone Medicare Part D plans, over 4 million Medicare beneficiaries will see a monthly 2020 Medicare Part D premium increase of over 20% - with 1.5 million people currently enrolled in a 2019 Part D plan seeing their premiums double in 2020. The good news is about 8.4 million people will see a 2020 premium decrease of up to 73%.
You can click here to see examples of 2019 Medicare Part D plans that are increasing their 2020 premiums. Please keep in mind that there may be low- or $0 premium Medicare Advantage plans (MAPDs) available in your area.
(5) Your plan’s Initial Deductible may increase.
The standard 2020 Medicare Part D (PDP) deductible will increase to $435, up from the standard 2019 deductible of $415. About 6.7 million Medicare PDP beneficiaries are enrolled in a Part D plan that will see an even larger Initial Deductible increase from $25 to $260. An additional 3.8 million Medicare Part D beneficiaries will see their $0 deductible disappear. You can click here to read more about initial deductible changes and examples of Medicare Part D plan’s increasing their 2020 initial deductible.
The standard 2020 Medicare Part D (PDP) deductible will increase to $435, up from the standard 2019 deductible of $415. About 6.7 million Medicare PDP beneficiaries are enrolled in a Part D plan that will see an even larger Initial Deductible increase from $25 to $260. An additional 3.8 million Medicare Part D beneficiaries will see their $0 deductible disappear. You can click here to read more about initial deductible changes and examples of Medicare Part D plan’s increasing their 2020 initial deductible.
(6) Your 2020 Medicare drug plan’s formulary or
drug list may cover fewer medications.
Although some 2020 Medicare prescription drug plans will be adding more medications, based on our analysis, almost 2.5 million Medicare beneficiaries currently enrolled in a stand-alone 2019 Medicare Part D plan will see at least 100 fewer medications on their 2020 formulary. But, please remember that a larger Medicare Part D plan formulary does not necessarily mean that the Medicare drug plan will cover all of your medications. In addition, some of your low-cost generic medications, particularly tier one and two generics may have moved to a higher drug tier.
Important: Check to make sure your medications are affordably covered by your chosen 2020 Medicare Part D plan.
(7) Your 2020 Medicare plan’s prescription drug cost-sharing may increase.
Medicare plans can change their fixed copayments from year-to-year (for example, you now pay $5 for a Tier 2 drug and in 2020 you will pay $10 for the same Tier 2 drug) – or plans may increase the co-insurance percentage (you now pay 35% of retail and in 2020 you will pay 44% of the retail drug price). And some Medicare drug plans may change between co-insurance (percent of retail prices) to copayment as a cost-sharing model. You can click here to see an example of how the 2019 Humana Walmart Rx plan will change from 20% co-insurance to a $42 copayment for Tier 3 Preferred Brands as it becomes the 2020 Humana Premier Rx plan – this change will affect approximately 2 million plan members.
Although some 2020 Medicare prescription drug plans will be adding more medications, based on our analysis, almost 2.5 million Medicare beneficiaries currently enrolled in a stand-alone 2019 Medicare Part D plan will see at least 100 fewer medications on their 2020 formulary. But, please remember that a larger Medicare Part D plan formulary does not necessarily mean that the Medicare drug plan will cover all of your medications. In addition, some of your low-cost generic medications, particularly tier one and two generics may have moved to a higher drug tier.
Important: Check to make sure your medications are affordably covered by your chosen 2020 Medicare Part D plan.
(7) Your 2020 Medicare plan’s prescription drug cost-sharing may increase.
Medicare plans can change their fixed copayments from year-to-year (for example, you now pay $5 for a Tier 2 drug and in 2020 you will pay $10 for the same Tier 2 drug) – or plans may increase the co-insurance percentage (you now pay 35% of retail and in 2020 you will pay 44% of the retail drug price). And some Medicare drug plans may change between co-insurance (percent of retail prices) to copayment as a cost-sharing model. You can click here to see an example of how the 2019 Humana Walmart Rx plan will change from 20% co-insurance to a $42 copayment for Tier 3 Preferred Brands as it becomes the 2020 Humana Premier Rx plan – this change will affect approximately 2 million plan members.
(8) Your Medicare plan’s cost-sharing can vary
significantly between “preferred” and “standard” network pharmacies.
About 95% of all 2020 stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans (PDPs) will use different cost-sharing for preferred vs. standard network pharmacies. As an example, the California SilverScript Choice (PDP) will have a co-payment of $0 for a Tier 1 medication at a preferred network pharmacy and, for the same Tier 1 drug, a $6 co-pay when purchased at a standard network pharmacy. You can click here to see more examples of standard and preferred pharmacy cost-sharing. You can contact your plan’s Member Service department to find preferred pharmacies in your area.
A word of caution about mail-order cost-sharing when using the Medicare.gov plan finder. As of October 23rd, the Medicare.gov plan finder only calculates drug costs for mail-order using the plan’s “standard” mail-order cost-sharing rather than the plan’s “preferred” mail-order cost-sharing. As a result, the mail-order cost-sharing is, in most cases, higher than it would be if Medicare was using the preferred mail-order cost-sharing as they did in past years.
About 95% of all 2020 stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans (PDPs) will use different cost-sharing for preferred vs. standard network pharmacies. As an example, the California SilverScript Choice (PDP) will have a co-payment of $0 for a Tier 1 medication at a preferred network pharmacy and, for the same Tier 1 drug, a $6 co-pay when purchased at a standard network pharmacy. You can click here to see more examples of standard and preferred pharmacy cost-sharing. You can contact your plan’s Member Service department to find preferred pharmacies in your area.
A word of caution about mail-order cost-sharing when using the Medicare.gov plan finder. As of October 23rd, the Medicare.gov plan finder only calculates drug costs for mail-order using the plan’s “standard” mail-order cost-sharing rather than the plan’s “preferred” mail-order cost-sharing. As a result, the mail-order cost-sharing is, in most cases, higher than it would be if Medicare was using the preferred mail-order cost-sharing as they did in past years.
(9) Your 2020 Medicare Part D plan
may no longer qualify for your state’s Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) $0 premium.
In 2020, most states will offer about the same number of Medicare Part D plans qualifying for the state’s Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) $0 benchmark premium. The state offering the smallest selection of $0 premium LIS PDPs is Ohio, offering only two 2020 $0 premium LIS plans. Arizona will offer the largest number of $0 premium LIS plans (12 plans). For more about the changing landscape of LIS $0 premium plans, you can click here for our article comparing LIS plan availability since 2007.
If a Medicare Part D plan no longer qualifies for the full LIS $0 monthly premium, Medicare will automatically move LIS recipients to a new plan that does qualify. However, if you selected your own plan, Medicare will NOT move you to a new plan, even if your plan no longer qualifies for the $0 premium. You will need to select a new plan during AEP or you will pay a partial premium in 2020. You can click here to read more.
In 2020, most states will offer about the same number of Medicare Part D plans qualifying for the state’s Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) $0 benchmark premium. The state offering the smallest selection of $0 premium LIS PDPs is Ohio, offering only two 2020 $0 premium LIS plans. Arizona will offer the largest number of $0 premium LIS plans (12 plans). For more about the changing landscape of LIS $0 premium plans, you can click here for our article comparing LIS plan availability since 2007.
If a Medicare Part D plan no longer qualifies for the full LIS $0 monthly premium, Medicare will automatically move LIS recipients to a new plan that does qualify. However, if you selected your own plan, Medicare will NOT move you to a new plan, even if your plan no longer qualifies for the $0 premium. You will need to select a new plan during AEP or you will pay a partial premium in 2020. You can click here to read more.
(10) Your 2020 Medicare Advantage plan’s Initial
Coverage Limit (ICL) and/or Maximum Out-of-Pocket (MOOP) limit may change.
Some 2020 Medicare Advantage plans will offer a
variation on the standard drug plan Initial
Coverage Limit (ICL) of $4,020, with 2020 MAPD ICLs ranging from $2,750 to $10,000.
In addition, one 2020 stand-alone Medicare Part D plan (in
New York) has an ICL under the
$4,020 standard. The
Initial Coverage Limit sets the boundary between your Medicare Part D plan's
Initial Coverage Phase and the Donut Hole or Coverage Gap. The ICL is
measured by the total retail value of your prescription drug purchases. You can click
here to read more about 2020
Medicare Advantage plans that have an increased or decreased Initial Coverage
Limit.
In
2020, slightly more Medicare Advantage plans will offer a MOOP limit at or
below the $3,400 voluntary maximum. However 76% of Medicare Advantage
plans continue to have a MOOP greater than $3,400. You can click
here to learn more about the maximum
out-of-pocket limits for 2020 Medicare Advantage plans. The Medicare
Advantage plan MOOP threshold limits how much you will spend on co-payments and
co-insurance for in-network, eligible Medicare Part A and Part B coverage.The Bottom Line to our Top Ten List.
If you do not enroll into a new 2020 Medicare Part D plan or Medicare Advantage plan, you will be automatically re-enrolled into your current Medicare plan for 2020 and your 2020 Medicare plan may cost you more and provide different coverage than in 2019.
If your 2019 Medicare plan is being terminated in 2020 and you are not merged or “crosswalked” to another 2020 Medicare plan, you may be without Medicare plan coverage on January 1st.
The Good News: You still have plenty of time to review your 2020 Medicare plan coverage options during the Annual Open Enrollment Period (AEP) that began on October 15th and continues through December 7th.
Need a fast way to see how your Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D plan is changing in 2020?
Our PDP-Compare and MA-Compare tools allow you to compare changes in all stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) or Medicare Advantage plans (MAs or MAPDs) across the country. Our comparison tools show changes in monthly premiums and plan designs, as well as changes in cost-sharing rates for different drug tiers. Both PDP-Compare and MA-Compare also show the Medicare plans that will be discontinued, merged, or added in 2020. MA-Compare includes links to the health coverage details of all 2019 and 2020 Medicare Advantage plans.
Need an example of Medicare Part D plan changes in your area?
To see the annual 2019 / 2020 changes in stand-alone Medicare Part D plan details, simply click on your state: AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY.
Need an example of Medicare Advantage plan changes in your area?
To get you started with an overview of the 2020 Medicare Advantage plans in your area, just click on your state and then click on your county name – you can then choose the “Compare Changes in the 2019 & 2020 Health Plans” link to see annual changes in plan features or go directly to MA-Compare.com: AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY.
. . . and A Few Closing Notes
Reminder #1: No need to rush. The annual Open Enrollment Period for 2020 Medicare Part D plans and Medicare Advantage plans continues through December 7th, with 2020 Medicare plan coverage beginning on January 1, 2020. For more information, Medicare beneficiaries can telephone Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 to speak with a Medicare representative.
For an overview of the 2020 Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) landscape, please see our article: “More low-cost 2020 Medicare Part D PDP options, but many people in 2019 plans may pay higher 2020 Part D premiums”.
For a summary of the 2020 Medicare Advantage (MA and MAPD) plan landscape, please see our article: "Medicare beneficiaries can expect more Medicare plan options, continued low monthly premiums, more D-SNPs, and slightly more Medicare Advantage plans offering some Donut Hole coverage".
Reminder #2: Some Extra Help recipients may need to act to keep their 2020 Extra Help status. The 2019 / 2020 CMS, SSA, and Medicare plan mailings schedule is online and includes notices for people who need to submit information to keep their 2020 Extra Help status. So be sure to review anything you receive from Medicare or the Social Security Administration as some Medicare Part D Extra Help recipients will need to act or risk losing their Medicare Part D Extra Help or Low-income Subsidy (LIS) in 2020. Please click here to read more about the 2020 LIS mailings. When in doubt, contact your local Medicaid office for more information or call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.
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Not sure where to begin with Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage?
If you would like an overview of the Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plan program, then you can click here for more information.
Q1Medicare Update: Q1Medicare.com introduces the ScriptSave® WellRx Prescription Savings Card. Learn more at: http://bit.ly/Q1Rx649b
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About Us: Q1Medicare.com is one of the nation’s largest private online resources for Medicare prescription drug plan and Medicare Advantage plan information. The Q1Medicare.com site is independently operated by Q1Group LLC (Saint Augustine, Florida). You can email us at: Team@Q1Group.com, “Follow us” on Twitter at: @Q1Medicare, and “Like us” on Facebook at: Facebook.com/Q1Medicare.
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