CMS announces average Medicare Advantage, Part D premiums for 2019 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today released premium and cost information for Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans for the 2019 calendar year. The average MA premium will decrease by $1.81 to $28, while the average monthly premium for a basic Medicare Part D prescription drug plan will decrease by $1.09 to $32.50, the agency estimates. The average number of MA plan choices per county will increase by five to about 34, CMS said. It projects MA enrollment will climb by 11.5 percent to 22.6 million, about 37 percent of Medicare beneficiaries. Open enrollment for 2019 Medicare health and drug plans begins Oct. 15.