Average Premiums for Medicare Advantage and Part D Going Down

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — HealthPocket released its examination of 2018 Medicare Advantage and Part D plans this week. Nationally, the 2018 average premiums for both Medicare Advantage plans and Part D prescription-drug plans are lower than in 2017.

The average monthly premium for a Medicare Advantage plan will be $60.36 in 2018, less expensive than 2017’s average of $62.48 and 2016’s average of $64.92. HealthPocket also found that nearly 30{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} of these 2018 Medicare Advantage plans will have a $0 premium (though enrollees must continue to pay their normal Medicare Part B premium obligations).

HealthPocket’s comparison of monthly premiums for Part D drug plans found that the national average premium in 2018 of $52.36 is slightly less expensive than the average premium of $53.22 in 2017. The average deductible in 2018 is $243.55, which is 7{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} more expensive than 2017’s average deductible of $227.43.