2010 prescription drug program cost increases
Healthcare advisory service company Avalere Health reported in early March that the average monthly premium of the top 10 Medicare standalone prescription drug plans (PDPs) are increased by 10% in 2010 and some out-of-pocket drug costs increased by 20%.1
The top 10 plans insure 70% of the 17.7 million enrolled in PDPs, and as Avalere Health vice president Bonnie Washington described “puts them in the driver’s seat in terms of setting financial trends.”
The chart below shows the current average monthly copayment.
Prescription Drug Type |
Copayment |
Non-preferred branded drug |
$78.95 |
Preferred brands |
$36.25 |
Generics |
$6.72 |