Prices for prescription-drug coverage for Medicare recipients are dropping by 4 percent on average across all plans, according to an analysis this week by a health care consulting group.
The top two insurers by membership, however, are increasing prices for Medicare Part D, the prescription drug plans sold by private insurers separate from government-funded Medicare, according to an analysis of federal data by Avalere Health
AARP MedicareRx Preferred plans offered by UnitedHealth Group are increasing monthly premiums by 14 percent to $39.70 next year from an average of $34.82 this year. UnitedHealth is the top insurer of Part D plans with 4.8 million people enrolled this year, followed by CVS Caremark with 3.4 million and Humana with 2.4 million.
UnitedHealth Group has several advantages that may allow the company to raise prices while others are lowering them, said Dan Mendelson, CEO and founder of Avalere Health, a consulting firm that works for health insurers, think tanks and government.
"They have a strong level of name and brand visibility with the AARP banner," he said. "I think that they're banking on the relative unwillingness or inability of seniors to shop aggressively. If people are happy with a health care product, they are often willing to sustain pricing increases. I think what's different here is that there are a range of plans gunning for that top position."
UnitedHealth spokesman Matthew Burns said the company dropped its premiums last year by $5, or 12 percent, on its Part D Preferred plans. Premiums in 2012 are slightly lower than they were in 2010, and the company boasts coverage of more branded drugs than other competitors, Burns said.
Advocates for Medicare recipients consistently suggest that people look carefully over Part D plans to make sure they drugs they need are covered in the plan they pick.
Besides greater competition driving down price, Medicare Part D costs to insurers are expected to drop as the patents on some prescription drugs expire this year and next, allowing doctors to use less expensive generics instead.
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