Monterey, CA Medicare Part D Premiums Not Set To Rise Much In 2014

View From A Nonprofit Serving Carmel, Carmel Valley, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Salinas, Seaside And Soledad California Seniors have suffered so much the past several years with budget cuts to social services programs and Social Security increases which haven't kept pace with inflation and thus I was glad to read that Medicare premiums aren't expected to increase much in 2014.  Part D premiums are expected to average $31 next year, and they have been in the $30/month range for the past three years.  In addition, the deductible will drop from $325 in 2013 to $310 in 2014.  "There is continued very strong competition within the Part D plan," Jonathan Blum, deputy administrator and director for the Center of Medicare, told USA Today.  Many people, including Blum himself, believed that due to the phasing out of the dreaded "doughnut hole" (when seniors have to pay prescription costs out of their own pocket) that insurance companies would jack up rates to compensate for the increased payments they will have to make.  Seniors have already saved more than $7 billion ($1,061 per person on Medicare) due to the reductions in doughnut hole coverage.  Thank you President Obama.