Medicare beneficiaries can change their Part D drug plan (PDP) at the end of end of every year. Once they are in a plan, most are “locked in” for the next year, except for certain special circumstances (a move to a new state, low income subsidy, moving into a long-term care facility). The numbers are in for 2011 enrollment in Part D drug plans, and the winners and losers are:
UnitedHealth Group remains the biggest Part D provider nationwide with over 4 million seven-hundred thousand people enrolled in their plans. Enrollment grew by 4% during the annual enrollment period (AEP) at the end of 2010. Most of United’s plans are marketed as “AARP Medicare Rx”.
Humana’s Part D enrollment grew by 32% nationwide. This growth is probably due to the heavy advertising of the Humana Walmart plan which costs only $14.80 per month. Humana now has 2 million three hundred thousand members in its PDP plans throughout the country.
CVS Caremark’s Part D enrollment grew 30%, for fourth place in nationwide PDP membership. Not sure why their enrollment surged as I don’t recall any big advertising campaign. CVS Caremark enrollment totaled just over 1.5 million at the start of 2011.
Coventry Health Care lost 26% of its PDP enrollment, but it is still the fifth largest player in the Part D market nationwide.
Health Net was sanctioned by CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid) and was not allowed to enroll new members after November 19th, 2010. The company lost 11% of its PDP members and now has an enrollment of just over four hundred thousand .