Medicare D premiums up for 2008, but lower than expected

American Medical News
Glendinning, D. - The average monthly premium that seniors pay to participate in the Medicare drug benefit will be about $25 next year, nearly 40% less than what federal officials had originally estimated. When Medicare Part D was established in 2003, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services estimated the average premium would top $40 by 2008. The $25 figure is higher than the $22 average premium for the 2007 plan year, but CMS chalks up the increase largely to technical adjustments required by law, rather than increased bids by private drug plans