As a senior in New Jersey, are you aware that the average monthly premium for standard beneficiaries in the Medicare Part D drug program is expected to rise by $3 next year? This is a recent report from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid.

What this means to beneficiaries of the Medicare Part D drug program - a New Jersey senior and elder will pay $28, CMS estimates. This increase for you on Medicare Part D is due to general trends in drug costs, the phase-out of a CMS demonstration project, and higher plan estimates for catastrophic coverage based on prior experience, the agency said in a news release.

2009 premiums is 37% lower than the amount originally projected when the benefit was established three years ago.

Dual eligibles, or those who receive Medicare and Medicaid, do not pay for their drug coverage. Many residents of nursing homes are in this category. This was a final rule designed to reduce such reassignments. Read the full article here.