CMS to end subsidies for Medicare drug plan premiums

Emily Olsen / healthcaredive - The CMS said the program, which went into effect last year to stabilize Part D premiums and enrollment, isn’t needed anymore. One researcher said some enrollees could see higher premium increases in 2027 as a result.

AI Summary: CMS will terminate its Part D premium stabilization subsidy, a program that helped blunt year-to-year premium swings for Medicare drug plans. The move removes a federal backstop aimed at keeping beneficiaries’ premiums lower, likely pushing costs onto enrollees and plan sponsors while igniting concerns about affordability for seniors and people on fixed incomes.