New York, NY—Medicare Open Enrollment occurs from October 15 to December 7 of every year and is the time of year when people with Medicare can make unrestricted changes to their coverage options. To assist the press in their Medicare coverage, the Medicare Rights Center (Medicare Rights) developed Medicare Open Enrollment: A Resource for Journalists, which includes a list of upcoming changes, expert advice, and related issues of interest to people with Medicare. Also included are consumer-friendly resources that can be shared with readers. 

Medicare Rights, a national nonprofit consumer service organization that works to ensure access to affordable health care for older adults and people with disabilities, expects that journalists will find the resource helpful as they prepare their coverage for this year’s Medicare enrollment season. 

A few notable updates for 2025 include the following:  

• Part D Out-of-pocket Cap 
  Starting in 2025, annual out-of-pocket Part D costs will be capped at $2,000. This includes what an individual pays in deductibles, copays, and coinsurance for covered drugs. After meeting the cap, the individual pays $0 out of pocket for the rest of the year.
  
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan
  In 2025, all Part D plans must offer the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan option. This allows individuals to spread their out-of-pocket Part D costs throughout the year. If an individual opts in, they pay $0 for covered drugs at the pharmacy, and their Part D plan sends them a monthly bill for cost-sharing instead.
  
  This payment option benefits people with high out-of-pocket drug costs earlier in the calendar year. It helps individuals manage monthly expenses but does not lower their overall drug costs.
  
  Individuals with high drug costs may receive a notice from their plan about this payment option, but anyone enrolled in a Part D plan can opt-in.
  
• Other Part D Prescription Drug Costs
  The base premium for a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan will be $36.78 monthly in 2025, up from $34.70 in 2024.
  
  Insulin copays for all beneficiaries are limited to $35 per month. This applies to all insulin covered by a beneficiary’s Part D plan or under Medicare Part B.  
  
  People with Medicare will pay no copays or deductibles for vaccines covered by their Part D plan, including the shingles and RSV vaccines.  

The complete Medicare Open Enrollment: A Resource for Journalists is available at: www.medicarerights.org/pdf/fall-open-enrollment-resource-for-journalists.pdf.

A consumer version of this resource is also available on Medicare Interactive. Developed by the Medicare Rights Center, Medicare Interactive is a free and independent online reference tool thoughtfully designed to help older adults and people with disabilities navigate the complex world of health insurance.