Medicare Troubles with Part D

From USNews.com:

Phillip Moeller writes,

Besides premium increases, many Part D plans have added other fee hikes, reduced covered drugs, and backed off on other protections as well. These changes are extensive and are layered onto a program with mind-numbing variables. The nation is broken up into 34 coverage regions, for example, and most states offer roughly 50 different private insurance plans with huge ranges of coverages and costs.
Whew! Paul Krugman may have won a Nobel Prize for economics, but I bet even he would have a hard time figuring out the best Part D plans for his elderly relatives. This year, more than ever, though, it will pay to look carefully at Part D choices. So, grab another cup of coffee, and bear with me.
The Part D program began with much fanfare and confusion in 2006. Since then, more than 16 million people ages 65 and over have signed up for the stand-alone Part D plans, and they've tended to stick with their original choices despite many plan changes in 2007 and 2008.

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Argus Leader encourages Medicare prescription holders to shop around for perscription coverage

In an article at Argus Leader, officials encourage Medicare users to shop around for prescription drug coverage. They foresee significant increases and changes in what Medicare part D will cover. For most of the popular drug plans, the most popular drugs could increase in price anywhere from 8% to 64%.

Other price increases include:
The monthly premium for the most popular Medicare Part D plan - the AARP Medicare Rx Preferred Plan - will increase 15 percent, from $32 to $37.

The next most popular plans come from Humana. The premium for the standard Humana plan will go up 60 percent, from $25 to $40, while the premium for the enhanced plan will go from $23 to $38.