Part D costs to increase

Just in time for the May 15 registration deadline for Medicare Part D, CMS has announced the increases in costs for 2007.

• Deductible: up from $250 to $265
• Initial coverage limit: up from $2250 to $2400
• Out-of-pocket threshhold: up from $3600 to $3850
• Point at which "catastrophic" coverage begins: up from $$5100 to $5451.25

There are some quite modest increases--or none--for dual eligibles and partial dual eligibles and assorted other categories, but the bottom line is that costs for participating in the program will increase by at least 6.86 percent.