CR5.8 ● ▼ Medicare’s medical plans offer a wide range of variations and choices for seniors when picking a drug plan (San Luis Obispo Tribune, November 25, 2005). The monthly cost for a stand-alone drug plan varied from a low of $1.87 in Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Iowa to a high of $104.89. Here are the lowest and highest monthly premiums for stand-alone Medicare drug plans for each state:

State $ Low $ High Alabama 14.08 69.98 Alaska 20.05 61.93 Arizona 6.14 64.86 Arkansas 10.31 67.98 California 5.41 66.08 Colorado 8.62 65.88 Connecticut 7.32 65.58 Delaware 6.44 68.91 District of Columbia 6.44 68.91 Florida 10.35 104.89 Georgia 17.91 73.17 Hawaii 17.18 64.43 Idaho 6.33 68.88 Illinois 13.32 65.04 Indiana 12.30 70.72 Iowa 1.87 99.90 Kansas 9.48 67.88 Kentucky 12.30 70.72 Louisiana 17.06 70.59 Maine 19.60 65.39 State $ Low $ High Maryland 6.44 68.91 Massachusetts 7.32 65.58 Michigan 13.75 65.69 Minnesota 1.87 99.90 Mississippi 11.60 70.59 Missouri 10.29 68.26 Montana 1.87 99.90 Nebraska 1.87 99.90 Nevada 6.42 64.63 New Hampshire 19.60 65.39 New Jersey 4.43 66.53 New Mexico 10.65 62.38 New York 4.10 85.02 North Carolina 13.27 65.03 North Dakota 1.87 99.90 Ohio 14.43 68.05 Oklahoma 10.07 70.79 Oregon 6.93 64.99 Pennsylvania 10.14 68.61 Rhode Island 7.32 65.58 State $ Low $ High South Carolina 16.57 69.72 South Dakota 1.87 99.90 Tennessee 14.08 69.98 Texas 10.31 68.41 Utah 6.33 68.88 Vermont 7.32 65.58 State $ Low $ High Virginia 8.81 68.61 Washington 6.93 64.99 West Virginia 10.14 68.61 Wisconsin 11.42 63.23 Wyoming 1.87 99.90 Which of the following can be determined from the data? If it can be determined, calculate the requested value. If it cannot be determined, explain why not.

a. the median premium cost in Colorado

b. the number of plan choices in Virginia

c. the state(s) with the largest difference in cost between plans

d. the state(s) with the choice with the highest premium cost

e. the state for which the minimum premium cost is greatest

f. the mean of the minimum cost of all states beginning with the letter “M”