=+3.22 ● Medicare’s new 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 varies from plan to plan and from state to state. The accompanying table gives the premium for the plan with the lowest cost for each state.

Cost per Month State (dollars)

Alabama 14.08 Alaska 20.05 Arizona 6.14 Arkansas 10.31 California 5.41 Colorado 8.62 Connecticut 7.32 Delaware 6.44 District of Columbia 6.44 Florida 10.35 Georgia 17.91 Hawaii 17.18 Idaho 6.33 Illinois 13.32 Indiana 12.30 Iowa 1.87 Kansas 9.48 Kentucky 12.30 Louisiana 17.06 Maine 19.60 Maryland 6.44 Massachusetts 7.32 Michigan 13.75 Minnesota 1.87 Mississippi 11.60 Missouri 10.29 Montana 1.87 Nebraska 1.87 Nevada 6.42 Cost per Month State (dollars)

New Hampshire 19.60 New Jersey 4.43