Since this time last year, Medicare Advantage premiums have dropped 7 percent on average and enrollment has risen approximately 10 percent, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Total enrollment stands at 12.8 million, a million-plus person rise from the 11.7 million figure in 2011. Average premiums have fallen to $31.54 per patient from $33.97 in 2011.

"The Medicare Advantage program is stronger than ever,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in a statement. "Premiums are down on average, enrollment is up, and thanks to the Affordable Care Act we have unprecedented new tools to ensure that seniors and people with disabilities are getting the best value out of their coverage.”

Other figures from HHS show that enrollment in Medicare Advantage programs remains strong:

• On average, there are 26 Medicare Advantage plans to choose from in nearly every county across the country.
• Access to Medicare Advantage remains strong: 99.7 percent of Medicare beneficiaries have access to a Medicare Advantage plan.
• Since 2010, when the Affordable Care Act was passed, Medicare Advantage premiums have fallen by 16 percent and enrollment has climbed by 17 percent.

Other information from the HHS news release:

In 2012, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, Medicare Advantage plans will start receiving incentives to achieve high quality scores through the use of quality bonus payments. As an extra incentive for high quality performance, CMS is allowing Five-Star Medicare Advantage and Part D plans to continuously market and enroll beneficiaries throughout the year.

To find the most recent publicly available MA and Part D contract and enrollment data, visit: http://www.cms.gov/MCRAdvPartDEnrolData/MCESR/list.asp#TopOfPage