Medicare Part D’s Best Providers

Through an impartial evaluation process, we give our recommendations for the best items, and we are not influenced by ads. If you go to the partners we recommend, we might get paid. See our advertiser disclosure for more information. If you recently turned 65 or will in the near future, Medicare plans and expenses might be on your mind. Although Medicare does not require prescription drug coverage, the majority of people are urged to obtain some sort of "creditable" drug coverage, if only to avoid penalties if they subsequently decide to enroll in Medicare drug coverage. A Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare Part D provides prescription coverage to the majority of Medicare enrollees. These two choices are provided by commercial companies. The federal government has approved the plans but has not provided any funding. You pay the supplier a premium as a participant in one of these plans. Your prescription medicine expenses are consequently compensated. Part D plans were the most popular option for pharmaceutical coverage in 2020, with 46.5 million of the more than 60 million Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in them. All Part D plans adhere to strict Medicare requirements on the kinds of medications they must cover. Each drug plan will have a three-tiered formulary, or list of pharmaceuticals that are covered. 2. The price of the medicine decreases with each decreasing tier. The priciest medications are those in the top category, frequently identified by their brand names. You should shop around and compare prices for your Medicare Part D coverage before enrolling. You don't want to end up paying more for the medications you require than is necessary. The Best Medicare Part D Providers in 2022 The best all-around: Humana Cigna was the runner-up and overall winner. AARP/UnitedHealthcare offers the best online user experience. Wellcare is the best for low premiums. Aetna is the best for no deductible. Medicare Part D's Best Providers Humana Cigna AARP/UnitedHealthcare Wellcare Aetna How to Find and Compare the Best Medicare Part D Plans Is Part D More Affordable for Drug Costs Than Medicare Advantage? Will COVID-19 or flu vaccines be covered by Medicare Part D? Do Medicare Advantage Plans Include Drug Coverage? Compared to Medicare Part D, how much does a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage cost? What if I want to switch to a Medicare Part D plan from my Medicare Advantage plan?

Humana

Pros

To suit your demands, three options
4 stars on the CMS scale.
Washington, D.C., has the lowest premiums out of 47 states.
3 mobile applications.

Cons

Not all places may be covered by the Humana Value Rx Plan PDP.

Moving about the website can be a little challenging.

One of the most well-known companies offering health insurance is Humana. In the US, it has close to 17 million subscribers. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) awarded Humana a four-star rating, and the company is well-funded. With no deductible on tier 1 and tier 2 prescriptions, the Humana Walmart Value Rx Plan features a low monthly premium of just $17.20. Tier 1 medications frequently include well-known generics like ibuprofen 400 mg. Generic medications that are not a part of Humana's preferred network are included in Tier 2. For diabetes, metformin is a tier 1 medicine, but Invokana is either a tier 2 or tier 3 drug, depending on the plan. 3 The Humana Premier Rx Plan has no deductible as well, although rates vary by state from $58.30 to $72.50. For those who just need to fill a few medications each month, either plan may be a reasonable value. The Basic Rx Plan is preferable for people with expensive prescriptions because it provides exceptionally low copays following the $445 annual deductible. The business provides a variety of beneficial member services and apps, such as the Go365 exercise program; the MyHumana app, which puts your health information at your fingertips; and the Humana Pharmacy app, which enables you to manage your medications from your mobile device The reputation of Humana, the breadth of its member programs, and the two affordable plans with no deductibles on tier 1 and tier 2 medicines are the reasons The Balance chose them.

Cigna

Pros

Plans are simple to compare online.
All 50 states have drug plans available.
a) economically sound
The website offers resources for Medicare subscribers with a broad audience.
You can manage your insurance, look for drugs, and take care of your health using three smartphone apps from any location.
A CMS score of 4.5

Cons

Rx Secure features hefty deductibles and premiums.

Although Cigna's premiums are not the lowest of the plans we compared, the website makes it simple to find what you need. Cigna offers three Part D options and is financially solid. Due to these factors, Cigna is ranked among the finest Medicare Part D health insurance companies on our list. The AM The best rating for Cigna is A, indicating stability. 4 In terms of Medicare Part D plans, Cigna provides three options:

Secure Cigna-HealthSpring Rx.
Secure-Essential Cigna-HealthSpring Rx
Secure-Extra Cigna-HealthSpring Rx

The deductible for the Rx Secure plan is $445. Copays on tier 1 medications like metformin and naproxen might be as cheap as $0 if you place an order through the business's mail-order pharmacy. Tier 1 and Tier 2 medications are exempt from deductibles under the Secure-Essential plan, and Tier 1 medications purchased from specific mail-order pharmacies do not require a copay. This plan may be among the least expensive ones available, with monthly premiums quoted at just $24. The Secure-Extra plan has the highest monthly premium of $50 and the lowest deductible of the three options ($100). Regardless of the plan you select, managing your medications from a mobile device and ordering home delivery are both made simple with the myCigna mobile app. The company's 13th place finish on the Fortune 500 list demonstrates its financial soundness You can call a salesperson for assistance or purchase your plan online. For anyone with inquiries about Medicare or which plan they should purchase, the website provides a wealth of materials, including videos and articles.

AARP/UnitedHealthcare

Pros

The website is user-friendly and filled with information.
Plans are simple to compare online.
two plans with $0 deductibles and affordable rates
It's simple to manage your insurance and your health with two smartphone apps.

Cons

Only at Walgreens and Duane Reade can you get preferred pricing.

The Preferred Plan's high premium We selected UnitedHealthcare (UHC) because its website made it simple to select one of the three available plan options. UHC provides an easy-to-read chart that breaks down premiums, deductibles, and copays for medicine into various tiers. The value and level of customer service offered by UHC's Part D plan make it one of the more expensive options on our list, but it's worth it. UHC delivers first-rate service that begins with an intuitive website, earning it a five-star CMS rating for customer service and other honors. Through AARP, three UHC plans are available, including:

AARP Walgreens Medicare Rx
AARP Preference for Medicare Part D
AARP Medicare Rx Saver Plus

If you buy your prescriptions at Walgreens, the Walgreens plan provides no copays and no deductible for tier 1 medications. A $35.40 monthly payment is required for it. The Preferred Plan includes an $88.70 monthly cost and no deductible. Tier 3, 4, and 5 medications are reasonably priced, starting at a third of the retail price. Some other plans equally split the expense of high-end medications with the user. Under the Saver Plus plan, which has a $445 deductible and a $54.20 monthly premium, only a $1 copay is required for tier 1 medications like meloxicam and amoxicillin under the Saver Plus plan. To track your medications, maintain digital copies of your cards, and more, UHC offers the Health4Me app. For customers who order prescription drugs from the provider's preferred online pharmacy, there is the OptumRx app. The organization makes it simple to enroll immediately online, locate a local agent to deal with in person, or call to speak to a professional between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., seven days a week. In order to assist you in considering your options, it also provides a free online Medicare handbook. For low premiums, the best

Wellcare

Pros

There are six different options.
plans with low premiums and no deductible.
The website has a wealth of resources.
Plans starting at $15.70 per month are affordable.

Cons

available only in 27 states.
The StayWell mobile app isn't very feature-rich.
The website can be challenging to navigate.

The suggested pharmacy is CVS, albeit it might not be accessible everywhere. 6.4 million members are served by WellCare Health Plans, Inc. Due to its selection of six different prescription medication plans, many of which are very reasonable, it has been listed among our best Medicare Part D Plans. Copays for the Wellcare Wellness Rx plan start at nothing, and the cost each month is $15.70. The tier 1 and tier 2 medications on this plan, including several varieties of penicillin, have a $0 deductible, which is the best part. It would be difficult to find drug coverage with no deductible on tier 1 and tier 2 that is more economical. Tiers 3, 4, and 5 each have a $445 deductible. Doxycycline is an example of a tier 3 drug, whereas tetracycline is a tier 4 drug. In a similar vein, tier 1 and tier 2 medications covered by Wellcare Value Script have no deductible. The formulary makes a difference in these plans, so carefully read the plans to ensure that your preferred medications are included. With a monthly premium of $74.60, the WellCare Medicare Rx Value Plus is the most expensive plan. However, there is no deductible for prescription pharmaceuticals on any tier. Depending on the tier of the drug, you may be required to pay a copay of $5 or more if there isn't a CVS Caremark drugstore nearby. The bells and whistles that some of the other plans have are not available on the Wellcare website. It is difficult to find what you need and doesn't provide a lot of information. The business only offers one mobile app that supports fundamental features like saving a digital version of your Medicare card. For people who simply require drug coverage to avoid penalties or who use tier 1 and tier 2 pharmaceuticals, it might be a smart idea. If you choose one of these affordable plans and later require medications that have a deductible, you can switch plans without incurring any fees during the Medicare enrollment period. No deduction is best.

Aetna

Pros

Neither plan has a deductible.
affordable protection
Online enrollment is available.
In all 50 states, SilverScript Choice is accessible.
high ratings for CMS.
website that is simple to use.

Cons

Alaska doesn't have SilverScript Plus.
greater premiums than some rivals.

SilverScript, SilverScript Choice, and SilverScript Plus are the three Medicare Part D plans offered by Aetna. For prescription tiers 1 and 2, there is no deductible under the SilverScript Choice plan. The SilverScript Choice plan is among the most affordable ones offered in all 50 states, with a monthly cost of just $28.49. Tier 1 medications have no copays, while tier 2 drugs have $5 copays. The SilverScript Plus plan has a $2 cost for tier 2 medications and no deductible at all. Calculating your drug prices makes sense because you'll spend $69.52 per month for the plan. The preferred suppliers for Aetna's network of 65,000 pharmacies are CVS and CVS Caremark. It's simple to locate a pharmacy and check the prices of your medications online. By creating a CVS Caremark account, you can check the formulary, learn about drug prices, set up automatic premium payments, and learn about ways to save money on prescriptions. All of Aetna's Part D plans have received high CMS ratings of at least 3.5 stars. States and counties have different ratings. Many of them are awarded four stars or higher. How to Find and Compare the Best Medicare Part D Plans To ensure a seamless process, take the following actions: Step one.:Find a medicare When you can enroll in a drug plan through Medicare, it is subject to specific criteria. Three months before turning 65 and three months after, you can enroll in Medicare for the first time. During the open enrollment period, which runs from October 15 to December 7, or the first three months of the year, you can also enroll. If you decide to add Part D or Medicare Advantage more than 63 days after your initial enrollment period ends and elect to forego prescription drug coverage, you may be subject to a lifetime penalty. Planning ahead is beneficial because the penalty increases the longer you go without coverage. Step 2: Look into the Part D plans that are available in your area. Visit Medicare.gov to purchase a Medicare policy, including Part D. You don't need to log in when you visit the website, but you will need to enter your ZIP code to get the correct rate. Step3:make a list of your medecines If you don't meet your deductible, which varies depending on your plan, you must study which providers cover your medications and how much they will cost. The formulary of the provider, which is a list of medications, including generics and brand names, covered by your insurer, includes the pharmaceuticals covered by a Part D plan. For instance, generic versions of common antibiotics and medications for high blood pressure are frequently offered. You can always shop around during the open or general enrollment periods for one that better suits your needs and budget as long as you currently have a Medicare Part C or Part D plan in place. Step 4: Examine Drug Prices You should not simply look into the price of your medications. Check the formulary for your plan to see where your drugs are listed. You should also consider your plan's monthly payment schedule. You ought to be able to manage both your monthly payment and the cost of your prescription medications. Step 5: Gather additional perspectives. For those enrolling in Medicare for the first time or switching plans, state health insurance assistance programs provide free help. The appropriate plan for you can be explained to you step-by-step by insurance brokers. Using a broker to acquire Medicare will not increase your costs. Brokers may be able to offer you a better deal because they have connections with carriers, which could result in financial savings. Objectivity is also offered by websites like medicare rights.org. Step 6: Create an account. You can get assistance enrolling in your plan through your health insurance broker or carrier of choice. After making your choice on the website, you can also seek assistance from someone at Medicare.gov. Is Part D More Affordable for Drug Costs Than Medicare Advantage? All of your Medicare benefits are combined into one private insurance plan under Medicare Advantage, often known as Medicare Part C. Contrarily, Medicare D solely provides coverage for prescription drugs. Copays on Part D may range from $0 for generic prescriptions up to $25 depending on the tiers of prescription medications. We did the math on a couple of the New York Medicare Advantage plans and discovered that prescription coverage differed greatly. Prior to the $295 deductible, three widely used medications for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol were offered at a reasonable price by the EmblemHealth VIP Value HMO.

Will COVID-19 or flu vaccines be covered by Medicare Part D?

Flu shots are not covered by Medicare Part D. Medicare Part B may pay for one flu vaccination each season through a recognized healthcare provider. According to the Coronavirus Relief Act, a COVID-19 vaccine will be covered under Medicare Part D.

Do Drugs Get Covered by Medicare Advantage Plans?

Although not all Medicare Advantage plans do, the majority of them provide you the opportunity to add prescription coverage. Medicare Parts A and B are fully covered by Medicare Advantage. Only prescription medications are covered by Medicare Part D.

Compared to Medicare Part D, how much does a Medicare Advantage Plan with Drug Coverage cost?

Since commercial insurers write both Medicare Advantage and Part D policies, there is a broad range in premiums and medication rates. Medicare Part D's base monthly premium in 2020 was an average of $32.74. Medicare Advantage plans, on the other hand, can start as low as zero dollars per month. Drug coverage is an additional fee for the typical plan, which has an average monthly cost of $23.63.

If I want to switch from my Medicare Advantage Plan to Medicare Part D, what should I do?

During the first three months of each year, during the general enrollment period for Medicare, you can change from a Medicare Advantage plan to Medicare Part D. If you missed it, you can enroll from October 15 to December 7 during the open enrollment period. For some unique reasons, you might be able to alter your plan at different periods. These motives comprise, but are not restricted to:

relocating to a new location
Medicaid eligibility has expired.
For any reason, you could lose your provider's ability to provide Medicare coverage.

How We Selected the Top Medicare Part D Providers

We entered the same area into Medicare.gov to evaluate our options and looked at numerous plans from the majority of the big Medicare Part D suppliers. We then visited the websites for each of the best possibilities based on the offerings. More than 30 plans from eight suppliers were examined. We assessed each website's user experience, accessibility across the United States, pricing, coverage, financial stability, Medicare Star Ratings, and availability. Across drug tiers 1 through 5, we searched for businesses with solid reputations, low complaints from clients, broad availability, and competitive pricing.