The Best Rated Medicare Part D Plans in 2024

Christian Worstell
In this article...
  • Where can you find the best Medicare Part D prescription drug plans of 2024? We review some of the top insurance companies and their Medicare drug plan options to help you get a better idea of what plans might be a good fit for you.

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There are 709 Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) available across the country in 2024. The average Medicare beneficiary can choose from 21 standalone Part D plans and 36 Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage (called Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plans, or MA-PD).1 

With so many options, how can shoppers identify the best Medicare Part D plans for 2024? 

Use the guide below for help finding the best Part D prescription drug plans for your needs, listed in no particular order.

What Are the Best Medicare Part D Companies for 2024?

What is the best Part D Medicare plan? Big doesn’t always mean best, but these insurance carriers didn’t collect a large share of the Part D marketplace by accident. Below is a look at some of the most popular providers of Medicare drug plans in 2024.

Humana

Humana is a well-known health insurance provider with millions of members all over the U.S. 

Humana offers three national Part D plans for 2024, with weighted average monthly premiums as low as $43 per month and low or $0 copays for Tier 1 and Tier 2 drugs.

  • Humana Walmart Value Rx Plan
    Weighted average monthly premium: $431
    Median standard cost-sharing: $0 for preferred generics, $1 for other generics
    Preferred cost sharing pharmacies include: Walmart, Sam’s Club, Publix, CenterWelll, Harris Teeter, HEB, Costco, Albertsons

  • Humana Premier Rx Plan
    Weighted average monthly premium: $1081
    Median standard cost-sharing: $1 for preferred generics, $4 for other generics
    Preferred cost sharing pharmacies: Walmart, Sam’s Club, Publix, CenterWelll, Harris Teeter, HEB, Costco, Albertsons

  • Humana Basic Rx Plan
    Weighted average monthly premium: $511
    Median standard cost-sharing: $0 for preferred generics, $1 for other generics
    Preferred cost sharing pharmacies include : Walmart, Sam’s Club, Publix, CenterWelll, Harris Teeter, HEB, Costco, Albertsons

Humana also offers multiple mobile apps that allow members to manage their prescription drugs anywhere they go.

Aetna/CVS

Because Aetna is a CVS Health company, plan members have access thousands of pharmacies, with CVS locations serving as a preferred provider that can offer plan members even bigger savings. 

Aetna offers three main Part D plans in 2024: 

  • SilverScript SmartSaver
    Weighted average monthly premium: $111
    Median standard cost-sharing: $0 for preferred generics, $5 for other generics

  • SilverScript Choice
    Weighted average monthly premium: $491
    Median standard cost-sharing: $2 for preferred generics, $7 for other generics

  • SilverScript Plus
    Weighted average monthly premium: $1031
    Median standard cost-sharing: $0 for preferred generics, $0 for other generics

Cigna

 

Cigna Medicare Part D plans follows a similar low/middle/high plan tier common in the industry, and consumers in mid-size markets and above may have access to all three of Cigna’s Part D plans.

  • Cigna Secure Rx
    Weighted average monthly premium: $471
    Median standard cost-sharing: $0 for preferred generics, $3 for other generics

  • Cigna Saver Rx
    Weighted average monthly premium: $191
    Standard cost-sharing: $0 for preferred generics, $6 for other generics

  • Cigna Extra Rx
    Weighted average monthly premium: $851
    Median standard cost-sharing: $3 for preferred generics, $12 for other generics

Cigna plans are available in parts of all 50 states, and Cigna’s mobile app allows members to order prescription drugs for home delivery right from their phone. 

As a company, Cigna has a reputation for financial stability and ranks 15th on the Fortune 500 list

UnitedHealthcare/AARP 

AARP sells Medicare Part D plans in partnership with UnitedHealthcare, the largest health insurance company in the U.S. 

AARP Medicare drug plans from UnitedHealthcare can include $0 copays and deductibles on lower tier drugs. Up to 3 months’ worth of prescriptions can be mailed to your home.

  • AARP MedicareRx Preferred
    Weighted average monthly premium: $1061
    Median standard cost-sharing: $7 for preferred generics, $12 for other generics

  • AARP MedicareRx Saver
    Weighted average monthly premium: N/A
    Median standard cost-sharing: N/A

  • AARP MedicareRx Walgreens
    Weighted average monthly premium: $601
    Median standard cost-sharing: $2 for preferred generics, $8 for other generics

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is part of the Anthem family of brands and is a blue health plan brand. Because Anthem brands and Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies can vary by location, we encourage you to explore to find plans that are available in your zip code.

WellCare

WellCare offers three different national Part D plans in 2024.

  • WellCare Classic
    Weighted average monthly premium: $361
    Median standard cost-sharing: $0 for preferred generics, $5 for other generics

  • WellCare Medicare Rx Value Plus
    Weighted average monthly premium: $801
    Median standard cost-sharing: $0 for preferred generics, $4 for other generics

  • WellCare Value Script
    Weighted average monthly premium: $01
    Median standard cost-sharing: $0 for preferred generics, $5 for other generics

Features of the Best Part D Plans of 2024

Many of the best Medicare Part D plans of 2024 may share some of the same common features. When comparing plans, check to see if any of the following are included.

  • Mail-order drug delivery. It’s not uncommon these days for Medicare insurers to offer mail-order delivery of prescription drugs to allow Part D plan members to have their medications delivered right to their door, often at no extra cost.

  • Additional discounts. Part D beneficiaries are sometimes granted discounts on other health-related products or services. 

  • Medication Therapy Management (MTM). This program can help beneficiaries who take multiple prescription drugs better manage their medications.

  • Large pharmacy networks. The best Part D plans typically have networks of participating pharmacies that number in the tens of thousands and include major chains like Walmart, CVS, Walgreens and more.

  • Low or $0 copays or deductibles. One feature common among the best Part D plans is copays between $0 and $2 for Tier 1 and Tier 2 drugs, which can include many generics and commonly-prescribed medications. 

Best States for Medicare Part D Plans

Medicare Part D plan selection varies by county and state, so not all beneficiaries have access to the same options. 

Choosing a Medicare Part D Plan

At the end of the day, the best Medicare Part D plan boils down to the best Medicare Part D plan for you. And that means being able to say yes to each of the following 3 questions:

  1. Is the plan available where you live? Not all plans are available in every location. Not even all insurance carriers sell plans in every state. And you can only enroll in plans that are offered in the service area in which you live.

  2. Does the plan cover the drugs you need? A plan that doesn’t cover the medications you take serves little purpose. Check the plan’s formulary, which is the list of drugs covered by the plan, before enrolling.

  3. Is the plan accepted by your local pharmacies? Even a high-quality plan is of little use if you can’t use it at your local pharmacies. Always check the plan’s network of participating pharmacies to see where you can use the coverage.  

When shopping for a Medicare Part D plan, you might also consider looking at Medicare Advantage plans that offer prescription drug coverage. 

Lastly, connecting with an insurance agent who is licensed to sell Medicare Part D can be helpful in finding the best Part D plan for your needs. 

  1. Cubanski J, Damico A. (Nov 8, 2023). Medicare Part D in 2024: A First Look at Prescription Drug Plan Availability, Premiums, and Cost Sharing. Kaiser Family Foundation. https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/medicare-part-d-in-2024-a-first-look-at-prescription-drug-plan-availability-premiums-and-cost-sharing/

Christian Worstell
About the Author

Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with HelpAdivsor.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.

Christian’s work as a Medicare expert has appeared in several top-tier and trade news outlets including Forbes, MarketWatch, WebMD and Yahoo! Finance.

While at HelpAdvisor, Christian has written hundreds of articles that teach Medicare beneficiaries the best practices for navigating Medicare. His articles are read by thousands of older Americans each month. By better understanding their health care coverage, readers may hopefully learn how to limit their out-of-pocket Medicare spending and access quality medical care.

Christian’s passion for his role stems from his desire to make a difference in the senior community. He strongly believes that the more beneficiaries know about their Medicare coverage, the better their overall health and wellness is as a result.

A current resident of Raleigh, Christian is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. You can find Christian’s most recent articles in our blog.

If you’re a member of the media looking to connect with Christian, please don’t hesitate to email our public relations team at Mike@MyHelpAdvisor.com.

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