Alex Rosenberg is a NerdWallet writer focusing on Medicare and information technology. He has more than 10 years of experience researching and writing about health care, insurance, technology, data privacy and public policy. His research has supported lawmakers in the Wisconsin State Legislature as well as health systems and national health authorities in the U.S. and more than 10 other countries. He is based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Assigning Editor Holly Carey
Assigning Editor | Medicare
Holly Carey joined NerdWallet in 2021 as an editor on the team responsible for expanding content to additional topics within personal finance. She currently leads the Medicare team. Previously, Holly wrote and edited content and developed digital media strategies as a public affairs officer for the U.S. Navy. She is based in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
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Medicare beneficiaries have many Medicare Part D prescription drug plan options, but only a couple of companies rise to the top. After analyzing plans covering nearly 90% of all stand-alone Medicare Part D members, we’ve picked the best of 2024 based on cost, quality, member satisfaction and more.
Original Medicare beneficiaries with Medicare Part A and/or Part B are eligible to buy a Part D plan to add prescription drug coverage. It's important to compare your options, as Part D plans’ premiums, cost-sharing requirements, coverage and quality ratings can change each year.
For 2024, Wellcare Part D has made some of the biggest changes by improving its star ratings and introducing $0-premium plans in certain locations, which no other company offers. AARP Medicare Part D plans from UnitedHealthcare are also solid performers, but cost more than Wellcare.
Here are NerdWallet’s picks for the best Medicare Part D plans for 2024.
45+ Medicare companies and brands analyzed by our team of experts.
30+ years of combined experience covering Medicare and personal finance.
NerdWallet’s Medicare content, including articles, reviews and recommendations, is produced by a team of writers and editors who specialize in Medicare. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, Washington Post, Nasdaq, MSN, MarketWatch, Yahoo! Finance and other national and regional media outlets. They have been cited in publications including Healthline, and appeared on NerdWallet's "Smart Money" podcast.
CMS Star Rating
Average Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Wellcare’s Part D plans are inexpensive, and their quality ratings have improved significantly since previous years.
M-F 9am-9pm ET, Sa 10am-9pm ET
Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
GET A QUOTEWe will connect you with Medicare companies based on the information you provide. They will help you find a plan that suits your needs. If you prefer to speak to a licensed insurance agent right away, please call the number listed above.
Pros & ConsBased on how frequent and how high a company's copays, coinsurance and deductibles are in comparison to other insurance companies.
The average of CMS' star ratings for quality measures in the domain "Member Experience with the Drug Plan," weighted by contract enrollment.
4.0 (Above average)
Based on how frequent and how high a company's copays, coinsurance and deductibles are in comparison to other insurance companies.
The average of CMS' star ratings for quality measures in the domain "Member Experience with the Drug Plan," weighted by contract enrollment.
4.0 (Above average)
Top quality measures that outperformed the national average [0]
NerdWallet analysis of CMS data . 2024 Star Ratings Data Tables (Jul 2 2024) (ZIP). Accessed Jul 15, 2024.
Getting needed prescription drugs. Drug plan quality improvement. Call center foreign language interpreter and TTY availability.Standout feature: Wellcare has the least expensive Medicare Part D plans on the market in 2024. In some locations, there’s even a Wellcare option with a $0 premium [0]
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services . CY2024_Landscape_Files_Final_20240710. Accessed Jul 15, 2024.
CMS Star Rating
Average Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
AARP/UnitedHealthcare Medicare Part D plans are widely available and get average quality ratings from CMS. Premiums can get expensive, however, and ratings for helping members with their medications aren't as strong.
M-F 9am-9pm ET, Sa 10am-9pm ET
Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
GET A QUOTEWe will connect you with Medicare companies based on the information you provide. They will help you find a plan that suits your needs. If you prefer to speak to a licensed insurance agent right away, please call the number listed above.
Pros & ConsBased on how frequent and how high a company's copays, coinsurance and deductibles are in comparison to other insurance companies.
The average of CMS' star ratings for quality measures in the domain "Member Experience with the Drug Plan," weighted by contract enrollment.
2.91 (Below average)
Based on how frequent and how high a company's copays, coinsurance and deductibles are in comparison to other insurance companies.
The average of CMS' star ratings for quality measures in the domain "Member Experience with the Drug Plan," weighted by contract enrollment.
2.91 (Below average)
Top quality measures that outperformed the national average [0]
NerdWallet analysis of CMS data . 2024 Star Ratings Data Tables (Jul 2 2024) (ZIP). Accessed Jul 15, 2024.
Medicare plan finder price accuracy. Few members choosing to leave the plan. Drug plan quality improvement.Standout feature: AARP/UnitedHealthcare Medicare Part D plans get few complaints, have few members that choose to leave and outperform several competitors on surveys about members’ experience with the plan.
"Based on my research, I found two top Medicare Part D companies in 2024. First, Wellcare’s Value Script plan makes a splash as the lowest-cost Part D plan on the market while also offering good star ratings. Second, AARP plans from UnitedHealthcare have a solid track record for quality.
"The best Part D plan for you is one that reliably covers your medications at a cost you can afford. It could be worth looking beyond Wellcare or UnitedHealthcare to find the right coverage, but there might be some compromises for cost and/or quality."
— Alex Rosenberg , lead writer covering Medicare
CMS Star Rating
Average Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Humana Medicare Part D plans tend to cost more than competitors' offerings, and they have average star ratings from CMS. Humana outperforms competitors on a few measures, but falls behind on ratings for members' experience using the plan to get medications.
M-F 9am-9pm ET, Sa 10am-9pm ET
Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
GET A QUOTEWe will connect you with Medicare companies based on the information you provide. They will help you find a plan that suits your needs. If you prefer to speak to a licensed insurance agent right away, please call the number listed above.
Pros & ConsBased on how frequent and how high a company's copays, coinsurance and deductibles are in comparison to other insurance companies.
The average of CMS' star ratings for quality measures in the domain "Member Experience with the Drug Plan," weighted by contract enrollment.
2.5 (Below average)
Based on how frequent and how high a company's copays, coinsurance and deductibles are in comparison to other insurance companies.
The average of CMS' star ratings for quality measures in the domain "Member Experience with the Drug Plan," weighted by contract enrollment.
2.5 (Below average)
Top quality measures that outperformed the national average [0]
NerdWallet analysis of CMS data . 2024 Star Ratings Data Tables (Jul 2 2024) (ZIP). Accessed Jul 15, 2024.
Medication therapy management program completion rate for enrollees who received a comprehensive medication review.
Drug plan quality improvement. Few complaints about the drug plan.Summary for 2024: Humana gets middle-of-the-road star ratings for its Medicare Part D plans in 2024. Prices are generally on the high side, but they can vary between states. Humana’s call center got top ratings for foreign language interpreter and TTY availability, so it could be a good option for members who might need those services.
CMS Star Rating
Average Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Aetna no longer has the lowest Part D premiums on the market (that's Wellcare for 2024), but its prices are still lower than most, and some of its out-of-pocket costs have come down. The company gets slightly below-average star ratings from CMS.
M-F 9am-9pm ET, Sa 10am-9pm ET
Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
GET A QUOTEWe will connect you with Medicare companies based on the information you provide. They will help you find a plan that suits your needs. If you prefer to speak to a licensed insurance agent right away, please call the number listed above.
Pros & ConsBased on how frequent and how high a company's copays, coinsurance and deductibles are in comparison to other insurance companies.
The average of CMS' star ratings for quality measures in the domain "Member Experience with the Drug Plan," weighted by contract enrollment.
2.5 (Below average)
Based on how frequent and how high a company's copays, coinsurance and deductibles are in comparison to other insurance companies.
The average of CMS' star ratings for quality measures in the domain "Member Experience with the Drug Plan," weighted by contract enrollment.
2.5 (Below average)
Top quality measures that outperformed the national average [0]
NerdWallet analysis of CMS data . 2024 Star Ratings Data Tables (Jul 2 2024) (ZIP). Accessed Jul 15, 2024.
Few members choosing to leave the plan. Medicare plan finder price accuracy. Medication adherence for cholesterol (statins).Summary for 2024: Aetna’s biggest differentiator in previous years has been its rock-bottom premiums, but Wellcare undercuts Aetna’s prices in 2024. Aetna’s premiums are lower than most other competitors, though, and some of its copays and deductibles are lower than in the past. Star ratings for 2024 are a little below average.
CMS Star Rating
Average Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Cigna's quality ratings from CMS are lower for 2024, and all of its 2024 plans are at least 33% more expensive than the 2023 versions. But Cigna performs well on certain measures of customer experience, and all plans still have $0-copay options for Tier 1 drugs.
M-F 9am-9pm ET, Sa 10am-9pm ET
Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
GET A QUOTEWe will connect you with Medicare companies based on the information you provide. They will help you find a plan that suits your needs. If you prefer to speak to a licensed insurance agent right away, please call the number listed above.
Pros & ConsBased on how frequent and how high a company's copays, coinsurance and deductibles are in comparison to other insurance companies.
The average of CMS' star ratings for quality measures in the domain "Member Experience with the Drug Plan," weighted by contract enrollment.
3.68 (Above average)
Based on how frequent and how high a company's copays, coinsurance and deductibles are in comparison to other insurance companies.
The average of CMS' star ratings for quality measures in the domain "Member Experience with the Drug Plan," weighted by contract enrollment.
3.68 (Above average)
Top quality measures that outperformed the national average [0]
NerdWallet analysis of CMS data . 2024 Star Ratings Data Tables (Jul 2 2024) (ZIP). Accessed Jul 15, 2024.
Medicare plan finder price accuracy. Rating of drug plan. Few complaints about the drug plan.Summary for 2024 : All of Cigna’s Medicare Part D plans are significantly more expensive in 2024, and their quality ratings from CMS have declined. But they beat many competitors on certain measures of member experience, and $0-copay options for Tier 1 generic drugs could be attractive.
Medicare star ratings are typically released once per year, but in 2024, CMS recalculated its ratings mid-year. Updates took place after multiple court rulings in favor of insurance companies alleging that CMS improperly calculated the 2024 ratings. NerdWallet has updated this roundup accordingly.
Unlike Medicare Part A and Part B , Part D plans are sold by private insurance companies, and the plans’ costs, benefits and other features can vary significantly. First, confirm whether a plan covers your prescription drugs, then consider each potential plan option’s strengths and weaknesses.
NerdWallet compares and chooses the best Medicare Part D plans based on factors including quality ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), prices, cost-sharing requirements, formulary design and more. The best plans offer lower costs and higher ratings for quality and member satisfaction.
The interactive tool on Medicare.gov can help you find a Medicare Part D plan that covers your prescriptions. It also helps you compare costs among Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans available to you.
Here are some things to keep in mind when comparing plans:
Check the formulary: You’ll want to make sure the medicines you currently take and, importantly, any you think you might need in the future, are covered under each of the plans you’re considering. Talk to your health care providers about what brand-name and generic medicines to look for and any alternatives that may also work in case you can’t find your current medicines on the plans available in your area.
Look for plan changes: Formularies change frequently. Your insurer should send you a Notice of Plan Change when the formulary changes. Read that document carefully.
Check the pharmacy network: Most Medicare Part D plans negotiate with a network of pharmacies for the lowest cost. Check to see if your pharmacy or an equally convenient one is in the plan’s network. Also, compare prices for using mail order.
If your plan does change, and the change affects the prescription drugs you need, you can switch plans during Medicare's open enrollment period , Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. Changes go into effect on the following Jan. 1.
If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).
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Alex is a NerdWallet writer focusing on Medicare and information technology. He has written about health, tech, and public policy for over 10 years. See full bio.
NerdWallet’s Medicare Part D reviews are based on ratings data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), pricing, cost-sharing requirements, formulary design, consumer experience and more.
NerdWallet reviewed seven Medicare Part D insurance companies based on highest enrollment and greatest online search volume. Together, these seven companies cover just under 90% of Medicare beneficiaries with stand-alone Medicare Part D plans, according to CMS data. We review at least five major Medicare Part D companies in every state in the United States.
These reviews are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several plans to find the best coverage and rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines for additional information.
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