The bottom line: Wellcare has substantially expanded its $0-premium Medicare Part D plans in 2025, offering the Wellcare Value Script plan with $0 premiums in 42 states and Washington, D.C. And when it comes to quality, Wellcare's prescription drug plan star ratings beat every major national competitor. Jump to: Full Review
Wellcare Medicare Part D pros and cons
Pros
- $0 premiums: Wellcare Value Script plans with $0 premiums are available in 42 states and Washington, D.C.
- Quality ratings: While some smaller companies have higher ratings, Wellcare’s weighted average star ratings are higher than all of its major national competitors in 2025.
Cons
- Coinsurance requirements: Wellcare plans have coinsurance rather than copays for brand-name drugs, which could get expensive.
- Wellcare Value Plus deductible: The Wellcare Value Plus plan previously had no deductible, but in 2025, there's a $590 deductible that applies to Tiers 4-5.
Compare against other providers
» More options in our roundup of the best Medicare Part D plans
Compare against other providers
» More options in our roundup of the best Medicare Part D plans
Our full review
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Wellcare Medicare Part D star ratings
Average Part D star rating, weighted by enrollment: 3.5 stars
Wellcare’s prescription drug plans get an average star rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars from CMS in 2025, weighted by enrollment. For comparison, the weighted average star rating for all stand-alone Part D plans is 3.11 stars.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rates Medicare Part D plans on 12 quality measures. (You can find definitions for each of these factors in the CMS Star Ratings Technical Notes.)
These ratings use a 5-point scale where 5 is the best and 1 is the worst. The agency bases its ratings on drug plans’ quality of service and customer experiences, and ratings are updated annually.
» MORE: Medicare star ratings: How they can help you choose a plan
Wellcare Medicare Part D prescription drug plans
Wellcare offers the following stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) for 2025:
Wellcare Value Script: Wellcare describes this plan as having “a low premium and $0 copays for Tier 1 prescriptions when filled at a preferred cost share pharmacy.”
Wellcare Classic: Wellcare describes this plan as “best suited to those who take only a few medications and seek a low monthly premium.”
Wellcare Medicare Rx Value Plus: Wellcare describes this plan as “best suited to those who take several medications regularly and desire low copays.”
Medicare beneficiaries with Original Medicare (Part A and/or Part B) can purchase a Medicare Part D plan for prescription drug coverage. Part D plans are sold by private insurance companies. The costs and coverage can vary significantly, so it’s important to compare options.
Over 7.9 million Medicare beneficiaries have Wellcare Part D plans as of August 2025 — an increase of over 1 million members since 2024.
More Nerdy Perspective
“Wellcare’s Value Script plan continues to stand out as a hard one to beat in 2025. Wellcare has cut premiums for the Value Script plan to $0 in most of the country while continuing to outperform large national competitors on Medicare Part D star ratings. “But premiums and star ratings don’t matter if your drugs aren’t covered. Before you enroll, you need to check the formulary. If you confirm that your drugs would be covered with out-of-pocket costs you can afford, Wellcare’s Value Script plan could be your best option.”
Wellcare Medicare Part D cost
The cost per month of a Wellcare prescription drug plan can range from $0 to $126.80 in 2025. The average premium for a Wellcare plan is $43.35 per month. The deductible on all Wellcare plans is $590, but some plans don’t apply the deductible to lower-tier drugs.
Wellcare’s three Medicare Part D plans are geared toward people with different budgets and coverage needs. Each plan comes with different benefits, monthly payments, and copay and coinsurance requirements. Wellcare Value Script has the lowest premiums, but it may involve higher out-of-pocket costs. Below is a breakdown of the costs for each plan.
Wellcare Medicare Part D premiums and deductibles
Here are the 2025 premiums and deductibles for Wellcare’s stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans:
Plan | Pricing |
|---|---|
Wellcare Value Script | Monthly premiums:
Annual deductible: $590. |
Wellcare Classic | Monthly premiums:
Annual deductible: $590. |
Wellcare Medicare Rx Value Plus | Monthly premiums:
Annual deductible: $590. |
» If you have concerns about affording Medicare Part D, look into Medicare Extra Help. This federal program can cover up to 100% of Medicare Part D premiums and deductibles for qualifying beneficiaries with low income and limited resources.
Wellcare formulary and out-of-pocket costs
Wellcare’s formulary groups prescription drugs into five tiers, which is common for Medicare Part D plans.
Tier | Description |
|---|---|
Tier 1 | Preferred generic drugs (may include some brand-name drugs). |
Tier 2 | Generic drugs (may include some brand-name drugs). |
Tier 3 | Preferred brand-name drugs (may include some generic drugs). |
Tier 4 | Non-preferred drugs (includes both brand-name and generic drugs). |
Tier 5 | Specialty (includes high-cost brand-name and generic drugs). |
Covered drugs in Tiers 1 and 2 are more affordable compared to those in Tiers 3 through 5. One of the biggest differences between the three plans is the Wellcare Medicare Rx Value Plus coinsurance for Tier 3 drugs is notably lower than the other two plans.
You will pay less for your prescription drugs if you go to one of Wellcare’s preferred pharmacies. Wellcare’s preferred network includes CVS and Walgreens as well as a number of other pharmacies and grocery stores. Express Scripts Pharmacy is the preferred mail-order pharmacy.
$0-deductible options
Two Wellcare Medicare Part D plans have $0-deductible formulary tiers:
Wellcare Value Script: $0 deductible for Tier 1 and Tier 2 drugs.
Wellcare Medicare Rx Value Plus: $0 deductible for Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 drugs.
The Wellcare Classic plan applies the deductible to all covered drugs.
$0-copay options
All of Wellcare’s Part D plans have $0 copays for Tier 1 generic drugs from preferred pharmacies.
Cost-sharing requirements on higher tiers, particularly Tier 3 through Tier 5, can quickly get more expensive. As a result, it’s important to check where your medications and pharmacies fall on each plan’s formulary.
Copay vs. coinsurance requirements
You’ll want to check whether you’ll pay a copay or coinsurance for your medications. Copays are set dollar amounts, so it’s easy to see what you’ll pay. Coinsurance is a percentage of the price for your medications, so coinsurance requirements can be more unpredictable and more expensive.
All of Wellcare’s 2025 Medicare Part D plans have copays for Tier 2 and coinsurance for Tiers 3 to 5. That’s a change since 2024 for the Rx Value Plus plan, which used to have copays rather than coinsurance for drugs on Tier 3.
You can enter your medications and pharmacy information on Wellcare’s website to see which drugs are covered and review your estimated costs with different Wellcare prescription drug plan options.
» MORE: How much does Medicare Part D cost?
Wellcare Medicare Part D service area
Stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans from Wellcare are available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C..
Wellcare offers all three of its Medicare Part D plan options in all of its markets.
About Wellcare
Wellcare was founded in 1985 and became a subsidiary of Centene in 2020. The company's headquarters are in Tampa, Florida. Wellcare offers coverage through Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug plans.
» MORE: Read our review of Wellcare Medicare Advantage
Compare Medicare Part D companies
Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Part D companies. These insurers offer plans in most states, but specifics may vary depending on your location.
Find the right Medicare Part D prescription drug plan
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: Make sure the medicines you currently take are covered. Talk to your health care providers about what medications to look for. You might also also want to check for possible alternatives and/or drugs you think you might need in the future.
Look for plan changes: Formularies (lists of covered drugs) 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 have networks of lower-cost pharmacies. Check to see if the plan's pharmacies are convenient for you. Also, compare prices for using mail order.
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).
Best for $0 premiums
- $0-premium plans available in most states.
- Star ratings beat other national competitors.
- Coinsurance rather than copays for brand-name drugs could get pricey.
- Wellcare Value Plus plan no longer has a $0 deductible for all covered drugs.
Article sources
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
- 1.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 2025 Star Ratings Data Tables (ZIP). Accessed Aug 22, 2025.
- 2.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare 2025 Part C & D Star Ratings Technical Notes. Accessed Aug 22, 2025.
- 3.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Fact Sheet 2025 Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings. Accessed Aug 22, 2025.
- 4.Wellcare. Wellcare Value Script (PDP). Accessed Aug 22, 2025.
- 5.Wellcare. Wellcare Classic (PDP). Accessed Aug 22, 2025.
- 6.Wellcare. Wellcare Medicare Rx Value Plus (PDP). Accessed Aug 22, 2025.
- 7.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. PDP Plan Directory. Accessed Aug 22, 2025.
- 8.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CY2025 Landscape (202412). Accessed Aug 22, 2025.
- 9.Wellcare. 2025 Summary of Benefits. Accessed Aug 22, 2025.
Medicare Part D plan review methodology
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 eight Medicare Part D insurance companies based on highest enrollment and greatest online search volume. Together, these eight companies cover about 92% 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.
Compare Medicare Part D Plans
Insurance company | CMS star rating | Out-of-pocket costs | Member experience | Learn more | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BEST FOR $0 PREMIUMS | |||||
(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 3.50 | 3.50/5 | Varies | 3.0 (Average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet |
BEST FOR MEMBER EXPERIENCE | |||||
(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 3.49 | 3.49/5 | Varies | 4.46 (Above average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet |
 (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 3.25 | 3.25/5 | Higher than average | 3.0 (Average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet |
(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 2.85 | 2.85/5 | Average | 2.87 (Average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet |