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Best Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans in 2024
These Medicare Part D plans stand out for member satisfaction and low premiums.
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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.
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.
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.
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Best for low premiums: Wellcare Medicare Part D
Wellcare
4
CMS Star RatingAverage 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.
We 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.
Out-of-pocket costsBased on how frequent and how high a company's copays, coinsurance and deductibles are in comparison to other insurance companies.
Varies
Member experienceThe 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)
Pros
Low prices, and even some $0-premium plans.
Quality ratings are much better than in previous years.
Multiple $0-deductible plan options.
Cons
Underperformed on ratings for online pricing accuracy and members choosing to leave.
Coinsurance for brand-name drugs could be pricey.
Out-of-pocket costsBased on how frequent and how high a company's copays, coinsurance and deductibles are in comparison to other insurance companies.
Varies
Member experienceThe 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)
Pros
Low prices, and even some $0-premium plans.
Quality ratings are much better than in previous years.
Multiple $0-deductible plan options.
Cons
Underperformed on ratings for online pricing accuracy and members choosing to leave.
Coinsurance for brand-name drugs could be pricey.
Top quality measures that outperformed the national average
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
Best for member satisfaction: AARP/UnitedHealthcare Medicare Part D
AARP/UnitedHealthcare
3.28
CMS Star RatingAverage 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.
We 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.
Out-of-pocket costsBased on how frequent and how high a company's copays, coinsurance and deductibles are in comparison to other insurance companies.
Average
Member experienceThe 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)
Pros
Available everywhere in the U.S. and in several U.S. territories.
Few complaints and few members choosing to leave.
Copays rather than coinsurance for Tier 1-3 drugs in most plans.
Cons
Competitors often offer cheaper plans.
Below-average ratings for helping members fill and manage prescriptions.
$0-copay options available only with the most expensive plan.
Out-of-pocket costsBased on how frequent and how high a company's copays, coinsurance and deductibles are in comparison to other insurance companies.
Average
Member experienceThe 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)
Pros
Available everywhere in the U.S. and in several U.S. territories.
Few complaints and few members choosing to leave.
Copays rather than coinsurance for Tier 1-3 drugs in most plans.
Cons
Competitors often offer cheaper plans.
Below-average ratings for helping members fill and manage prescriptions.
$0-copay options available only with the most expensive plan.
Top quality measures that outperformed the national average
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.
💬 From our Nerds: What’s the best Medicare prescription drug plan for 2024?
"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."
CMS Star RatingAverage 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.
We 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.
Out-of-pocket costsBased on how frequent and how high a company's copays, coinsurance and deductibles are in comparison to other insurance companies.
Varies
Member experienceThe 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)
Pros
$0 deductibles are available for drugs on multiple tiers with some plans.
Highest ratings for foreign language interpreter and TTY availability in call centers.
Cons
Prices tend to be higher than what competitors offer.
Below-average ratings on measures of member experience.
Out-of-pocket costsBased on how frequent and how high a company's copays, coinsurance and deductibles are in comparison to other insurance companies.
Varies
Member experienceThe 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)
Pros
$0 deductibles are available for drugs on multiple tiers with some plans.
Highest ratings for foreign language interpreter and TTY availability in call centers.
Cons
Prices tend to be higher than what competitors offer.
Below-average ratings on measures of member experience.
Top quality measures that outperformed the national average
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 RatingAverage 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.
We 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.
Out-of-pocket costsBased on how frequent and how high a company's copays, coinsurance and deductibles are in comparison to other insurance companies.
Average
Member experienceThe 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)
Pros
Premiums are lower than most competitors.
Identical cost-sharing for in-person and mail-order prescription fills.
The SmartSaver plan has a lower deductible and smaller copays than previous years.
Cons
No longer the cheapest on the market.
Weak ratings for helping members get and take medications.
Out-of-pocket costsBased on how frequent and how high a company's copays, coinsurance and deductibles are in comparison to other insurance companies.
Average
Member experienceThe 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)
Pros
Premiums are lower than most competitors.
Identical cost-sharing for in-person and mail-order prescription fills.
The SmartSaver plan has a lower deductible and smaller copays than previous years.
Cons
No longer the cheapest on the market.
Weak ratings for helping members get and take medications.
Top quality measures that outperformed the national average
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 RatingAverage 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.
We 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.
Out-of-pocket costsBased on how frequent and how high a company's copays, coinsurance and deductibles are in comparison to other insurance companies.
Average
Member experienceThe 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)
Pros
Tier 1 generic drugs are available for $0 copays with all Cigna plans.
Cigna beats the industry average on the quality measures CMS uses to evaluate member experience.
Cons
Prices are significantly higher for all of Cigna's 2024 plans, and more drugs have coinsurance rather than copays.
Lowest copays might require ordering 90-day supplies by mail.
Out-of-pocket costsBased on how frequent and how high a company's copays, coinsurance and deductibles are in comparison to other insurance companies.
Average
Member experienceThe 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)
Pros
Tier 1 generic drugs are available for $0 copays with all Cigna plans.
Cigna beats the industry average on the quality measures CMS uses to evaluate member experience.
Cons
Prices are significantly higher for all of Cigna's 2024 plans, and more drugs have coinsurance rather than copays.
Lowest copays might require ordering 90-day supplies by mail.
Top quality measures that outperformed the national average
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.
What’s the best way to compare Part D plans?
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.
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: 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).
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.
