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AARP Medicare Rx Part D Plans from UnitedHealthcare 2024 Review
AARP Medicare Rx prescription drug plans are insured by UnitedHealthcare, and members have few complaints, but the plans aren't cheap.
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Alex Rosenberg Lead Writer | Medicare, health care, legislation
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.
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.
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.
AARP Medicare Rx plans from UnitedHealthcare are widely available and get solid ratings for quality from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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.
AARP Medicare Part D pros and cons
AARP Medicare Rx prescription drug plans from UnitedHealthcare have advantages and disadvantages.
Pros
Availability: You can get an AARP Part D plan from UnitedHealthcare everywhere in the U.S. and in several U.S. territories.
Copays vs. coinsurance: You'll pay copays rather than coinsurance for drugs on Tiers 1-3 in most AARP Medicare Rx plans.
Member satisfaction: AARP Medicare Part D plans had few complaints and small numbers of members choosing to leave the plans.
Cons
Premiums: Other companies often offer lower prices, and the Medicare Rx Walgreens plan is much more expensive in 2024.
Medication management: AARP Medicare Rx plans get below-average ratings for helping members fill their prescriptions and manage their drugs.
$0-copay options: Only the most expensive AARP Medicare Rx plan has any $0-copay options.
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
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 star ratings. NerdWallet has updated this review accordingly.
Still deciding on the right carrier? Compare Medicare Part D Plans
AARP Medicare Part D prescription drug plans
There are four AARP Medicare Rx Part D prescription drug plan options available from UnitedHealthcare in 2024, but in any given location, you'll be able to choose between up to three options (never all four)
AARP Medicare Rx Walgreens from UHC. According to AARP and UnitedHealthcare, this plan is a good fit if you fill your prescriptions primary at Walgreens.
AARP Medicare Rx Preferred from UHC. According to AARP and UnitedHealthcare, this plan is a good fit if you “want our most extensive drug coverage and access to a broad pharmacy network.”
The other two plans serve different sets of states:
AARP Medicare Rx Saver from UHC. Available in 20 states and Washington, D.C.
AARP Medicare Rx Basic from UHC. Available in 30 states.
According to AARP, the Basic and Saver plans are best for people who receive Extra Help, a subsidy that helps Medicare beneficiaries with limited income afford their prescription drugs. Those plans replace last year's AARP Medicare Rx Saver Plus plan, which had been available in all states.
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.
💬 From our Nerds: Are AARP Medicare Rx plans from UnitedHealthcare good prescription drug plans?
“AARP Medicare Rx plans from UnitedHealthcare are solid Part D plans. They outperform most major competitors on the government’s star ratings for quality, and their out-of-pocket costs might be lower than some other plans. But high premiums could very well be a deal-breaker for some.”
» If you're concerned about affording Medicare Part D, look into Medicare Extra Help.
Average premiums for the Walgreens plan have gone up significantly since 2023, and the deductible has gone up to meet 2024’s maximum that plans are allowed to charge.
Average premiums for the Preferred plan have gone down slightly since 2023, and it still has a $0 deductible in most locations, but the deductible in U.S. territories has gone up.
(The Basic and Saver plans are new this year.)
$0-deductible options
Some AARP Medicare Part D plans waive the deductible for drugs on certain formulary tiers:
AARP Medicare Rx Walgreens from UHC: $0 deductible for Tier 1 (preferred generic) drugs. The deductible is $410 for Tier 2-5 drugs
AARP Medicare Rx Preferred from UHC: $0 deductible for all drugs in U.S. states and Washington, D.C. This plan has a deductible of $545 in American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
. Drugs from in-person pharmacies, non-preferred pharmacies or on higher tiers all have coinsurance or copay requirements.
There are no $0-copay tiers for the Medicare Rx Walgreens, Basic or Saver plans.
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 less predictable and more expensive.
For 2024, AARP Medicare Rx plans start requiring coinsurance rather than copays at Tier 3 or Tier 4, depending on the plan. The Walgreens, Preferred and Saver plans have copays for Tiers 1-3 and coinsurance for Tiers 4-5. The Basic plan is different. It has copays for Tiers 1-2 and coinsurance for Tiers 3-5.
You can enter your medications and pharmacy information on UnitedHealthcare’s website to see which drugs are covered and review your estimated costs with different plan options.
CMS Star RatingAverage Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Stand-alone AARP Medicare Part D prescription drug plans are available from UnitedHealthcare in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and five U.S. territories: American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
All U.S. states and Washington, D.C., have three AARP Medicare Rx plan choices: the Preferred plan, the Walgreens plan, and either the Basic or the Saver plan (but not both). Only the AARP Medicare Rx Preferred plan is available in the U.S. territories.
About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit interest group and advocacy organization. It advocates for local, state and national policies on behalf of older Americans. AARP members can access benefits through the organization, including discounts on products and services.
About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is part of UnitedHealth Group, which is headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota. It's the largest health insurance company in the U.S. The company offers individual- and employer-based health insurance plans, Medicare and Medicaid plans, dental and vision plans, and other types of supplemental insurance.
Read the NerdWallet reviews of these other UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare offerings:
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: 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.
