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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Written by Alex Rosenberg
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Edited by Holly Carey
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AARP/UnitedHealthcare Medicare Part D - ME

AARP/UnitedHealthcare

3.28

CMS Star Rating

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.

(855) 750-3390 / TTY 711

M-F 8am–10pm EST, Sa-Su 8am–9pm EST

Speak to a licensed insurance agent on MedicareEnrollment.com

GET A QUOTE

from MedicareEnrollment.com

Out-of-pocket costs

Average


Member experience

2.91 (Below average)


Out-of-pocket costs

Average


Member experience

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

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 2024 Star Ratings Data Tables (Jul 2 2024) (ZIP). Accessed Jul 11, 2024.
. The plans' premiums can get expensive, however. And their ratings for helping members get and take their medications are below average.

AARP Medicare Rx Part D prescription drug plans are insured by UnitedHealthcare

. About 3.8 million Medicare beneficiaries have AARP Medicare Rx Part D plans from UnitedHealthcare as of June 2024.

Here’s what you should know about AARP Medicare Part D prescription drug plans from UnitedHealthcare.

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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.

AARP Medicare Rx star ratings

Average Part D star rating, weighted by enrollment: 3.28 stars

AARP Medicare Part D plans from UnitedHealthcare get an average star rating of 3.28 stars from CMS in 2024, weighted by enrollment

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 2024 Star Ratings Data Tables (Jul 2 2024) (ZIP). Accessed Jul 11, 2024.
. For comparison, the weighted average star rating for all stand-alone Part D plans was 3.41 stars as of June 2024.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rates Medicare Part D plans on 12 quality measures

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare 2024 Part C & D Star Ratings Technical Notes. Accessed Mar 26, 2024.
. (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

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Fact Sheet - 2024 Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings. Accessed Mar 26, 2024.
.

🤓Nerdy Tip

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)

.

Two plans are available nationally:

  • 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.”

Alex Rosenberg, lead writer covering Medicare

AARP Medicare Part D cost

AARP Medicare Rx premiums and deductibles

Here are the 2024 premiums and deductibles for AARP’s stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CY2024_Landscape_Files_Final_20240710 (ZIP). Accessed Jul 11, 2024.
:

Plan

Pricing

AARP Medicare Rx Walgreens from UHC

Monthly premiums:

  • Lowest: $36.

  • Average: $58.70.

  • Highest: $80.40.

Annual deductible: $410.

AARP Medicare Rx Preferred from UHC

Monthly premiums:

  • Lowest: $43.50.

  • Average: $100.69.

  • Highest: $123.90.

Annual deductible:

  • 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C.: $0.

  • U.S. territories: $545.

AARP Medicare Rx Basic from UHC

Monthly premiums:

  • Lowest: $31.10.

  • Average: $40.85.

  • Highest: $68.40.

Annual deductible: $545.

AARP Medicare Rx Saver from UHC

Monthly premiums:

  • Lowest: $51.80.

  • Average: $70.79.

  • Highest: $93.10.

Annual deductible: $545.

» 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:

The $545 deductible applies to drugs on all tiers for both the Medicare Rx Basic

and Saver plans.

$0-copay options

AARP Medicare Part D plans have relatively few $0-copay options in 2024.

The Medicare Rx Preferred plan has $0 copays for a 90-day supply of drugs on Tiers 1-2 when obtained from a preferred mail-order pharmacy

. 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.

AARP/UnitedHealthcare Medicare Part D - ME

UnitedHealthcare

3.28

CMS Star Rating

(855) 750-3390

TTY 711

Speak to a licensed insurance agent on MedicareEnrollment.com
GET A QUOTE

from MedicareEnrollment.com

M-F 8am–10pm EST, Sa-Su 8am–9pm EST

Speak to a licensed insurance agent on MedicareEnrollment.com
(855) 750-3390

TTY 711

AARP Medicare Part D service area

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

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CY2024_Landscape_Files_Final_20240710 (ZIP). Accessed Jul 11, 2024.
.

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:

Read the NerdWallet reviews of these other AARP insurance products:

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: 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.

Still deciding on the right carrier? Compare Medicare Part D Plans