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Anthem Medicare Part D 2024 Review
Anthem plans all have at least some $0-deductible options, but they’re priced high and not available in most states.
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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).
Anthem gets average star ratings from CMS. It scores particularly well for its medication therapy management program. But premiums are high and state availability is limited.
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.
2.38 (Below average)
Pros
All plans have some $0-deductible drug tiers.
Well-rated program for helping members manage their medications.
Cons
High premiums.
Low 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
Average
Member experienceThe average of CMS' star ratings for quality measures in the domain "Member Experience with the Drug Plan," weighted by contract enrollment.
2.38 (Below average)
Pros
All plans have some $0-deductible drug tiers.
Well-rated program for helping members manage their medications.
Cons
High premiums.
Low ratings on measures of member experience.
Anthem MediBlue Rx Medicare Part D plans have average star ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Premiums are on the higher side, but all Anthem plans have some $0-deductible drug tiers, and they outscore competitors for helping members manage their medications.
With about 400,000 stand-alone Medicare Part D members, Anthem’s parent company Elevance Health is the seventh-largest company offering Medicare Part D plans
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. PDP Plan Directory. Accessed Sep 4, 2024.
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.
Anthem Medicare Part D pros and cons
Medicare prescription drug plans from Anthem have advantages and disadvantages.
Pros
$0 deductibles: All Anthem Medicare Part D plans have $0 deductibles for at least some formulary tiers.
Medication therapy management program: Anthem gets much higher ratings than average for its program to help members manage their drugs.
Cons
High premiums: Many competitors offer significantly lower prices, on average, compared to Anthem plans.
Member experience: Anthem gets low scores on Medicare Part D quality measures related to members’ satisfaction getting drugs with the plan.
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’s calculations for this review use the updated figures.
CMS Star RatingAverage Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
CMS Star RatingAverage Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
CMS Star RatingAverage Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
CMS Star RatingAverage Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
MediBlue Rx Standard: Anthem recommends this plan for “those who take fewer medications.”
MediBlue Rx Plus: Anthem recommends this plan for “those who take multiple medications.”
In a couple of states, the plan names are different. In Connecticut, there’s Blue MedicareRx Value Plus and Blue MedicareRx Premier. In Missouri, there’s Blue MedicareRx Value and Blue MedicareRx Plus.
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 Anthem MediBlue Rx plans a good Medicare Part D option?
"Anthem MediBlue Rx and Blue MedicareRx Part D plans are a mixed bag. They get solid overall star ratings and score well for price accuracy and helping members manage medications. But their premiums are high, and their ratings on measures of member experience aren’t good."
* Figures for the MediBlue Rx Standard plan include Blue MedicareRx Value Plus in CT and Blue MedicareRx Value in MO. Figures for the MediBlue Rx Plus plan include Blue MedicareRx Premier in CT and Blue MedicareRx Plus in MO.
» If you have concerns about affording Medicare Part D, look into Medicare Extra Help.
$0-deductible options
Both Anthem Medicare Part D plans have no deductible for at least some formulary tiers
Anthem MediBlue Rx Standard*: $0 deductible for Tier 1-2 drugs. The deductible is $545 for Tier 3-5 drugs.
Anthem MediBlue Rx Plus*: $0 deductible for all covered drugs.
$0-copay options
Anthem doesn’t advertise $0 copays for any of its Medicare Part D plans in 2024.
Coinsurance vs. copay 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 know what you’ll pay. Coinsurance is a percentage of the price for your medications, so coinsurance requirements can be less predictable and more expensive.
Anthem’s cost-sharing requirements vary by location, and it doesn’t publish a comprehensive state-by-state list. You can find copay and coinsurance requirements by tier for your location in the plan documents when you get a quote.
Anthem offers one basic and one higher-end plan in each of its markets.
About Anthem
Anthem's parent company, Elevance Health, is headquartered in Indianapolis and was formed in 2004 out of a merger between WellPoint Health Networks and Anthem. In 2022, the company changed its name to Elevance Health, but it continues to sell Medicare products under the Anthem brand.
Elevance Health offers commercial health insurance for individuals and employers; Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement Insurance and Medicaid plans; life, disability, dental and vision insurance; and services for other government health insurance programs.
Read the NerdWallet reviews of these other Anthem 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.
