Anthem
3.28
CMS Star Rating
on Healthpilot
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The bottom line: Anthem MediBlue Rx Medicare Part D plans have above-average ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Premiums are on the higher side, but Anthem’s Part D plans receive few complaints, and the plans score well for helping members get and take their medications. Jump to: Full Review
3.28
CMS Star Rating
on Healthpilot
Happy members: Anthem scores well for receiving few complaints about its plans and members rarely choosing to leave.
Medication management: Anthem gets above average ratings for helping members fill their prescriptions and manage their drugs.
High premiums: Many competitors offer significantly lower prices, on average, compared to Anthem plans.
Limited availability: Anthem’s stand-alone Medicare Part D plans are available in only 13 states.
3.5
CMS Star Rating
on Healthpilot
2.96
CMS Star Rating
on Healthpilot
3.48
CMS Star Rating
on Healthpilot
3.16
CMS Star Rating
on Healthpilot
» More options in our roundup of the best Medicare Part D plans
3.5
CMS Star Rating
on Healthpilot
3.48
CMS Star Rating
on Healthpilot
» More options in our roundup of the best Medicare Part D plans
Average Part D star rating, weighted by enrollment: 3.28 stars
Anthem MediBlue Rx stand-alone Medicare Part D plans get an average star rating of 3.28 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 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.
In most states where Anthem operates, it offers these two stand-alone MediBlue Rx prescription drug plans in 2025:
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. There are also some state-by-state variations on whether “Blue Cross” appears in the plans’ names
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.
With about 405,000 stand-alone Medicare Part D members, Anthem’s parent company Elevance Health is the seventh-largest company offering Medicare Part D plans.
"Anthem MediBlue Rx and Blue MedicareRx Part D plans score well on measures of members’ happiness with their plans and how the plan helps members get and take medications. The catch is cost: Anthem’s Medicare Part D plans are often priced higher than competitors’ plans.
“But whether and how your prescription drugs are covered is a more fundamental consideration than factors like cost or quality ratings. So before choosing your 2025 Medicare Part D plan, confirm that your medications are included on the plan’s formulary with out-of-pocket costs you can afford.”
— Alex Rosenberg, lead writer covering Medicare
Here are the 2025 premiums and deductibles for Anthem’s stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans:
Plan | Pricing |
---|---|
Anthem MediBlue Rx Standard* | Monthly premiums:
Annual deductible: $590. |
Anthem MediBlue Rx Plus* | Monthly premiums:
Annual deductible:
|
* 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.
Here’s how Anthem Medicare Part D pricing has changed for 2025:
The higher-level MediBlue Rx Plus* plan no longer has a $0 deductible in most states.
Premiums for the lower-level MediBlue Rx Standard* plan are up by nearly $28 per month, on average.
Premiums for the higher-level MediBlue Rx Plus* plan are about the same, on average.
In most states, Anthem’s higher-level plan is the only one with $0-deductible options in 2025. The Anthem MediBlue Rx Plus plan has a $0 deductible for Tier 1-2 drugs. The deductible is $590 for Tier 3-5 drugs.
The Anthem MediBlue Rx Standard plan has a $590 deductible for Tier 1-5 drugs in 2025.
In Connecticut, the Blue MedicareRx Value Plus plan has no deductible for Tier 1 drugs, and Tiers 2-5 have a $590 deductible. The Blue MedicareRx Premier plan has no deductible for all covered drugs.
Anthem’s lower-level plans don’t have any $0-copay tiers in 2025.
In all of its states except Connecticut, Anthem’s higher-level MediBlue Rx Plus plan has a $0 copay for Tier 1 drugs from preferred pharmacies.
In Connecticut, the higher-level Blue MedicareRx Premier plan has no $0-copay tiers.
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.
In all of its states except Connecticut, both the higher-level and lower-level plans have copays for Tiers 1-2 and coinsurance for Tiers 3-5.
In Connecticut, the Blue MedicareRx Value Plus plan has copays for Tiers 1-2 and coinsurance for Tiers 3-5. The Blue MedicareRx Premier plan has copays for Tiers 1-3 and coinsurance for Tiers 4-5.
Stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans from Anthem are available in 13 states.
Anthem offers one basic and one higher-end plan in each of its markets.
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.
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.
3.28
CMS Star Rating
Anthem has above-average star ratings, but its Part D plans can be expensive, and it serves only 13 states.
on Healthpilot
Out-of-pocket costs
Higher than average
Member experience
3.0 (Average)
Out-of-pocket costs
Higher than average
Member experience
3.0 (Average)
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.