Top Medicare Part D Plans in Alabama for 2024
We reviewed the 24 top Medicare Part D Plans in Alabama for 2024. Here's what we found:
Key Facts
- The average premium is $63.07 per month, however the lowest premium is just $0.50.
- The average drug plan deductible is $388 per year, but 4 plans have a zero-dollar deductible.
- Medicare rated 0% of all plans available in Alabama 4 stars or higher.
- There are 9 basic benefit plans and 15 enhanced benefit plans.
- A total of 5 plans offer full low-income subsidy (LIS) for those who qualify.
- There are 5 plans that have additional coverage in the coverage gap phase (aka, "donut hole").
- 2024 Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDP) will be published in early October. Sign-up to be notified.
We also ranked the best Medicare Advantage plans with Part D in Alabama for 2024.
Alabama Medicare Part D Plans
Plan Name | Premium | Deduct. | Benefit | LIS | Gap | Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AARP Medicare Rx Basic from UHC | $35.60 | $545 | Basic | Yes | No | |
AARP Medicare Rx Preferred from UHC | $102.30 | $0 | Enhanced | No | No | |
AARP Medicare Rx Walgreens from UHC | $59.60 | $410 | Enhanced | No | Yes | |
BlueRx Enhanced | $119.50 | $545 | Enhanced | No | No | |
BlueRx Enhanced Plus | $153.70 | $0 | Enhanced | No | No | |
BlueRx Essential | $72.00 | $545 | Basic | No | No | |
Cigna Extra Rx | $83.40 | $145 | Enhanced | No | Yes | |
Cigna Saver Rx | $20.70 | $545 | Enhanced | No | No | |
Cigna Secure Rx | $56.80 | $545 | Basic | No | No | |
Clear Spring Health Value Rx | $23.70 | $545 | Basic | Yes | No | |
Farm Bureau Essential Rx | $37.10 | $545 | Basic | Yes | No | |
Farm Bureau Select Rx | $76.70 | $0 | Enhanced | No | No | |
Humana Basic Rx Plan | $40.40 | $545 | Basic | Yes | No | |
Humana Premier Rx Plan | $96.70 | $300 | Enhanced | No | Yes | |
Humana Walmart Value Rx Plan | $40.10 | $545 | Enhanced | No | Yes | |
Mutual of Omaha Rx Essential | $23.60 | $545 | Enhanced | No | No | |
Mutual of Omaha Rx Plus | $116.90 | $545 | Basic | No | No | |
Mutual of Omaha Rx Premier | $73.00 | $349 | Enhanced | No | No | |
SilverScript Choice | $50.00 | $545 | Basic | No | No | |
SilverScript Plus | $104.10 | $200 | Enhanced | No | Yes | |
SilverScript SmartSaver | $12.30 | $280 | Enhanced | No | No | |
Wellcare Classic | $36.10 | $545 | Basic | Yes | No | |
Wellcare Medicare Rx Value Plus | $78.90 | $0 | Enhanced | No | No | |
Wellcare Value Script | $0.50 | $545 | Enhanced | No | No |
Please note that 2024 Medicare Part D plan information for Alabama beneficiaries will not be available until early October.
Sign-Up for 2024 Medicare Part D Plan Notification
Every Part D Plan in Alabama Has 4 Cost Phases
Part D prescription drug plans help Alabama's Medicare beneficiaries pay for their prescriptions. If you're new to Medicare, you may not be familiar with how Medicare Part D out-of-pocket costs work. So, let's start with the four cost-sharing phases.
The Deductible Phase
A Medicare Part D plan's deductible is the amount you pay out-of-pocket before the initial coverage phase begins and the plan begins paying its share. So, if you enroll in a plan with a $225 deductible, you'll spend that much at the pharmacy for your prescriptions. After that amount, you will pay the copay amount only until you reach the coverage gap. Most Medicare prescription drug plans have a deductible, however, many plans exclude Tier 1 drugs from the deductible, which gives you first-dollar coverage on most lower-cost medications.
NOTE: The maximum Part D plan deductible in 2024 is $505.
The Initial Coverage Limit is the Second Phase
For 2024, the Part D Initial Coverage Limit (ICL) is $4,660. Your Part D plan will pay the bulk of your prescription cost during the ICL phase. If your costs exceed $4,660, then you will be in the coverage gap phase (aka "doughnut hole")
The Coverage Gap is the Third Phase
After your gross drug costs have reached $4,660, you will enter the Coverage Gap phase. This is where you will pay 25% of your medication's retail cost. While the price of generic drugs might not be much different, what you pay for brand-name drugs will be higher (because you're paying 25% of the full price). This will continue until you reach $7,400 in True Out Of Pocket Costs (TrOOP).
Some plans offer additional gap coverage, so look for it on the plan information pages.
Catastrophic Coverage is the Fourth Phase
All Part D plans offer catastrophic coverage once you have paid $7,400 in true out-of-pocket costs for covered drugs. This amount includes the cost of covered drugs as well as some additional costs. In the catastrophic coverage phase, your copays or coinsurance will be significantly lower for the remainder of the year.
The out-of-pocket costs that help you get catastrophic coverage include:
- Your plan's deductible;
- What you paid during the initial coverage limit period;
- Most of the full cost of brand-name drugs (and the manufacturer’s discount) purchased in the coverage gap;
- The amount paid by others, including family members, most charities, and other persons on your behalf; and
- The amount paid by State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs), AIDS Drug Assistance Programs, and the Indian Health Service.
Choose Your Part D Plan with Care
Don't make a decision on your choice of Part D Medicare plans based on the premium and deductible alone. It's critical that you verify that your medications are covered. You find this information, and the co-payment tiers, in the formulary. On each PDP page (above) we post links to the formulary and pharmacy web pages, and the phone numbers to contact the plan.
CRITICAL: The best Medicare Part D Plans for you can only be determined by factoring in what you can afford, your regular prescriptions, and your health. A bit of time spent on research will pay off in the long run.
Medicare Part D is Included in Most Medicare Advantage Plans
Medicare realizes that one type of plan does not suit everyone. That's why there are two ways to get help with your prescription drug costs. All of the Medicare prescription drug plans available in Alabama work with Original Medicare. That's one way to get coverage. But maybe you'd like even more benefits. That's where Alabama Medicare Advantage Plans come in. Most offer Part D coverage.
Using Supplemental Medicare Insurance with Part D
With Original Medicare you are responsible for paying about 20 percent of all hospital and medical bills. Without additional protection, even a brief hospital stay can cost you thousands out-of-pocket. That's why we maintain a complete directory of Alabama Medicare Supplement Insurance, also known as Medigap. We make it easy to find the best rates on the coverage you want. All Medicare supplements sold in Alabama plans are 100% compatible with Medicare Part D plans.
Medicare Part D for Dual Eligible People in Alabama
If you meet the requirements for both Medicare and Medicaid (aka, "dual eligible" or "Medi-Medi") in Alabama, you will automatically receive a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, as well as Extra Help from Social Security. If you qualify for Extra Help, the program will cover most of the costs of your prescriptions. Even if you qualify, the dual eligible option may not suit your needs. In this case, enroll in the prescription drug plan of your choice. If you receive Medicaid now, call your local Medicaid office for assistance with your dual eligible benefits.
Plans Offered
Medicare Advantage and Part D plans and benefits offered by the following carriers: Aetna Medicare, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aspire Health Plan, Dean Health Plan, Devoted Health, GlobalHealth, Health Care Service Corporation, Cigna Healthcare, Humana, Molina Healthcare, Mutual of Omaha, Premera Blue Cross, Medica Central Health Plan, SCAN Health Plan, Scott and White Health Plan now part of Baylor Scott & White Health, UnitedHealthcare(R), and Wellcare.
Citations & References
- Medicare.gov, "How to get prescription drug coverage", Last Accessed September 3, 2022
- Medicare.gov, "What Medicare Part D drug plans cover", Last Accessed August 1, 2022
- Medicare.gov, "Costs for Medicare drug coverage", Last Accessed September 3, 2022
- Medicare.gov, "Are prescription drugs covered in Medicare Advantage plans?", Last Accessed June 6, 2022
- SSA.gov, "Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs", Last Accessed June 1, 2022
- CMS.gov, "Landscape Source Files", Last Accessed January 15, 2023
- CMS.gov, "Medicare Part C & D Performance", Last Accessed January 15, 2023