Top Medicare Part D Plans in Idaho for 2024

We reviewed the 21 top Medicare Part D Plans in Idaho for 2024. Here's what we found:

We also ranked the best Medicare Advantage plans with Part D in Idaho for 2024.

Idaho Medicare Part D Plans Have Four Phases

Part D prescription drug plans help Idaho'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

Prior to a plan paying any of your prescription costs, you are required to pay the annual deductible. So, if you enroll in a 2024 plan with a $400 deductible, you'll spend $400 out-of-pocket before coverage begins. Most Medicare Part D plans have a deductible, but some plans exclude Tier 1 (generics), offering immediate coverage on low-cost medications.

NOTE: $505 is the maximum deductible a plan can have in 2024.

The 2nd Phase is the Initial Coverage Limit (ICL)

The 2024 Initial Coverage Limit (ICL) is $4,660. The ICL phase is when your Part D plan begins to pay the bulk of the costs. If your prescription costs exceed $4,660, you will enter the Coverage Gap phase (aka, "donut 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:

1. Your plan's deductible;
2. What you paid during the initial coverage limit period;
3. Most of the full cost of brand-name drugs (and the manufacturer’s discount) purchased in the coverage gap;
4. The amount paid by others, including family members, most charities, and other persons on your behalf; and
5. The amount paid by State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs), AIDS Drug Assistance Programs, and the Indian Health Service.

The Lowest Premium May Not Be the Lowest Overall Cost

Choose from the available Part D Medicare plans carefully, and don't settle on a Part D plan until you know that your most expensive medications are covered at a price you can afford. This information is available in the plan's formulary. You'll find links to the formulary information, pharmacy information, and the customer service phone number on each PDP page (above).

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.

Did you Know Most Medicare Advantage Plans Include Prescription Benefits?

There's more than one way to get prescription drug coverage with your Medicare benefits. The first way is by enrolling in one of the Medicare prescription drug plans available in Idaho. The second way is to get prescription coverage through one of the many Idaho Medicare Advantage Plans that include Part D benefits. Most Medicare Advantage plans available in Idaho include Part D as an additional benefit.

Medicare Part D and Medicare Supplements Work Together

Are you thinking about supplemental Medicare insurance that can offer you more coverage? It's a smart move. Original Medicare only covers about 80 percent of your major medical bills, leaving you to cover the rest. We make it easy to find the lowest rates on Idaho Medicare Supplements, also known as Medigap plans. The choice is yours because all Part D plans are compatible with the full range of Idaho Medicare Supplements.

Getting Medicare Part D with Idaho Medicaid

In Idaho, if you are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid (aka, "dual eligible" or "Medi-Medi") you will automatically be enrolled in a Idaho Medicare Prescription Drug Plan and the Social Security Extra Help program. Extra Help pays for most of the costs of your prescriptions if you meet the eligibility requirements. You may also enroll in a plan of your own choosing that better meets your needs. If you qualified for Medicaid before you were eligible for Medicare, contact your local Medicaid office.

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

1. Medicare.gov, "How Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Works with a Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare Cost Plan", Last Accessed September 28, 2022
2. Medicare.gov, "What Medicare Part D drug plans cover", Last Accessed August 1, 2022
3. Medicare.gov, "Catastrophic coverage", Last Accessed June 13, 2022
4. Medicare.gov, "Are prescription drugs covered in Medicare Advantage plans?", Last Accessed June 6, 2022
5. SSA.gov, "Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs", Last Accessed June 1, 2022
6. CMS.gov, "Landscape Source Files", Last Accessed January 15, 2023
7. CMS.gov, "Medicare Part C & D Performance", Last Accessed January 15, 2023