Top Medicare Part D Plans in California for 2024
We reviewed the 23 top Medicare Part D Plans in California for 2024. Here's what we found:
Key Facts
- The average premium is $81.38 per month, however the lowest premium is just $0.40.
- The average drug plan deductible is $368 per year, but 5 plans have a zero-dollar deductible.
- Medicare rated 0% of all plans available in California 4 stars or higher.
- There are 9 basic benefit plans and 14 enhanced benefit plans.
- A total of 3 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 California for 2024.
California Medicare Part D Plans
Plan Name | Premium | Deduct. | Benefit | LIS | Gap | Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AARP Medicare Rx Preferred from UHC | $121.60 | $0 | Enhanced | No | No | |
AARP Medicare Rx Saver from UHC | $89.80 | $545 | Basic | No | No | |
AARP Medicare Rx Walgreens from UHC | $80.40 | $410 | Enhanced | No | Yes | |
Anthem Blue Cross MediBlue Rx Plus | $132.70 | $0 | Enhanced | No | No | |
Anthem Blue Cross MediBlue Rx Standard | $100.60 | $545 | Basic | No | No | |
Blue Shield Rx Enhanced | $188.40 | $0 | Enhanced | No | No | |
Blue Shield Rx Plus | $168.90 | $545 | Basic | No | No | |
Cigna Extra Rx | $105.90 | $145 | Enhanced | No | Yes | |
Cigna Saver Rx | $15.80 | $545 | Enhanced | No | No | |
Cigna Secure Rx | $34.50 | $545 | Basic | Yes | No | |
Clear Spring Health Value Rx | $22.70 | $545 | Basic | Yes | No | |
Humana Basic Rx Plan | $75.20 | $545 | Basic | No | No | |
Humana Premier Rx Plan | $129.20 | $0 | Enhanced | No | Yes | |
Humana Walmart Value Rx Plan | $59.00 | $545 | Enhanced | No | Yes | |
Mutual of Omaha Rx Essential | $25.70 | $545 | Enhanced | No | No | |
Mutual of Omaha Rx Plus | $112.30 | $545 | Basic | No | No | |
Mutual of Omaha Rx Premier | $100.30 | $349 | Enhanced | No | No | |
SilverScript Choice | $55.20 | $545 | Basic | No | No | |
SilverScript Plus | $116.00 | $200 | Enhanced | No | Yes | |
SilverScript SmartSaver | $18.60 | $280 | Enhanced | No | No | |
Wellcare Classic | $35.90 | $545 | Basic | Yes | No | |
Wellcare Medicare Rx Value Plus | $82.60 | $0 | Enhanced | No | No | |
Wellcare Value Script | $0.40 | $545 | Enhanced | No | No |
Please note that 2024 Medicare Part D plan information for California beneficiaries will not be available until early October.
Sign-Up for 2024 Medicare Part D Plan Notification
The Four Phases of Every California Medicare Part D Plan
California Medicare prescription drug plans help beneficiaries pay for their prescription medications. If you are new to Medicare, some of the Part D plan concepts may be foreign to you. So we'll start with an overview of the four cost-sharing phases.
The Deductible is the First 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 Initial Coverage Limit is the Second Phase
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 Third Phase is a Coverage Gap
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
Once you've spent $7,400 out-of-pocket you are out of the coverage gap phase and will receive catastrophic coverage. This happens automatically and ensures that you only pay a small amount for all covered drugs 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.
The Lowest Premium May Not Be the Lowest Overall Cost
Evaluate Part D Medicare plans wisely. If you have a regular prescription or two, we suggest that you verify that the plan you want offers your medication(s) at a good price. You find this information in the formulary. We post links to the formulary and pharmacy web pages, as well as the plan's phone number, on each of the PDP pages listed above.
VITAL: Identifying the best Medicare Part D Plans requires research. What works the best for you is all about your regular prescriptions (if any), your health, and what you can afford.
Medicare Part D is Included in Most Medicare Advantage Plans
Your Medicare benefits are flexible, and there's more than one way to get prescription drug coverage. If you want to keep your Original Medicare, you can enroll in one of the stand-alone prescription drug plans available in California. The other way to get Part D coverage is to enroll in one of the many Medicare Advantage Plans available in California that include Part D benefits.
Using Supplemental Medicare Insurance with Part D
Medicare does not pay for all of your hospitalization and medical bills. In fact, Original Medicare only covers about 80 percent of your major medical costs. We keep an up-to-date directory of California Medigap Plans, also called Medicare Supplements, with the tools you need to find the best price and coverage. Medicare Part D plans are fully compatible with California Medigap plans.
California Medicaid and Your Medicare Part D
California beneficiaries who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid (aka, "dual eligible" or "Medi-Medi") may be enrolled in a California Medicare Prescription Drug Plan automatically, as well as Social Security's Extra Help program. The Extra Help program pays for most of your prescriptions, but only if you meet the strict eligibility requirements. If the dual eligible option does not meet your needs, you have the option to enroll in a California Part D plan that does. If you are already receiving Medicaid, contact your local Medicaid office for assistance in the transition to Medicare.
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, "Drug coverage (part D)", Last Accessed September 21, 2022
- Benefits.gov, "Medicare Prescription Drug Plans", Last Accessed September 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 5, 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