The most expensive policies will not always offer the best coverage for your needs. When shopping for a prescription drug plan to pair with your Medicare coverage, knowing the best Medicare Part D plans for 2023 is invaluable. However, it is important to note that there is no single best plan. So, you’ll want to find the best plan that covers your needs. With this information, you can maximize your prescription drug benefits.
The older you get, the more likely you will require prescription drugs in your daily routine. Medications can be costly, and new brand-name drugs can be the most expensive. Medicare Part D plans help cover the costs of these prescriptions.
Multiple Medicare Part D options are available from various carriers nationwide, so choosing one can be complicated. Thus, we compiled a list of the top 5 best Medicare Part D plans for 2023.
Policies vary by county, so moving may warrant a plan change. With this in mind, it is crucial to understand all Medicare Part D plans available to you and be educated on the highest-rated plans on the market today.
Best Medicare Part D Plans for 2023
How Do Ratings Work for Medicare Part D Plans?
Medicare Part D plans are rated on a five-star scale. However, a five-star policy in your area may not be a top-rated plan across the country.
Ratings vary by ZIP Code, just like the plan offerings themselves. Based on an average nationwide rating, we list the top five carriers offering the best Medicare Part D plans for 2023.
Note that no one plan will fit everyone’s needs. The best plan for you could be the worst for your spouse or neighbor, and vice-versa. Ensuring your plan brings you value for the drugs you need is essential to selecting the best Medicare Part D coverage for you.
SilverScript Medicare Prescription Drug Plans
- SilverScript SmartSaver
- SilverScript Choice
- SilverScript Plus
| SilverScript Medicare PDP | Average Monthly Premium | Recommended for those who |
| SmartSaver | $5.92 | Take no medications or a few generic medications |
| Choice | $33.60 | Take a few generic medications or mid-tier medications |
| Plus | $75.58 | Take brand-name or high-tier medications |
It is no surprise that SilverScript policies make the list of the top 5 best Medicare Part D plans for 2023. Although costs vary by ZIP Code, the average nationwide monthly premium for the SmartSaver plan is only $5.92, making it the most affordable Medicare Part D plan this carrier offers. Meanwhile, the Choice plan averages $33.60 monthly, and the Plus plan averages $75.58 monthly.
Each SilverScript plan is an excellent option for coverage. However, depending on your medications, one could be more beneficial for you than the other.
For example, someone with a few generics may find the Plus plan more insurance than they need and gravitate towards the SmartSaver plan. On the contrary, a person with many brand-name drugs could discover that the SmartSaver plan does not cover their brand-name drugs as well as the Plus plan would.
SilverScript Network Pharmacies
The preferred pharmacies with SilverScript vary by policy. However, the differences are not too significant. The SmartSaver plan’s preferred pharmacies include CVS, Walmart, and thousands of independent drug stores throughout the U.S. Furthermore, the Choice and Plus plans add Publix, Kroger, and Albertsons to their list of preferred pharmacies.
If you want to eliminate the hassle of driving to the pharmacy, all SilverScript prescription drug plans offer CVS Caremark Mail Service Pharmacy as an option. Additionally, this mail-order pharmacy is a preferred pharmacy option on all three plans.
SilverScript Overall Review
SilverScript rightfully earns the top spot on this list. With excellent customer service, low out-of-pocket costs, and a high customer satisfaction rating, there is likely a SilverScript plan to meet everyone’s needs.
Humana Medicare Part D Plans
- Walmart Value Rx Plan
- Basic Rx Plan
- Premier Rx Plan
| Humana Medicare PDP | Average Monthly Premium | Recommended for those who |
| Walmart Value Rx | $32.50 | Take a few generic medications |
| Basic Rx | $45.05 | Take several generic medications or a few mid to high-tier medications |
| Premier Rx | $84.65 | Take multiple brand-name or high-tier drugs |
Humana is number two on our list of the top 5 best Part D plans for 2023. The Humana Walmart Value Rx Plan is excellent for someone with very few generic medications or certain name-brand medications.
The Basic plan is best for those taking a few more maintenance medications that are both generic and name-brand. On the other hand, the Premier Plan is best for those who take higher-tier drugs for which they need a higher level of coverage.
Humana Network Pharmacies
Preferred pharmacies on Humana’s network are easy to remember: Walmart, Sam’s Club, and thousands of local drug stores. Humana policyholders also have access to Humana Pharmacy.
Humana’s mail-order pharmacy, Humana Pharmacy, offers the lowest possible drug costs through this carrier. Additionally, a lookup tool is available on the Humana mobile app. With this app, you can find a complete list of Humana pharmacies.
Humana Medicare Part D Overall Review
Humana offers $0 copayments for many generic drugs on all their plans, which is an excellent option for someone primarily using generics. All three plans have a $505 deductible that you can quickly meet if you take higher-tier drugs. With an option for everyone, Humana Medicare Part D plans could potentially save you the most money in 2023.
Mutual of Omaha Medicare Part D Plans
- Mutual of Omaha Rx Premier
- Mutual of Omaha Rx Plus
| Mutual of Omaha Medicare PDP | Average Monthly Premium | Recommended for those who |
| Rx Essential | $18.30 | Take generic or no medications on a regular basis |
| Rx Premier | $73.70 | Take several generic medications or mid-to-high-tier medications |
| Rx Plus | $79.80 | Take several brand-name medications |
Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company takes the third spot on our list of the top 5 best Medicare Part D plans for 2023. With an average monthly premium of $18.30, the Rx Essential policy has no deductible for medications in the first two tiers at preferred pharmacies. However, this plan has a $505 deductible on all other tiers.
Averaging $73.70 monthly, the Plus Premier has a $505 deductible for all tiers. However, the Plus plan covers a broader range of drugs.
Lastly, the Rx Plus plan offers excellent coverage to those who take several brand-name medications and low copayments for generic drugs on other tiers. This plan has an average monthly premium of $79.80.
Mutual of Omaha Network Pharmacies
This carrier’s preferred pharmacy network is the same for both plans. CVS, Target, Sam’s Club, Walmart, and many regional drug stores are on the list of preferred pharmacies with Mutual of Omaha.
Mutual of Omaha Medicare Part D Overall Review
Mutual of Omaha has been in the insurance industry since before Medicare began. Those looking for a reliable carrier can find benefits through this company.
With one of the most highly-rated customer service departments, this top Medicare insurance company helps many people daily. By offering plans for various coverage levels, they can assist even more.
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Part D Plans
- AARP Medicare Rx Walgreens Plan
- AARP Medicare Rx Saver Plus Plan
- AARP Medicare Rx Preferred plan
| UnitedHealthcare Medicare PDP | Average Monthly Premium | Recommended for those who |
| AARP Medicare Rx Walgreens Plan | $28.20 | Take generic medications |
| AARP Medicare Rx Saver Plus Plan | $64.40 | Take many name-brand drugs or mid-tier medications |
| AARP Medicare Rx Preferred Plans | $109.60 | Take many name-brand and high-tier medications |
UnitedHealthcare is next on our list of the top 5 best Medicare Part D plans for 2023. Those with a shorter list of generic medications will benefit from the Walgreens Plan, and those with higher-tier, brand-name drugs will find their most significant coverage on the Preferred Plan. Yet, the Saver Plus Plan may be best for you if you are somewhere between.
UnitedHealthcare Preferred Pharmacy
For UnitedHealthcare Medicare Part D beneficiaries, preferred pharmacies differ by plan. The Walgreens Plan offers the smallest pharmacy network, with Walgreens being the only preferred pharmacy. Yet, the Preferred Plan and Saver Plus plan networks include pharmacies like Publix, Walmart, and Walgreens. Several other in-network pharmacies provide coverage at a slightly higher price.
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Part D Overall Review
UnitedHealthcare has a wide range of insurance products and boasts an excellent track record with customers. As the table above shows, this carrier’s plans generally cost more than most others. Yet, this company is your best option if you can only find your drugs on one of their Medicare Part D formularies.
Cigna-HealthSpring Medicare Prescription Drug Plans
- Cigna Saver Rx
- Cigna Secure Rx
- Cigna Extra Rx
| Cigna Medicare PDP | Average Monthly Premium | Recommended for those who |
| Saver Rx | $12.10 | Take mostly generic medications |
| Secure Rx | $35.48 | Take a few generic medications or mid-tier medications |
| Extra Rx | $63.59 | Take brand-name or high-tier medications |
The Saver Rx policy is the lowest premium option, and the Extra Rx has a higher premium than the other two. As with all Medicare Part D plans, no single option will be best for everyone.
To find the most suitable coverage, you must compare all available plans. Those with multiple brand-name medications needing coverage in the Medicare Part D donut hole could benefit from a Cigna-HealthSprings Secure-Extra policy.
Cigna Medicare Part D Preferred Pharmacies
For its network, Cigna contracts with over 63,000 pharmacies nationwide. Preferred pharmacies include Kroger, Rite Aid, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Walgreens, and more. Consider enrolling in their mail-order pharmacy program through Express Scripts for the most savings.
Cigna Medicare Part D Overall Review
The biggest highlight of Cigna’s prescription drug plans is the pharmacy network. This carrier’s multiple plan options provide coverage for thousands of drugs. However, drug prices may not be as low as those through some other carriers.
However, convenience often warrants a higher cost. Still, if this carrier has your lowest annual out-of-pocket expenses, it will be worth the enrollment.
Sources:
MedicareFAQ is dedicated to providing you with authentic and trustworthy Medicare information. We have strict sourcing guidelines and work diligently to serve our readers with accurate and up-to-date content.
- Our Plans, Mutual of Omaha . Accessed November 2022.
https://www.mutualofomaha.com/prescription-drug-plan/our-plans - Silverscript, Aetna . Accessed August 2023.
https://www.silverscript.com/ - Humana 2023 Medicare Part D Plans, Humana . Accessed November 2022.
https://www.humana.com/medicare/part-d-drug-plans?kc=0300035831 - Medicare Prescription Drug (Part D) Plans from UnitedHealthcare, AARPMedicarePlans. Accessed November 2022.
https://www.aarpmedicareplans.com/shop/prescription-drug-plans.html - Medicare Part D Prescription Coverage, Cigna . Accessed November 2022.
https://www.cigna.com/medicare/shop-plans/part-d/
what plan best covers Ozempic and Lantus.
Hey, Mike! We are happy to help, but we will need a bit more information to give you an accurate quote. If you complete this questionnaire, you’ll receive the best rates on plans in your area for these specific drugs.
I am looking for part D as an precaution even though I am not taking any medicine right now as i am in great health. What is the best and cheapest way of going about it? Currently I do have medicare advantage plan without part D
Larbi, you will want to enroll in drug coverage during the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7). You can complete an online form here to receive information about the plans available in your area.
How do you find out what tier your drugs are in?
You can search your plan and Drugs on Medicare.gov or you can find this information by contacting your plan carrier.
Hello, I have part D with SliverScript. Been paying them for years and never use for my meds cause GoodRX saves me so much more money. My question is if I’m in the hospital does SliverScript paid for any or part of the meds along with Medicare that I need while there? If they don’t I will drop them I can’t see paying them monthly for something I not using.
Rick, if you are prescribed any medications in an inpatient (hospital) setting, this would be covered under Medicare Part A, not your Medicare Part D plan. However, before cancelling, consider the possible penalty that would be applied if you cancel and decide to reenroll in any Medicare Part D plan at a later date.
I’m confused. Why does every article about Medicare that I have read say that Part D is not required; yet, if you wait to sign up for Part D until after the 63 days (? not sure of exact time period) that you are no longer covered under an employment health policy, you will be penalized for not signing up as soon as you could.
Hi Rhonda – no part of Medicare is required. Yet, if you eventually sign up and it is past a certain window, you will need to pay the penalty. If you never sign up, you won’t be penalized.
I have silver script and have mild cold I have been using Incruse, Ellipta any thing less expensive
Hi Lindsay, thank for the information! One question I have when a Part D drug plan is about the formulary and how it compares/varies, is more or less inclusive, etc…. Does the plan carry ‘a lot’ of drugs? Also, I’m guessing ‘experimental’ drugs aren’t part of Part D…. are they covered in Part A and/or B? Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Hi Sidnie! Each Part D plan has its own formulary. You can use the plan finder tool on Medicare.gov to plug in your medications and see which Part D plans cover them. Your guess is correct, Medicare does not cover experimental drugs. They must be FDA-approved.
If I have Medicare Part D do I still need to purchase a supplemental Prescription Drug Plan (e.g. Anthem Blue Cross MediBlus Rx Plus – PDP)? Thank you.
Hi Bonnie – Part D plans are prescription drug (PDP) plans. Therefore, if you have prescription drug coverage through Part D, you won’t need to take on more.
Hello Lindsay
recently enrolled in Humana drug plan I see now that this a horrible plan so far they ether will not covered the medincie or the cost is thru the roof Im a heart patient in active heart failure and they would like to change all my medicine how do I cancel this coverage and move to a better plan paying well over 1000.00 for medicine that use to cost me about 200.00
Hi Ed! Unfortunately, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you will have to wait until the next Annual Election Period in October to make changes to your current drug plan.
Lindsay, Thank you very much – I will use the plan finder as you suggested and see what I find.
Lindsay, we have an AARP MedicareRx prescription drug plan that requires us to Walgreen’s. While I have nothing against Walgreen’s, we would like to get our prescription drugs at Publix which is more convenient. What is the cost difference between using Publix rather than Walgreen’s with our plan. Thanks in advance.
Hi Nick! You would need to use the Plan Finder tool on Medicare.gov to determine this. Without knowing what plan you’re on, the medication your taking, and your zip-code, I can’t pull up the costs for you. The Plan Finder Tool will allow you to see both Publix and Walgreens costs for your medications under your current Part D plan.
Hi Lindsay! I retired 9/01/2020. While working my pharmacy plan was covered by BCBS of AL. I recently purchased a pharmacy plan through BCBS; BlueRx. I have not even had this plan a month. Publix pharmacy will not fill my perscriptions because I had used them years ago with the plan i had through work. Publix tells me that former card needs to be deleted before I can use my new card. BCBS says that they never delete any of their cards out of the system. I need my medication. They also told me (Publix) that the situation would be the same if I choose another pharmacy. Can you help me?
Hi Mary! I’m sorry you’re having such a problem with your new drug plan! This doesn’t make sense. You should be able to just show them your new prescription card. If you enrolled through us, give our Client Care Team a call, they can help figure this out. If you enrolled with another agent, I would contact them, they should be able to help you. If you self-enrolled, I would try to get both Publix and BCBS on the phone at the same time to get this resolved. Otherwise, you’ll be playing a game of he said she said. Something just doesn’t add up.
Good Morning, I have lost my job through this pandemic and have no insurance. My Wife has Medicare A&B since 11/01/2014, she is 70 years old. I am looking for prescription coverage for her and have no idea what to do. She takes the following prescriptions: Metoprolol ER Succinate 100mg 90 pills / Escitalopram: 20 mg 30 pills. / Spiriva 18Mcg Caps 30 Caps Inhaler. Would you please be able to direct me in the correct direction? Thank you very much.
Hi David! Of course, we can help! Give us a call with your wife’s current prescription medications listed above. We can input them in the system and find her a Part D plan. Since plan prices vary by state, we need to know your zip code as well. We look forward to helping you and your wife!
My son is looking for a plan that includes Vraylar in Colorado (81003) with the lowest cost . Thanks for your help
Hi Leo! All Part D plans will cover Vraylar. Give us a call so we can pull the pharmacies in your area to determine which one will have the best price for your medication when using a Part D plan.
We have pre-existing illnesses: glaucoma, collapsed lung, hypertension. Does this mean that insurance companies would not accept us? We live in the 6341 area.
Hi Ellen! No, that doesn’t mean an insurance company won’t accept you. Give us a call so we can gather your health information to see which carrier accepts those pre-existing conditions.
I’m a heart & kidney transplant patient and take 40 pills per day. Which would be the best plan for me ?
Hi Tom! That depends on many factors including where you live and the specific medications you’re prescribed. I would recommend giving us a call so we can help. You can also use the Plan Finder Tool on Medicare.gov as a starting point.
Lindsay Engle, for whom do you work? I’m sorry, but I cannot tell from this. You seem very helpful, which is why I am curious. Thanks!
Hi John! Thank you so much for the compliment, I greatly appreciate it! I work for Elite Insurance Partners.
@Patsy Moore – my wife was prescribe Eloquis this year as well and it is expensive. We were also told we had to go to Target for her meds which turned out to be a blessing since the Tech there told us about a coupon from Eloquis that works for 1 year, her prescription is $10 per month for that year.
I just spent 2 hours on the phone and had to deal with 9 different salesmen to change my part d insurance with Humana. Humana doubled my monthly premium on my 2019 Walmart plan so I was moving my plan to the new Walmart 13.20 per month plan. Next year I will use the government comparison and sign-up website. Humana service for transferring plans is horrible.
Hi Ron! That’s the trouble with a Humana agent, they can only compare other Humana plans. If you’re a client of ours that has a Medigap plan through us, we can compare Part D plans with all carriers to find you the best prescription drug plan that fits your needs & budget.
I can’t see why are government is letting the prescription ins companies take advantage of everyone especially seniors. My Humana r x p!an will go from $27.50 to $59.10 and I still only take the same generic brands on tier 1.
Humana is raising my monthly from 26.30 to 55.30 in 2020. Are all plans doing the same rate increases? Which is the least expensive monthly rate?
The rate increases are dependent on your area. You can compare Part D plans using the Medicare Plan Finder Tool.
Your costs are out of date. Humana Wal-Mart raised premiums to over $59, doubling the price for 2019!
Hi Jan! The Humana Wal-Mart plans start at $22.50. Depending on your area, the premiums could be higher. You can read the benefits on Humana’s website.
My husband has Medicare Humana for the drug plan. He has been prescribed Eliquis. Will this be outrageously expensive? We use Walgreens Pharmacy.
Hi Patsy! If you go to GoodRx page on Eliquis, it gives you a range of what your out of pocket costs could be.
hello,I am in the 94941 zip code and take 5 drugs which are all generic and “formulary” when I type them into the medicare part D finder tool. Then it says 30 plans are available! and there are some 6 pharmacies. I have always gotten these meds in 3 month supplies via mail order from via old carrier which was the cheapest way to go. Is that true for Medicare part D plans? Also, I cannot tell from their comparison tool how much the actual co pay is for each drug if any. How do I find that out? And my last question is if I am prescribed a new prescription not on my list and I choose mail order for regular prescriptions then how do I know what pharmacy to go to?Thank you!!!
Hi Jean! There will be a new Medicare plan finder tool launching October 1st. The new tool shows price differences when using mail order and 3-month supplies. It does look like the cost is lower if you choose mail order. The new tool should also tell you how much the actual co-pay is for each drug. Regarding being prescribed a new medication, you would just need to use the same tool to find out which pharmacies in your area carry it that accept your plan. Hope this helps!
I nee a plan to cover dulera
Hi Wanda! According to GoodRx, 49% of Part D and Medicare Advantage Plans will cove Dulera.
I am having a hard time deciphering the nuances of the supplemental prescription drug plans. I will need to take either Eliquis or Xarelto as well as Lisinopril. Any advice?
Hi John! Eliquis is covered by 99% of Part D plans, Xarelto is covered by 98% of Part D plans, and Lisinopril is covered by 100% of Part D plans. Hope this helps!
We are about to apply for Medicare and my wife has 3 drugs that Silver Script shows are not covered when submitting our drug list. She takes Singulair and cannot take the generic due to adverse side effects causing severe insomnia. Also, indications are that 2 others, Soma and Fioricet are not covered. These are expensive drugs. Is there a plan that will cover them?
Hi Terry! Unfortunately, it looks like Medicare does not cover Singulair. About 45% of Part D and Medicare Advantage plans do cover Soma & Fioricet. Silverscript is not one of them. Your best bet is to call Medicare to see which plans are available in your area that will cover the above medications. Without knowing your location, we can’t look up which plans are available to you.
My husband needs a prescription plan.he was with Humana for 5 or 6 years but left it we didn’t understand it .now we know .my husband has a bad lung disease now and has to take 2 kinds of treatments everyday plus oxygen .what would b a good plan for him ?
Hi Becky! This is a hard question to answer without getting more information regarding your specific situation. He could be responsible for the Part D penalty if he didn’t have creditable coverage since he’s been Medicare eligible. I would recommend giving us a call so we could go over your situation more in detail to find you the best plan option in your area.
My spouse is getting close for Medicare. He takes an expensive med. that keeps him alive. Tasigna, (CML Leukemia) Are there any of these plans that have a “specialty” drug program that can help him receive the medicine. We are not rich so we need help with paying for the medication. as well.
Hi Vicki! Medicare Part D Plans and Medicare Advantage Plans do cover Tasigna at 100% once your deductible is met.
I’m looking for the best plan that will cover glaucoma drops
Hi Vicki! The majority of all Medicare Part D & Advantage plans will cover Glaucoma drops.
Hello, I am looking for a plan that best covers MS drugs, in general, and Aubagio in particular. Thank you.
Hi Gary! About 60% of Medicare plans will cover Aubagio. We would need to know your specific information, such as location, to determine what plans are available to you.
I’m looking for a prescription plan that will cover the drug Repatha injectables. What would be the best plan?
Hi George! Most Part D plans will cover Repatha. Since each carrier offers different plans in each state, your location will determine what plan is best for you.