Iowa Medicare Part D Plans
Making sense of Iowa Medicare Part D plans
If you spend any amount of time comparing Medicare Part D plans, the first thing you’ll notice is that they are not the same. There are significant differences between the 33 Part D plans available in Iowa for 2012.
Differences between plans include:
- A wide range of monthly premiums
- Deductibles ranging from $0 to $320
- Different copay and coinsurance amounts
- Formularies (list of covered drugs) vary from plan to plan
- Differences in networks, mail order and ancillary coverage
Given the differences between Medicare drug plans, choosing the wrong plan could be very costly. Each year people mistakenly choose a Part D plan based on premium alone. This often leaves people locked into a plan for the calendar year that may not cover their prescriptions or cost them significantly more than a n alternative option.
Five Star Medicare Plans – Enroll Anytime
The following list gives important details on all 33 Part D plan available in Iowa. Review the following list as a starting point to narrow your options in order to find the best Part D plan for your circumstances.
Iowa Part D
Sterling Life Insurance Company
| Medicare Part D Plan Name | Benefit Type | Premium | Deductible | Gap Coverage | Star Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windsor Rx (PDP) | Basic | $33.00 | $320 | No Gap Coverage | 3 |
SilverScript Insurance Company
| Medicare Part D Plan Name | Benefit Type | Premium | Deductible | Gap Coverage | Star Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVS Caremark Value (PDP) | Basic | $35.50 | $320 | No Gap Coverage | 3 |
| CVS Caremark Plus (PDP) | Enhanced | $78.60 | $0 | No Gap Coverage | 3 |
CIGNA Medicare Rx
| Medicare Part D Plan Name | Benefit Type | Premium | Deductible | Gap Coverage | Star Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIGNA Medicare Rx Plan One (PDP) | Basic | $35.40 | $320 | No Gap Coverage | 2.5 |
| CIGNA Medicare Rx Plan Two (PDP) | Enhanced | $69.40 | $0 | Few Generics | 2.5 |
Medco Medicare Prescription Plan
| Medicare Part D Plan Name | Benefit Type | Premium | Deductible | Gap Coverage | Star Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medco Medicare Prescription Plan – Value (PDP) | Basic | $36.90 | $320 | No Gap Coverage | 4 |
| Medco Medicare Prescription Plan – Choice (PDP) | Enhanced | $97.80 | $150 | Many Generics | 4 |
Health Net
| Medicare Part D Plan Name | Benefit Type | Premium | Deductible | Gap Coverage | Star Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health Net Value Orange Option 2 (PDP) | Enhanced | $75.30 | $0 | No Gap Coverage | 3 |
| Health Net Orange Option 1 (PDP) | Basic | $50.60 | $320 | No Gap Coverage | 3 |
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa
| Medicare Part D Plan Name | Benefit Type | Premium | Deductible | Gap Coverage | Star Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MedicareBlue Rx Standard (PDP) | Basic | $39.70 | $160 | No Gap Coverage | 5 |
| MedicareBlue Rx Premier (PDP) | Enhanced | $104.60 | $0 | All Generics | 5 |
United American Insurance Company
| Medicare Part D Plan Name | Benefit Type | Premium | Deductible | Gap Coverage | Star Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United American – Preferred (PDP) | Enhanced | $56.30 | $40 | No Gap Coverage | 2.5 |
| United American – Select (PDP) | Basic | $38.70 | $320 | No Gap Coverage | 2.5 |
First Health Part D
| Medicare Part D Plan Name | Benefit Type | Premium | Deductible | Gap Coverage | Star Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Health Part D Premier (PDP) | Basic | $30.40 | $250 | No Gap Coverage | 2.5 |
| First Health Part D Value Plus (PDP) | Enhanced | $25.10 | $0 | No Gap Coverage | 2.5 |
| First Health Part D Premier Plus (PDP) | Enhanced | $100.90 | $0 | Some Generics and Some Brands | 3 |
Community CCRx PDP
| Medicare Part D Plan Name | Benefit Type | Premium | Deductible | Gap Coverage | Star Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community CCRx Basic (PDP) | Basic | $34.80 | $320 | No Gap Coverage | 3 |
| Community CCRx Choice (PDP) | Enhanced | $87.60 | $0 | No Gap Coverage | 3 |
Aetna Medicare
| Medicare Part D Plan Name | Benefit Type | Premium | Deductible | Gap Coverage | Star Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aetna CVS/pharmacy Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) | Basic | $26.00 | $320 | No Gap Coverage | 2.5 |
| Aetna Medicare Rx Premier (PDP) | Enhanced | $75.50 | $0 | Many Generics | 2.5 |
UnitedHealthCare
| Medicare Part D Plan Name | Benefit Type | Premium | Deductible | Gap Coverage | Star Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AARP MedicareRx Preferred (PDP) | Basic | $41.90 | $0 | No Gap Coverage | 3 |
| AARP MedicareRx Enhanced (PDP) | Enhanced | $91.30 | $0 | Some Generics | 3 |
Humana Insurance Company
| Medicare Part D Plan Name | Benefit Type | Premium | Deductible | Gap Coverage | Star Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humana Complete (PDP) | Enhanced | $106.50 | $0 | Many Generics and Some Brands | 3 |
| Humana Enhanced (PDP) | Enhanced | $35.40 | $0 | No Gap Coverage | 3 |
| Humana Walmart-Preferred Rx Plan (PDP) | Basic | $15.10 | $320 | No Gap Coverage | 3 |
HealthSpring Prescription Drug Plan
| Medicare Part D Plan Name | Benefit Type | Premium | Deductible | Gap Coverage | Star Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HealthSpring Prescription Drug Plan-Reg 25 (PDP) | Basic | $38.70 | $320 | No Gap Coverage | 2.5 |
UniCare
| Medicare Part D Plan Name | Benefit Type | Premium | Deductible | Gap Coverage | Star Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MedicareRx Rewards Standard (PDP) | Basic | $52.50 | $320 | No Gap Coverage | 2 |
| MedicareRx Rewards Plus (PDP) | Enhanced | $95.10 | $0 | Some Generics | 2 |
WellCare
| Medicare Part D Plan Name | Benefit Type | Premium | Deductible | Gap Coverage | Star Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WellCare Signature (PDP) | Enhanced | $72.00 | $0 | No Gap Coverage | 3.5 |
| WellCare Classic (PDP) | Basic | $39.40 | $320 | No Gap Coverage | 3.5 |
Bravo Health
| Medicare Part D Plan Name | Benefit Type | Premium | Deductible | Gap Coverage | Star Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BravoRx (PDP) | Basic | $39.20 | $320 | No Gap Coverage | 2.5 |
EnvisionRx Plus
| Medicare Part D Plan Name | Benefit Type | Premium | Deductible | Gap Coverage | Star Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EnvisionRxPlus Silver (PDP) | Basic | $35.10 | $320 | No Gap Coverage | 2.5 |
| EnvisionRxPlus Gold (PDP) | Enhanced | $70.80 | $0 | Some Generics | 2.5 |
Stand-Alone Part D is not the only way to get Medicare drug coverage
The above list is relevant if you choose to receive your health coverage from original Medicare or if you have purchased a Medigap policy. But you may choose to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. Many Medicare Advantage plans include Part D coverage. If you have decided to enroll in an Advantage plan be sure to review the Part D formulary for that plan as it may vary from a stand-alone plan offered by the same company.
In either case, the plan’s formulary is the most important aspect of the plan. Choosing a plan that does not include your prescription drugs would not make any sense and could cost you a lot of money.
When comparing Iowa Medicare Part D plans take some time to visit each plan’s website to review the formulary, pharmacy network and mail order options available.
Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment