Find the Right 2021 Medicare Part D Coverage for You
- February 22, 2021
- Reviewed by John Krahnert
If you want Medicare prescription drug coverage, you can consider enrolling in either a 2021 Medicare Part D prescription drug plan or a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan (MA-PD).
You can use our plan finder below to compare 2021 Medicare Part D plans and MA-PD plans and find the plan that best fits your needs.
Find Medicare prescription drug coverage
Compare PlansOr call TTY Users: 711 to speak with a licensed insurance agent. We accept calls 24/7!
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Learn about Medicare prescription drug plans in your state
You can choose your state from the list below to learn more about Medicare prescription drug plan enrollment, costs and more in your state.
Or select your state from this map to learn more about Medicare prescription plans in your state.
10-Step guide to finding a Medicare drug plan that works for you
Below is a 10-step guide you can use to help you as you shop for a 2021 Medicare Part D plan or MAPD plan that fits your needs.
1.) Know what prescription drug coverage you want
Every Medicare Part D plan and MA-PD plan has a drug formulary, which is a list of drugs covered by the plan.
Formularies are typically separated into different tiers. Common, inexpensive generic drugs are typically on a lower tier, and more rare and expensive brand name medications are typically on higher tiers.
A typical example of a Part D tier system is as follows:
- Tier 1: Preferred Generic
Low-cost, preferred generic drugs - Tier 2: Generic
Preferred generic drugs - Tier 3: Preferred Brand
Preferred brand name drugs and non-preferred generic drugs
- Tier 4: Non-Preferred
Non-preferred brand name drugs and non-preferred generic drugs - Tier 5: Specialty
High cost brand name and generic drugs which may require special handling or monitoring.
When shopping for a plan, check the formulary to see if it covers the medications you take, which tier those drugs belong to and how the plan covers drugs in that tier.
2.) Consider how you want to pay for your drug coverage
Medicare Part D plans may have premiums, deductibles and coinsurance or copayments.
Depending on where you live, there may be Part D plans available that offer $0 deductibles. Some plans may even offer $0 coinsurance or copayments for prescriptions you fill at preferred network pharmacies.
Plan deductibles, premiums and coinsurance/copayments may vary based on where you live, the type of plan you have and where you fill your prescriptions.
Finding the best plan for you may depend on how you want to spend your money.
Some beneficiaries might prefer a higher monthly premium in exchange for lower coinsurance or copayments. Others may opt to take on higher copayments in exchange for a lower premium.
Ask yourself how you prefer to spend your money, and consider how each pricing model fits in with your financial planning.
3.) Decide if you want a Part D or Medicare Advantage plan
Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) provide all of the same benefits as Medicare Part A and Part B, and most Medicare Advantage plans also cover prescription drugs.
Some Medicare Advantage plans may also cover things like routine dental, vision or hearing care, as well as things like transportation to doctor’s appointments and home meal delivery.
If you want coverage for things like hearing and vision care, you might consider a Medicare Advantage plan. That way you can bundle more of your health care services — including your prescription drug coverage — under one plan.
4.) Find out which plans are available in your area
Medicare Part D plans are sold by private insurance companies, and the selection of plans may vary from one area to another.
You are only eligible to enroll in a plan that services the area in which you reside, so it’s important to know which plans are available to you.
You can call to speak with a licensed insurance agent who can let you know which plans are available where you live. They can also go over the details of each policy with you.
You may also use the Medicare plan finder to help you locate and compare policies.
Find Medicare prescription drug coverage
Compare PlansOr call TTY Users: 711 to speak with a licensed insurance agent. We accept calls 24/7!
5.) Review the Medicare Star Ratings
Each year, Medicare releases Star Ratings for all Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans.1
The Medicare Star Ratings use a system of one to five stars (one star is “poor,” and five stars is “excellent”) and rate the plans on an array of criteria.
Part D plans are rated based on:
- Customer service
- Member complaints, problems getting service and choosing to leave the plan
- Member experience
- Drug pricing and patient safety
The star ratings are released each fall for the upcoming plan year. When shopping for Medicare Part D plans, be sure to check these ratings to learn more about the quality of plans available where you live.
6.) Compare Part D plan prices
The average premium for a Medicare Part D plan in 2021 is $41.64 per month.2
It’s possible that you might find two similar plans available in your area that have two different prices.
A licensed insurance agent can help you compare prices so that you can find a plan that fits your budget and your coverage needs.
7.) Learn about plan networks
Some Medicare Part D plans may use networks of preferred pharmacies where you may have your prescriptions filled.
When trying to identify the right plan for you, check the list of participating pharmacies to see if your pharmacy is part of a Part D plan network.
8.) Review companies that provide Medicare prescription drug coverage
Medicare Part D plans are sold by private insurance companies. There are several review websites and credit rating agencies that can offer information about various insurance companies.
These include:
- The Better Business Bureau
- Consumer Affairs
- Moody’s
- A.M. Best
- Fitch
- Standard & Poor’s
You can also learn more by reading Medicare plan customer reviews.
9.) Make sure you’re eligible
You don’t want to do all this work narrowing down the best Part D plan only to find out you aren’t eligible.
You must be enrolled in Medicare Part A to purchase a Part D plan, and you cannot currently be enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan that offers prescription drug coverage.
A licensed insurance agent can help you determine if you are eligible for a plan.
10.) Know when to enroll
There are several specific times that you may be able to enroll in a Medicare Part D plan.
- Initial Enrollment Period
Every Medicare beneficiary is given an Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) when they first become eligible to sign up for Medicare.
This 7-month period begins three months before you turn 65 years old, includes the month of your birthday and continues for three more months after that. - Annual Enrollment Period
The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP, also called the Open Enrollment Period for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage) takes place every year from October 15 to December 7.
You may be able to sign up for a Medicare Part D plan during either of these times.
Depending on your situation, you could potentially qualify for a Special Enrollment Period for circumstances such as moving in or out of a nursing home, moving to a new service area or becoming eligible for Medicaid. Learn more about Medicare Special Enrollment Periods.
If you don’t qualify for one of the above enrollment periods, you may not be able to enroll in a plan right now.
A licensed insurance agent can help you determine your eligibility and help you compare Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plans that may be available where you live.
Find Medicare prescription drug coverage
Compare PlansOr call TTY Users: 711 to speak with a licensed insurance agent. We accept calls 24/7!
1 Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system.
2 MedicareAdvantage.com's The Best States for Medicare in 2021 report. (Oct. 27, 2020).
About the author
Christian Worstell is a licensed insurance agent and a Senior Staff Writer for MedicareAdvantage.com. He is passionate about helping people navigate the complexities of Medicare and understand their coverage options.
His work has been featured in outlets such as Vox, MSN, and The Washington Post, and he is a frequent contributor to health care and finance blogs.
Christian is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He currently lives in Raleigh, NC.
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