Top 3 Companies With the Best Medicare Part D Plans for 2025
Wellcare sells the best Medicare Part D plans for prescription drug coverage in 2025.
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Best Medicare Part D plans for 2025
ValuePenguin's experts chose the best Medicare Part D plans by reviewing each company's average rates, coverage, list of covered drugs customer satisfaction and Medicare star ratings. Our experts also reviewed customer satisfaction with mail-order pharmacies and specifically researched coverage for weight-loss drugs.
Best and cheapest Part D plans: Wellcare
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Overall rating
- Average monthly cost: $43
Wellcare's low-cost plans have quality coverage.
Pros
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Cheap rates
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Low copays for generic drugs
Cons
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High deductibles
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No $0 deductible plans
Wellcare sells the cheapest Part D plans for 2025, and its plans have good quality coverage. You'll pay an average of $43 per month for a Wellcare plan, which is $22 less than the national average of $65 per month. And in most states, you can get a plan for less than $10 per month.
Wellcare's plans are a good option if you're on a budget, because of both the low monthly rate and the low cost for medications. No matter what plan you buy, you won't have a copay on low-cost generic medications . But this benefit only kicks in after you reach your deductible. All Wellcare plans have a $590 deductible, which is the highest allowed by law.
However, the Wellcare Medicare Rx Value Plus plan starts to pay for your lower-cost medications right away, because it doesn't have a deductible on some generic and brand name drugs. If you take one or more medications in this category, it might be worth it to pay more for the Value Plus plan since it gives you better coverage. On average, the Wellcare Medicare Rx Value Plus costs $107 per month.
Unlike a few other companies, Wellcare doesn't have any plans with a $0 deductible, which would mean your plan starts paying for your medications right away. If you take expensive medications, it might be worth it to look for a company that has $0 deductible plans, like Blue Cross Blue Shield or Humana.
Wellcare sells Medicare Part D plans nationwide.
Best for weight-loss drugs: Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)
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Overall rating
- Average monthly cost: $100
Blue Cross Blue Shield covers three common weight loss drugs and has low deductibles.
Pros
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All plans cover three common weight-loss drugs
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Lower-than-average deductibles
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Several plans have no deductible
Cons
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High rates
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Service quality varies based on where you live
If you take weight-loss drugs, Blue Cross Blue Shield could be a good option. All of its plans cover Mounjaro, Ozempic and Rybelsus. And in 22 states, you can get a plan from Blue Cross Blue Shield that has a $0 deductible, which means your plan will start paying for your weight-loss medications and other covered prescriptions right away.
However, you're more likely to have coverage if you take the medications for diabetes rather than specifically for weight loss. None of BCBS's plans, and none of the plans from other companies that ValuePenguin's experts reviewed, covered Wegovy, which is specifically for weight loss.
Blue Cross Blue Shield is made up of independent companies, which means service and plan quality vary based on where you live. While BCBS is typically a good option, its plans are very poorly rated in South Carolina and Florida. If you live in these states, you should probably buy a plan from a more highly-rated company.
Blue Cross Blue Shield plans also tend to be expensive, with an average rate of $100 per month. BCBS only sells $0-per-month plans in Kansas. Elsewhere, the plans usually have high monthly rates. The plans can still be a good value if you take expensive medications.
Blue Cross Blue Shield sells Medicare Part D plans in 38 states:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Mass.
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
You can't get a Blue Cross Blue Shield Part D plan in Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, Oregon, Utah, Washington or Washington, D.C.
Best mail-order pharmacy: Humana
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Overall rating
- Average monthly cost: $73
If you want your medications delivered right to your door, consider Humana.
Pros
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Good mail-order pharmacy
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Several plans have no deductible
Cons
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High rates
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Plans aren't good if you have high blood pressure
If you want your prescriptions mailed directly to you, Humana is a good option. The company's mail-order pharmacy, CenterWell, has a high rating for customer satisfaction from J.D. Power. You can get up to 90 days for most prescriptions, and you'll often pay less than you would if you used an in-person pharmacy.
Humana also sells plans with no drug deductible in every state and Washington, D.C. The Humana Premier Rx plan costs $128 per month, on average, which is fairly high. But the plans can be a good option if you take expensive medications or several medications together. The $0 drug deductible, which means your coverage starts right away, might offset the higher cost for some people.
But Humana isn't a good option if you're on a budget. Its average rates tend to be high, at $73 per month. And only about 6% of its plans cost less than $10 per month. It also scores poorly for people who take high blood pressure medications.
Humana Part D plans are available nationwide.
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Worst Medicare Part D plans
AARP/UnitedHealthcare sells the worst Medicare Part D plans in 2025.
The company has a rating of just 2 out of 5 stars from Medicare.gov, which means its coverage and service quality is lower than other companies. Other poorly-rated companies include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, Cigna and Florida Blue.
Company | Rating | Monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $79 | |
| Aetna | $44 | |
| BCBS of South Carolina | $90 | |
| Cigna | $59 | |
| Florida Blue | $109 |
These companies might be good in some ways but overall they're not the best option for most people.
What is Medicare Part D?
Medicare Part D covers your prescription medication costs.
The plans come from private insurance companies, rather than directly from the government like Medicare Part A and Part B.
If you have just Medicare Parts A and B, you'll have limited coverage for medications. Part A will only cover some medications in a hospital or skilled-nursing setting. And Part B covers some medications, but usually only things that you get in a doctor's office and can't give to yourself, like medications that come as shots.
You can bundle your prescription drug coverage into a Medicare Advantage plan that combines the benefits offered by Medicare Parts A, B and D with other add-ons like dental, vision and fitness programs. If you do this, you won't have a separate Part D plan. You'll just have one plan that provides all your coverage.
Medicare Part D changes for 2025
Starting in 2025, you won't pay more than $2,000 each year for your prescription medications.
This could help people afford expensive but necessary medications. But it has come with a drawback: Part D plans cost more in 2025 compared to 2024.
The average cost for a Part D plan in 2024 was $59 per month. In 2025, the cost increased to $65 per month.
Individual plans also saw cost changes. The Blue MedicareRx Plus plan, which is available in Kansas and Missouri, had the highest increase of any plan. It's $121 more expensive each month in 2025 compared to 2024.
Some companies are also offering few plans. For example, Aetna sold three different SilverScript Part D plans in 2024 but only sells one option for 2025. UnitedHealthcare also reduced its plan options, going from four plans in 2024 to just two in 2025.
The Medicare coverage gap or "donut hole" also closes in 2025.
The donut hole was a part of your coverage where you paid more for medications. The hole closes as of Jan. 1, 2025. As soon as you reach $2,000 in medication costs, your plan will pay the full cost of covered drugs.
You'll also be able to spread out your medication costs. So if you need an expensive medication, rather than having to pay up to $2,000 all at once, you can spread it out through the year to help lessen the impact on your finances.
How to choose the best Medicare Part D plan for you
Think about your medication needs and budget to choose the best Medicare Part D plan.
1. How much drug coverage do I need?
Consider how many medications you take regularly and the medications you may need in the coming year. If you have multiple or expensive prescriptions or you're managing ongoing illnesses, it may be a better deal to sign up for a more expensive plan that offers better coverage. You can change your plan during open enrollment if you need more or less coverage.
2. Which plan has the best star rating?
The number of stars each plan has on Medicare.gov measures the quality of the plan as well as the experience of former customers.
3. Are the medications I take covered?
Check the plan's list of covered drugs, called the formulary, to learn which medications are covered and how much you might pay based on what's called the classification tier. If your medication is in a higher tier, you could have to pay more, and some plans have a separate deductible for Tier 3, 4 or 5 drugs.
4. What's the final cost I'll pay each month?
You can take advantage of cost-savings programs such as Extra Help if you have a low income. Extra Help lowers your monthly bills by making medication more affordable.
On the other hand, if you make $106,000 per year as a single person or $212,000 as a couple, you have to pay an extra fee, called IRMAA.
5. Are my local pharmacies in the preferred network?
Check to see if there are nearby pharmacies in your insurance company's network. If there aren't, check to see if the plan uses a mail-order pharmacy and if your medications qualify. If you can't find any pharmacies in the network and you can't get your medications by mail, look for a different plan.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best Medicare Part D plan?
Wellcare has the best overall plans for Medicare Part D because of its good ratings and affordable monthly costs. Its plans also have low copays for generic drugs, which can help save you money.
Is it worth getting Medicare Part D?
Medicare Part D is worth it for most people who don't bundle their drug coverage into a Medicare Advantage plan. Without a drug plan, you have to pay the full cost for your medications, which can get expensive.
What drugs are covered by Medicare Part D?
Each company sets its list of covered drugs, called a "formulary." All companies have to cover at least two medications for each type of health treatment, but the specific medications will be different depending on your plan. Check a plan's formulary before you buy, to make sure it covers your medications. You can easily check coverage for your prescriptions when you shop on Medicare.gov.
How much does Medicare Part D cost?
Medicare Part D costs $65 per month, on average, in 2025. The amount you pay depends on the plan you choose and any income-based adjustments, such as an extra fee for high earners or discounts for people with low incomes.
Methodology and sources
Comparisons of 2025 Medicare Part D plans are based on average Medicare star ratings, monthly rates, deductible amounts and policy details.
Rates are averages for each company and include its subsidiaries. The data came from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Part D performance data and Medicare Part D plan and rate data. Averages are based on plans in 50 states and Washington, D.C., excluding U.S. territories.
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Medicare Advantage and Part D plans and benefits are offered by these carriers: Aetna Medicare, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Anthem Blue Cross, Aspire Health Plan, Cigna Healthcare, Dean Health Plan, Devoted Health, Florida Blue Medicare, GlobalHealth, Health Care Service Corporation, Healthy Blue, Humana, Molina Healthcare, Mutual of Omaha, Premera Blue Cross, Medica Central Health Plan, SCAN Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Simply, UnitedHealthcare, Wellcare and WellPoint.
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