There are 484,226 Iowa residents enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan. 377,690 residents have a stand-alone Medicare Prescription Drug plan, while 111,784 are registered for a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan.
Iowa Medicare Part D plans
Medicare Part D plans cover prescription drug costs not covered by Original Medicare Part A and B. Iowa residents purchase Medicare Part D plans through independent carriers instead of the federal government.
There are several Iowa Medicare Part D plans to choose from, requiring you to research each plan to find one that best suits your needs.
Below are some common Iowa Medicare Part D plans that you might consider. We categorized each plan according to the lowest premiums, zero-dollar deductibles, gap coverage, and low-income subsidies.
Part D plans with the lowest premium in Iowa
Aetna is a three-star carrier that offers Medicare Part D plans with $6.80 premiums and $480 deductibles. Currently, Aetna doesn’t offer plans with gap coverage.
Another three-star carrier, WellCare, provides plans with $10.60 premiums and $480 deductibles. Like Aetna, WellCare doesn’t offer Medicare Part D plans with gap coverage.
UnitedHealthcare is one of the only four-star Medicare Part D plan providers. It offers plans with $29.30 premiums, $310 deductibles, and gap coverage.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING | GAP COVERAGE |
| Aetna | $6.80 | $480 | 3 | No |
| WellCare | $10.60 | $480 | 3 | No |
| Clear Spring | $16.60 | $480 | 2 | No |
| Humana | $22.70 | $480 | 4 | No |
| UnitedHealthcare | $29.30 | $310 | 4 | Yes |
Part D plans with a zero-dollar deductible in Iowa
MedicareBlue Rx sports a four-star rating and offers Iowa Medicare Part D plans with zero-dollar deductibles, $116.10 premiums, and gap coverage.
WellCare is a three-star carrier that provides Iowa Part D plans with $68.90 premiums and zero-dollar deductibles. Its plans don’t currently offer gap coverage.
Aetna enjoys a three-star rating and provides Medicare Part D plans in Iowa with $79.90 premiums, no deductibles, and gap coverage.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING | GAP COVERAGE |
| WellCare | $68.90 | $0 | 3 | No |
| Aetna | $79.90 | $0 | 3 | Yes |
| UnitedHealthcare | $97.00 | $0 | 3 | Yes |
| MedicareBlue Rx | $116.10 | $0 | 4 | Yes |
Part D plans with gap coveragein Iowa
Cigna is a three-star Iowa Medicare Part D provider that offers plans with $52 premiums, $100 deductibles, and gap coverage.
MedicareBlue Rx currently has a four-star rating and offers Part D plans with $116.10 premiums, zero-dollar deductibles, and gap coverage.
UnitedHealthcare also sports a four-star rating and offers Medicare Part D plans with $29.30 premiums, $310 deductibles, and gap coverage.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING | GAP COVERAGE |
| UnitedHealthcare | $29.30 | $310 | 4 | Yes |
| Cigna | $52.00 | $100 | 3 | Yes |
| Aetna | $79.90 | $0 | 3 | Yes |
| UnitedHealthcare | $97.00 | $0 | 3 | Yes |
| MedicareBlue Rx | $116.10 | $0 | 4 | Yes |
Part D plans with a Low-Income Subsidy in Iowa
88,192 Iowa beneficiaries currently qualify for a low-income subsidy to help them pay for their prescription drug plan costs. Below are a few popular Iowa Part D plans with a low-income subsidy.
Aetna is a three-star carrier that offers low-income subsidy Part D plans with $79.90 premiums, zero-dollar deductibles, and gap coverage.
MedicareBlue Rx is the only four-star rated carrier that offers low-income subsidy Part D plans with $116.10 premiums, gap coverage, and zero-dollar deductibles.
Clear Spring currently has a two-star rating and offers Iowa residents low-income subsidy Part D plans with $29.30 premiums and $480 deductibles. Its plans don’t offer gap coverage.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING | GAP COVERAGE |
| Clear Spring | $29.30 | $480 | 2 | No |
| Cigna | $52.00 | $100 | 3 | Yes |
| Aetna | $79.90 | $0 | 3 | Yes |
| UnitedHealthcare | $97.00 | $0 | 3 | Yes |
| MedicareBlue Rx | $116.10 | $0 | 4 | Yes |
Amount of beneficiaries that fall into each Part D coverage phase in Iowa
Iowa Medicare Part D plans consist of four phases:
- Deductible phase
- Initial coverage phase
- Coverage gap phase (also called the donut hole phase)
- Catastrophic coverage phase
The chart below displays how many Medicare Part D beneficiaries fall into each phase. Notice that most enrollees fall into the Initial Coverage and Deductible phases.
| Deductible Phase | Initial Coverage Phase | Coverage Gap Phase | Catastrophic Phase |
| 166,171 | 192,014 | 52,600 | 37,262 |
Cities in Iowa with estimated premiums for Medicare Supplement coverage
Our charts below contain the estimated premiums for Medicare Supplement coverage in the following cities:
FAQs
What does Medicare Part D typically Cost in Iowa?
The price depends on the Iowa Medicare Part D plan you purchase. Most Medicare Part D plan deductibles fall below $480, while the premium rates fluctuate from plan to plan. The current premiums range from $6.80 to $116.10.
What happens if I don’t want Medicare Part D in Iowa?
Iowa residents must enroll in a Medicare Part D plan after registering in Medicare Part A or B or a PFFS (Medicare Advantage Private Fee-for-Service Plan) without prescription coverage. You must enroll during the Initial Enrollment Period even if you don’t currently take prescription medications.
Failure to enroll during the required enrollment period results in a 1% penalty each month. The government adds the fine to your monthly Part D premium until you register.
How are Part D premiums determined in Iowa?
Iowa Medicare Part D premiums fluctuate depending on the carrier. However, if your income exceeds $87,000, you must pay an additional charge on top of your monthly premium.
Married couples with a combined income of $174,000 or higher will also have to pay the extra fee.
Residents with Medicare Advantage plans that cover prescriptions will also have to pay the additional charge.
Is Medicare Part D automatically deducted from Social Security in Iowa?
Yes. If you currently receive Social Security, the government will automatically deduct your Iowa Part D premiums before sending the check or upon deposit if you set up your account correctly.
You can also apply automatic deductions for your Plan B and C premiums.
Who is eligible for Medicare Part D in Iowa?
All US citizens and legal permanent residents that lived in the United States for five years or longer qualify for Iowa Medicare if at least one of the following applies.
- They are 65 years old or older.
- Beneficiaries have received Social Security Disability Insurance for two years or longer.
- They have Lou Gehrig’s or end-stage renal disease.
Once someone qualifies for Original Medicare in Iowa, they can enroll in Medicare Part D by contacting an independent insurance carrier within their zip code.
How to get help signing up for a Medicare Part D plan in Iowa
Contact us if you need help signing up for an Iowa Medicare Part D plan. Our Medicare-licensed insurance agents can help you find the perfect Medicare Part D plan for your unique medical situation.
We’ve helped thousands of Iowa residents find high-quality Medicare Part D plans over the last ten years, and we can do the same for you at no additional cost.
Give us a call or complete our online rate form and get the current best rates in Iowa today!
