More than 356,000 retirees in Nevada depend on Medicare Part D to get their prescription drugs at a relatively affordable rate.

When you break down the numbers, there’s almost an even split between those enrolled in Original Medicare plus Part D and those enrolled in a Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan. But the Medicare Advantage side has slightly more substantial numbers.

Nevada Medicare Part D plans for 2024

Your Medicare Part D prescription drug plan is pretty straightforward: most charge you a monthly premium and ask that you hit a spending deductible before you start getting the discounted price for your medication.

Some plans offer very low premiums, a $0 deductible, or even gap coverage. But for every program that lowers its up-front costs, you will have to pay an expense down the line.

Part D plans with the lowest premium

If your main goal is paying the lowest possible monthly premium, you might be tempted to pick a drug plan from Aetna. You’ll have to pay the $480 deductible first, but after that, your premiums will only cost about $88 per year.

UnitedHealthcare has the most expensive premium at just over $29 per month. But the fact that it has a lower annual deductible makes it cheaper than either Clear Spring or Humana.

It also ties in with Humana for the highest customer service ratings and offers gap coverage. None of the other plans provide gap coverage including Wellcare.

PLAN PREMIUM DEDUCTIBLE STAR RATING GAP COVERAGE
Aetna $7.30 $480 3 No
Wellcare $12.00 $480 3 No
Clear Spring $16.00 $480 2 No
Humana $22.70 $480 4 No
UnitedHealthcare $29.30 $310 4 Yes

Part D plans with a zero-dollar deductible

Zero deductible plans are great for lowering your out-of-pocket costs in the short term. But over time, even a program like Aetna’s can cost you $762 per year, which is more expensive than any previously reviewed plans.

Anthem seems like the most attractive plan because not only do they have high customer service ratings, but they also offer gap coverage. But this plan will cost you over $866 per year in monthly premiums.

UnitedHealthcare is the most expensive, costing a total of $1,213 per year in monthly premiums. But you get gap coverage with that, and they seem like a fairly reputable company. Wellcare is the only plan which does not offer gap coverage.

PLAN PREMIUM DEDUCTIBLE STAR RATING GAP COVERAGE
Aetna $63.50 $0 3 Yes
Wellcare $69.00 $0 3 No
Anthem $72.20 $0 4 Yes
UnitedHealthcare $101.10 $0 3 Yes

Part D plans with gap coverage

Gap coverage helps protect you from the Nevada Medicare Part D donut hole. In Nevada, UnitedHealthcare offers beneficiaries two different options.

The first is a low-premium, high-deductible plan, which costs a total of $662 per year before you start getting your discounted drugs, and the second is a high premium, $0 deductible plan which costs over $1,200 per year before you get your drug discounts.

A $0 deductible plan from Aetna only costs around $762 per year in monthly premiums, and you start getting your drug discounts immediately. It also has favorable customer service ratings.

Anthem is the second most expensive plan because that $72 monthly premium will cost you a little over $866 per year. But they have some of the highest customer service ratings according to Nevada beneficiaries.

PLAN PREMIUM DEDUCTIBLE STAR RATING GAP COVERAGE
UnitedHealthcare $29.30 $310 4 Yes
Cigna $61.10 $100 3 Yes
Aetna $63.50 $0 3 Yes
Anthem $72.20 $0 4 Yes
UnitedHealthcare $101.10 $0 3 Yes

Part D plans with a Low-Income Subsidy

More than 78,000 Medicare recipients in Nevada are eligible for a low-income subsidy plan. These plans may offer discounts on your deductible, monthly premiums, and overall cost of drugs or reimburse you after the fact. Although Wellcare and Clear Spring are tied for the lowest monthly premium, Wellcare has significantly better customer service.

Humana has the best customer service out of all these Nevada Medicare Part D plans but does not offer gap coverage. This plan’s monthly premiums plus their $480 deductible add up to an annual cost of $838 before you are eligible for your discounts.

All the plans listed below, including Aetna and Cigna, have similarly priced monthly premiums and high deductibles. When deciding, looking at other factors, such as customer service, gap coverage, and whether or not the drugs you need are available on the plan’s formulary is helpful.

PLAN PREMIUM DEDUCTIBLE STAR RATING GAP COVERAGE
Wellcare $26.50 $480 3 No
Clear Spring $26.50 $480 2 No
Aetna $27.50 $480 3 No
Cigna $29.70 $480 3 No
Humana $29.90 $480 4 No

Amount of beneficiaries that fall into each Part D coverage phase in Nevada

Nevada Medicare Part D beneficiaries could go through four phases of coverage in any given year: the deductible phase, initial coverage phase, coverage gap phase, and catastrophic phase. Most beneficiaries won’t enter the third phase, also known as the Medicare Part D “donut hole,” where you must start paying 25% of your drug costs.

If you fall into the donut hole, you can get out and lower your drug costs either on the first day of the following calendar year or if you spend more than $7,050 in out-of-pocket expenses and slip into the catastrophic coverage phase (as of 2022).

Deductible Phase Initial Coverage Phase Coverage Gap Phase Catastrophic Phase
73,649 189,614 38,305 23,078

Cities in Nevada with estimated Part D prescription drug plan premiums

Estimated Part D drug plan premiums for the cities listed below are shown on the accompanying charts below:

FAQs

What is the difference between Medicare Part D and Medigap?

Medicare Part D helps beneficiaries get discounted prescription drugs. Medigap policies supplement your medical benefits with Medicare Parts A and B but don’t cover prescription drugs.

What is the downside to Medigap plans?

Depending on your needs, there could be several drawbacks to a Medicare Supplement. The fact that Medigap plans no longer help cover prescription drugs is seen as a downside by many.

What is the most significant disadvantage of Medicare Advantage?

Since most Nevada counties have only a few different Medicare Advantage plans available, finding one with the prescription drug plan you need could be challenging.

If you don’t like your current Medicare Advantage drug plan, you can always switch back to Original Medicare during your next Annual Enrollment Period.

How to get help signing up for a Medicare Part D plan in Nevada

To find your most affordable Nevada Medicare Part D plan, you must get free rate quotes from a reputable source.

We are partnered with Medicare Part D plan providers near you, so we know who to trust and who can give you the best value.

Reach out to us today via phone. Or fill out our online rate form so that we can connect you with the top rates in your area.

Written By:
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Lindsay Malzone, Lindsay Malzone is the Medicare editor for Medigap.com. She's been contributing to many well-known publications since 2017. Her passion is educating Medicare beneficiaries on all their supplemental Medicare options so they can make an informed decision on their healthcare coverage.
Reviewed By:
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Rodolfo Marrero, Rodolfo Marrero is one of the co-founders at Medigap.com. He has been helping consumers find the right coverage since the site was founded in 2013. Rodolfo is a licensed insurance agent that works hand-in-hand with the team to ensure the accuracy of the content.