Currently, 637,325 Maryland residents are enrolled in Maryland Medicare Part D plans, which keeps growing yearly. Of the 2019 enrollees, 539,479 were covered by stand-alone Medicare Prescription Drug plans, with 104,408 enrolled in Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plans.
Medicare Part D plans for 2024 in Maryland
Maryland Medicare Part D plans offer insurance coverage for prescription drugs, and Private insurance companies pay for these benefits. Many insurance companies offer one or multiple Medicare Part D plans, including Aetna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, and Wellcare.
This article will discuss several Medicare Part D plans available in Maryland, sorting them by lowest premiums, zero-dollar deductibles, gap coverage, and low-income subsidies.
Medicare Part D plans with the lowest premiums in Maryland
The insurance premium is the amount you must pay monthly for insurance coverage. Plans with lower monthly insurance premiums often include deductibles. Each program in our table below has a star rating, which assesses the plan’s effectiveness on a scale of one to five (five is the highest).
Aetna offers a three-star-rated plan with a $7.70 monthly premium, a $480 deductible, and no gap coverage.
Wellcare’s plan also has three stars, a $480 deductible, and no gap coverage, but their monthly premium is $12.00.
UnitedHealthcare has a monthly premium of $29.30, but their deductible is only $31 and includes gap coverage. Their plan is also rated four stars.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING | GAP COVERAGE |
| Aetna | $7.70 | $480 | 3 | No |
| Wellcare | $12.00 | $480 | 3 | No |
| Clear Spring Health | $19.70 | $480 | 2 | No |
| Humana | $22.70 | $480 | 4 | No |
| UnitedHealthcare | $29.30 | $310 | 4 | Yes |
Prescription drug plans with a zero-dollar deductible in Maryland
Several Maryland Medicare Part D plans have zero-dollar deductibles. Zero-dollar deductible plans often have higher premiums, so the benefit of having a lower deductible depends on how much you use the coverage every month. You may benefit from a low-premium plan or gain more from a zero-dollar deductible plan.
Aetna offers a low monthly premium of $66.50, a zero-dollar deductible, gap coverage, and a three-star rating. Wellcare’s $68.90 monthly premium is nearly as low, and their plan also has a zero-dollar deductible and three-star rating, but they don’t include gap coverage.
UnitedHealthcare’s monthly premium is $100.60, with a three-star rating and a zero-dollar deductible. They include gap coverage as well.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING | GAP COVERAGE |
| Aetna | $66.50 | $0 | 3 | Yes |
| Wellcare | $68.90 | $0 | 3 | No |
| UnitedHealthcare | $100.60 | $0 | 3 | Yes |
Prescription drug plans with gap coverage in Maryland
Maryland Medicare Part D plans have four phases of coverage. The donut hole is the third phase or the coverage gap. If you fall into this phase, you must pay a certain percentage of your prescription costs.
Some Maryland Medicare Part D plans partially fill the gap by offering coverage for all drugs within a particular tier, usually Tier 1, through the “donut hole” phase. Although most Maryland Medicare beneficiaries never enter the Coverage Gap phase, the following plans can help if you find yourself in the “donut hole.”
Two of these plans offer zero-dollar deductibles, including Aetna’s three-star plan with a $66.50 monthly premium and UnitedHealthcare’s three-star plan with a $100.60 monthly premium.
UnitedHealthcare also offers a four-star plan with a $29.30 monthly premium and a $310 deductible. Cigna’s three-star plan for a monthly premium of $58.00 has a $100 deductible.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING | GAP COVERAGE |
| UnitedHealthcare | $29.30 | $310 | 4 | Yes |
| Cigna | $58.00 | $100 | 3 | Yes |
| Aetna | $66.50 | $0 | 3 | Yes |
| UnitedHealthcare | $100.60 | $0 | 3 | Yes |
Prescription drug plans with a Low-Income Subsidy in Maryland
Of the 637,325 Maryland Medicare Part D enrollees in 2019, 159,376 were eligible for a low-income subsidy to help cover the costs of prescription drug plans. These enrollees don’t have to struggle with the drug coverage “donut hole.”
These plans all have $480 deductibles and low premiums. The lowest premium is Clear Spring, at $29.40, but they only have a two-star rating. The lowest premium with a three-star rating is Aetna at $30.50.
Other three-star plans include Wellcare, with a $31.50 premium; Cigna, with a $33.30 premium; and Elixir, with a $34.90 premium.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING | GAP COVERAGE |
| Clear Spring | $29.40 | $480 | 2 | No |
| Aetna | $30.50 | $480 | 3 | No |
| Wellcare | $31.50 | $480 | 3 | No |
| Cigna | $33.30 | $480 | 3 | No |
| Elixir | $34.90 | $480 | 3 | No |
Amount of Medicare beneficiaries that fall into each Part D coverage phase
Medicare Part D has four coverage phases: Deductible, Initial Coverage, Coverage Gap (or “Donut Hole), and Catastrophic. Below we show the number of Maryland Medicare Part D enrollees in each phase in 2019. Most enrollees stay in either the Deductible or Initial Coverage phases.
| Deductible Phase | Initial Coverage Phase | Coverage Gap Phase | Catastrophic Phase |
| 128,752 | 237,338 | 64,564 | 51,986 |
Maryland cities with estimated premiums for Medicare Supplement coverage
The below cities are some of the biggest in Maryland, and the following charts for each highlight the estimated premiums for Medicare Supplement plans:
FAQs
How do I apply for Medicare Part D in Maryland?
People who become eligible for Medicare (due to reaching age 65 or becoming eligible for Social Security disability) can join a Medicare Part D plan to start in the same month their Medicare becomes available.
Suppose you’re already enrolled in a Maryland Medicare Part D plan and want to change to a different plan. In that case, you must wait until the next Annual Open Enrollment Period, from October 15 to December 7, for coverage to begin on January 1. Beneficiaries can change plans during this period without penalty.
Can you buy Medicare Part D by itself in Maryland?
No, you can’t buy Medicare Part D by itself. You must be enrolled in Medicare Parts A & B to purchase Part D. You can either sign up for a stand-alone Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) to work with your Original Medicare or a Maryland Medicare Advantage plan (MAPD).
What is the most popular Medicare Part D plan in Maryland?
The four-star plan with the lowest premium is the Humana Walmart Value Rx Plan, with a $22.70 premium and a $480 deductible. The AARP MedicareRx Walgreens plan is a four-star one with a premium of $29.30, but their deductible is only $310.
For those looking for a four-star plan that offers a low-income subsidy, the lowest premium plan is the Humana Basic Rx Plan, with a $35.00 premium and $480 deductible.
Is Medicare Part D deducted from Social Security in Maryland?
You can deduct your Part D plan premiums from your Social Security benefits. You need to contact the provider for your Part D plan to get this set up, and the process can take months to start.
What is the average cost of a Medicare Part D plan in Maryland?
The average premium cost of a Medicare Part D plan in Maryland is $31.50. However, available plan premiums range from $7.10 to $100.60.
How to get help signing up for a Medicare Part D plan in Maryland
With many Maryland Medicare Part D plans, knowing the perfect fit is hard. Medigap can help, and our services are free! We work with all the carriers and compare every available plan to ensure you get the one best suited for your needs.
Get a free rate quote today by using our online form or calling us at the number above.
