Over 169,415 Rhode Island residents have enrolled in Medicare Part D plans. Of these enrollees, 74,385 decided on standalone prescription drug plans, and 96,178 enrolled in Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans.
These numbers increase yearly as more people qualify for Medicare and seek to manage their healthcare costs.
Rhode Island Medicare Part D plans for 2024
While Original Medicare insurance (Medicare Parts A and B) covers your doctor and hospital visits, it does not cover prescription costs. Medicare Part D is not part of Original Medicare but is within the purview of private insurance companies (carriers) to help cover those costs. Carriers offering this insurance include Wellcare, Cigna, and .
This article aims to help Rhode Island residents become aware of their coverage options, including companies that offer Part D plans with low premiums, zero-dollar deductibles, gap coverage, and low-income subsidies.
Part D plans with the lowest premiums
Beneficiaries pay premiums to keep coverage under a policy, like Humana’s premium, at $22.70 per month. Their deductible is $480, meaning the plan will begin paying out after you pay the first $480 in prescription costs out of pocket. They have a four-star rating.
For a lower monthly premium, consider Wellcare at $13 a month. However, the star rating indicating the plan’s effectiveness decreases to three, and the deductible is still $480. However, the $13 monthly premium will be more affordable in many circumstances as each dollar counts, similar to Aetna’s $7.40 premium at the same deductible and star rating.
For a lower deductible in exchange for a higher premium, consider for $29.30 a month. The deductible lowers to $310.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING | GAP COVERAGE |
| Aetna | $7.40 | $480 | 3 | No |
| Wellcare | $13.00 | $480 | 3 | No |
| Humana | $22.70 | $480 | 4 | No |
| $29.30 | $310 | 4 | Yes | |
| Cigna | $32.10 | $480 | 3 | No |
Part D plans with zero-dollar deductibles
Plans in this table have a zero-dollar deductible, so the premiums are higher in exchange for not needing to pay any money before the program starts to pay out. For example, Aetna has gap coverage with a $72.50 monthly premium and a three-star rating.
Wellcare has a lower premium at $69 per month with the same star rating. However, it lacks gap coverage, which would provide discounts during the coverage gap period explained below.
Blue MedicareRX offers gap coverage for a $136.20 monthly premium with a higher star rating. Like the other plans, it has no deductible and begins paying for prescriptions immediately.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING | GAP COVERAGE |
| Wellcare | $69.00 | $0 | 3 | No |
| Aetna | $72.50 | $0 | 3 | Yes |
| $101.00 | $0 | 3 | Yes | |
| Blue MedicareRX | $136.20 | $0 | 4 | Yes |
Part D plans with gap coverage
Part D plans with gap coverage provide discounts on your prescriptions once you reach the coverage gap phase, explained further below. Carriers like offer gap coverage for $29.30 a month with a $310 deductible.
Blue MedicareRX offers a zero-dollar deductible plan for $136.20 monthly with the same star rating. This plan includes gap coverage and an immediate start for it to pay prescription costs.
Aetna’s $72.50 premium has a lower star rating than the other two plans. However, it has a zero-dollar deductible and gap coverage.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING | GAP COVERAGE |
| $29.30 | $310 | 4 | Yes | |
| Cigna | $55.60 | $100 | 3 | Yes |
| Aetna | $72.50 | $0 | 3 | Yes |
| $101.00 | $0 | 3 | Yes | |
| Blue MedicareRX | $136.20 | $0 | 4 | Yes |
Part D plans with Low-income Subsidies
If you can’t pay premiums, you may be among the 46,384 Rhode Islanders who qualify for a Part D plan with a low-income subsidy to assist with premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. Because of the assistance provided, premium prices don’t vary much, as with Wellcare’s $33.50 monthly premium and $480 deductible.
Aetna’s premium is slightly higher at $33.60 monthly with the same deductible price. Low-income subsidy plans like this don’t have a coverage gap, so they don’t include gap coverage.
These rules apply regardless of the carrier, like , whose higher premium at $35 a month with the same deductible will still not have a coverage gap. The main difference is its four-star effectiveness rating.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING | GAP COVERAGE |
| Wellcare | $33.50 | $480 | 3 | No |
| Cigna | $33.50 | $480 | 3 | No |
| Aetna | $33.60 | $480 | 3 | No |
| $35.00 | $480 | 4 | No | |
| Elixir | $36.10 | $480 | 3 | No |
Amount of beneficiaries that fall into each Part D coverage phase in Rhode Island
Medicare Part D has four phases of coverage: the Deductible Phase, the Initial Coverage Phase, the Coverage Gap (Donut Hole) Phase, and the Catastrophic Phase. Prescription drug copays change depending on the phase.
The chart below shows that most Rhode Islander beneficiaries stay within the Deductible and Initial Coverage Phases.
| Deductible Phase | Initial Coverage Phase | Coverage Gap Phase | Catastrophic Phase |
| 55,287 | 67,499 | 18,711 | 13,293 |
Rhode Island cities with estimated premiums for Medicare Part D prescription coverage
Medicare Part D prescription drug plans for the cities listed below have estimated premiums that you can access with the accompanying charts linked below:
FAQs
Can I add Medicare Part D at any time in Rhode Island?
You can only add Medicare during one of four enrollment periods:
- Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): occurs the year you turn 65, including the three months before your birth month, your birth month, and the three months after
- Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): occurring yearly from October 15 to December 7, with coverage beginning January 1
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (MAOEP): occurring yearly from January 1 to March 31, during which you can add a Medicare Part D plan to your coverage if you get or want to replace an MA plan
- Special Enrollment Period (SEP): occurs under unusual circumstances, such as when losing a plan or moving to an address outside of your plans coverage area
Is Medicare Part D optional or mandatory in Rhode Island?
Medicare Part D is not mandatory in Rhode Island. However, if you don’t enroll in a plan once you are eligible, you may need to pay a late fee later.
The payment requirement usually occurs if you spend 63 or more days in a row with neither a Part D nor an MA plan after becoming eligible.
What are the four phases of Medicare Part D coverage in Rhode Island?
The four phases of Medicare Part D coverage are:
- In the Deductible Phase: You pay for prescriptions out-of-pocket
- In the Initial Coverage Phase: The plan starts to pay alongside copays
- The Coverage Gap (Donut Hole) Phase: You pay 25% of the prescription cost
- The Catastrophic Phase: You pay 5% of your prescription cost at maximum
The amount you pay out of pocket for your prescriptions changes depending on the phase.
How do I avoid the Medicare Part D donut hole in Rhode Island?
Reducing prescription costs is the best way to avoid the Medicare Part D donut hole. You can purchase generic brands of medication instead of brand-name versions.
Ordering prescriptions by mail may reduce costs if the pharmacy offers mail-in discounts. The Rhode Island Department of Human Services also has state-regulated prescription assistance programs.
Does Social Security automatically deduct for Part D in Rhode Island?
No, the Social Security Administration does not automatically deduct Part D premiums from Social Security checks in any state. After filling out a form, you can deduct the premiums from your Social Security payments.
How to get help signing up for a Medicare Part D plan in Rhode Island
Technical language and complex policy requirements often complicate the process of obtaining Medicare Part D. We are here to help!
Our agents give details on the Part D options for all carriers and help you compare potential plans to make a confident decision. Their help is completely free to you!
So give us a call or fill out our online rate form to receive the best rates in your area of Rhode Island.
