Exactly 120,464 beneficiaries enrolled in South Dakota Medicare Part D plans out of the entire 44,443,044 citizens in the United States enrolled.
Stand-alone prescription drug plans had 107,617 South Dakota enrollees, while Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) Plans had 14,762 enrollees.
South Dakota Medicare Part D plans for 2024
South Dakota Medicare Part D is one of the four parts of Medicare and is a type of insurance you pick through a private insurer to cover prescription drug costs from your pharmacy. Your plan must be equivalent to or better than the standard Medicare model.
Below, we cover your most affordable insurance options’ premiums, deductibles, gap coverages, and low-income subsidies.
Part D plans with the lowest premium
Premiums refer to how much you must pay each month for the plan. The lowest premium plans usually have much higher deductibles since you pay less upfront. The star ratings below depict the plan’s overall effectiveness.
Aetna has the lowest premium of only $6.80, with a $480 deductible. This insurer doesn’t provide gap coverage and has a mediocre three-star rating.
At a slightly higher premium of $10.60, Wellcare offers the same $480 deductible and a three-star rating. You can’t get gap insurance from Wellcare.
The more expensive option with a $29.30 premium, , has a four-star rating and offers gap coverage. This insurer also has the lowest deductible of $310.
| 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 |
| $29.30 | $310 | 4 | Yes |
Part D plans with a zero-dollar deductible
A zero-dollar deductible can offer tremendous benefits. Lower deductibles require much higher monthly premiums. You pay more upfront so that you can spend less in the future.
Wellcare provides this decreased deductible benefit, though you must pay an increased monthly cost of $68.90. This insurer doesn’t include gap coverage, and its ratings are sub-par.
If you need gap coverage, consider Aetna for a slightly increased premium of $79.90. Aetna also has a zero-dollar deductible and a three-star rating.
MedicareBlue RX has the best effectiveness reviews out of all the zero-deductible options, with a four-star rating. The premium for MedicareBlue RX is $116.10, and it offers gap coverage.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING | GAP COVERAGE |
| Wellcare | $68.90 | $0 | 3 | No |
| Aetna | $79.90 | $0 | 3 | Yes |
| $97.00 | $0 | 3 | Yes | |
| MedicareBlue RX | $116.10 | $0 | 4 | Yes |
Part D plans with gap coverage
The Medicare Part D plan comes with four phases. The third is called the Coverage Gap, or the “donut hole.”
Beneficiaries in this phase must pay for part of your prescription costs. If you end up in the “donut hole,” some plans offer gap coverage to help you pay the remaining drug expenses.
offers gap coverage, a four-star rating, and a monthly premium of only $29.30. This low premium means you’ll have to pay the $310 deductible.
Cigna is another gap coverage option with a lower deductible of only $100. This insurer costs $52 per month and has a three-star rating.
If you want a zero-dollar deductible and four-star rating, choose MedicareBlue RX. To enjoy these benefits, you must pay a monthly premium of $116.10.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING | GAP COVERAGE |
| $29.30 | $310 | 4 | Yes | |
| Cigna | $52.00 | $100 | 3 | Yes |
| Aetna | $79.90 | $0 | 3 | Yes |
| $97.00 | $0 | 3 | Yes | |
| MedicareBlue RX | $116.10 | $0 | 4 | Yes |
Part D plans with a Low-Income Subsidy
Out of the total 120,464 South Dakota Medicare Part D beneficiaries, the government deems 21,736 eligible for Low-Income Subsidy (LIS). LIS allows beneficiaries to stay out of the “donut hole” and pay less for prescription drugs.
With the lowest monthly cost and star rating, Clear Spring offers premiums at $29.30 per month. The deductible costs $480, you can’t receive gap coverage, and the plan only has an effectiveness score of two.
Wellcare offers the same $480 deductible for a few more dollars each month but with a three-star rating. Wellcare plans cost $32.90 per month.
offers the highest effectiveness rating, though the deductible is still $480, and the plan’s premium is $36.20. You can’t get gap coverage with this plan.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING | GAP COVERAGE |
| Clear Spring | $29.30 | $480 | 2 | No |
| Wellcare | $32.90 | $480 | 3 | No |
| Aetna | $34.80 | $480 | 3 | No |
| $36.20 | $480 | 4 | No | |
| Cigna | $39.10 | $480 | 3 | No |
Amount of beneficiaries that fall into each Part D coverage phase in South Dakota
The four phases of the Medicare Part D program are the Deductible Phase, Initial Coverage Phase, Coverage Gap Phase (donut hole), and Catastrophic Phase.
The table below depicts how many South Dakota residents fall into each. You can tell by the following numbers that most beneficiaries stay in the first two phases.
| Deductible Phase | Initial Coverage Phase | Coverage Gap Phase | Catastrophic Phase |
| 46,536 | 46,950 | 13,702 | 9,198 |
Estimated Part D prescription drug plan premiums for South Dakota cities
The accompanying charts linked below provide the estimated premiums for each type of Part D prescription drug coverage for the cities listed:
FAQs
Does Medicare Part D coverage in South Dakota differ from other states?
Medicare as a whole doesn’t differ between states, though Medicare Part D coverage does. Since Part D coverage comes from private insurers, the costs and policies change depending on where you live. South Dakota doesn’t have the densest population, so it doesn’t offer as many plan options.
What are the two types of Medicare Part D plans in South Dakota?
The two types of Medicare Part D plans in South Dakota are Medicare Advantage and stand-alone. Medicare Advantage uses Medicare-approved insurers. Stand-alone plans work alongside your Original Medicare coverage.
What drugs aren’t covered by Medicare Part D in South Dakota?
Medicare Part D in South Dakota doesn’t cover medications for anorexia, weight loss, weight gain, fertility, hair growth, erectile dysfunction, cold symptoms, or cosmetic purposes. You also will have to pay out-of-pocket for any over-the-counter medications or prescription vitamins.
Is Medicare Part D optional in South Dakota?
Medicare Part D is optional in South Dakota, though if you enroll too late, you may have to pay an additional fee. Avoid the penalty by registering within the required period.
Can you delay getting Medicare Part D in South Dakota?
You can delay getting Medicare Part D in South Dakota, though you’ll have to pay a late enrollment penalty. The only exceptions for this fee are if you have creditable drug coverage, Extra Help program qualifications, or proof of misinformation.
How to get help signing up for a Medicare Part D plan in South Dakota
Applying for Medicare and picking the best plan is challenging. When you’re ready to sign up for South Dakota Medicare Part D, speak with one of our experts from Medigap.com.
We work with all carriers, our services are free, and we will compare plans to find the best one for you.
Call our agents today or quickly fill out our online rate form to be connected with the best rates in your area.
