In the state of Virginia, Medicare Part D has 969,474 enrollees. Of these enrollees, 690,661 have private prescription insurance. Many of these Medicare participants, especially new enrollees, have questions about Medicare Part D, how it works, and what it means for them. If you’re new to supplemental Medicare insurance or changing your plan, consider your options in Virginia.
Virginia Medicare Part D prescription drug plans for 2024
Medicare Part D is a supplemental but stand-alone plan that covers prescription drug costs and some costs that other parts of Medicare don’t. It has some unusual features, such as a gap in coverage called the “donut-hole” and a penalty for delaying enrollment after you become eligible.
Part D plans with the lowest premium
The Aetna plan has a $7.10 premium, the lowest of the programs included in this comparison. It has a 3-star rating and a $480 deductible. It does not include gap coverage.
The highest-rated plan in this list that does not have gap coverage is a Humana program with a $480 deductible. It’s a four-star plan and has a monthly premium of $23.20.
The only plan on this list that includes gap coverage is , which has the highest premium ($28.90). It has a four-star rating and a lower deductible ($310).
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING | GAP COVERAGE |
| Aetna | $7.10 | $480 | 3 | No |
| Wellcare | $11.70 | $480 | 3 | No |
| Humana | $22.70 | $480 | 4 | No |
| Clear Spring | $23.20 | $480 | 2 | No |
| $28.90 | $310 | 4 | Yes |
Part D plans with a zero-dollar deductible
Aetna’s zero-deductible plan has a premium of $62.40, making it the most economical choice for individuals with low or no expected drug costs. It has gap coverage and a 3-star rating.
Anthem is the only Virginia Medicare Part D plan with a four-star rating in this list of zero-deductible programs. It has a $68.50 premium and gap coverage.
The priciest plan on this list of zero-premium programs is from , with a premium of $97.30. It’s a three-star plan that includes gap coverage.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING | GAP COVERAGE |
| Aetna | $62.40 | $0 | 3 | Yes |
| Wellcare | $68.30 | $0 | 3 | No |
| Anthem | $68.50 | $0 | 4 | Yes |
| $97.30 | $0 | 3 | Yes |
Part D plans with gap coverage
The plan with the highest star rating on the list is the Anthem plan (a 5-star plan). It has gap coverage, a $0 deductible, and a premium is $68.50.
Aetna offers a zero-deductible plan with gap coverage. It has a 3-star rating, and its premium is $62.40.
The plan with the lowest premium on the list is a 4-star program from . It has a $310 deductible. The premium is $28.90.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING | GAP COVERAGE |
| $28.90 | $310 | 4 | Yes | |
| Aetna | $62.40 | $0 | 3 | Yes |
| Cigna | $67.10 | $100 | 3 | Yes |
| Anthem | $68.50 | $0 | 5 | Yes |
| $97.30 | $0 | 3 | Yes |
Part D plans with a Low-Income Subsidy
The plan with the lowest premium among the group with a low-income subsidy is the Clear Spring plan, with a $28.90 premium. It has a 2-star rating. Like all the plans on this list, they don’t offer gap coverage and have a $480 deductible.
offers a plan with a 4-star rating and a $30.90 premium. The program does not have gap coverage; the deductible is $480.
Wellcare has a plan that has slightly lower premiums ($29.80). It’s a 3-star plan and lacks gap coverage. Like the other plans, its deductible is $480.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING | GAP COVERAGE |
| Clear Spring | $28.90 | $480 | 2 | No |
| Aetna | $29.20 | $480 | 3 | No |
| Wellcare | $29.80 | $480 | 3 | No |
| $30.90 | $480 | 4 | No | |
| Humana | $33.00 | $480 | 4 | No |
Amount of beneficiaries that fall into each Part D coverage phase
Unlike Medicare Parts A and B, Fee For Service (FFS) plans, Medicare Part D is a supplemental plan that depends on private insurance company coverage. Medicare Part D includes four phases of coverage. Medicare enrollees don’t receive coverage in the deductible phase but are covered for expenses during the initial coverage phase.
Part D gap coverage plans provide coverage for the “donut hole” or coverage gap phase until medical spending reaches the threshold for catastrophic phase coverage. The table below shows the number of people in each phase of Medicare coverage.
| Deductible Phase | Initial Coverage Phase | Coverage Gap Phase | Catastrophic Phase |
| 262,496 | 390,380 | 108,364 | 78,981 |
Cities in Virginia with estimated premiums for Part D prescription drug coverage
Estimated premiums for prescription drug coverage for the cities listed below can be seen on the accompanying charts linked below:
FAQs
What is Medicare Part D plan best in Virginia?
The best Virginia Medicare Part D plan depends on your priorities. Anthem’s zero-premium plan has a high rating. It includes gap coverage and has a reasonable premium of $68.50. The methods for enrollees requiring a low-income subsidy are similar, but the Clear Spring plan has a low premium. In contrast, the UnitedHealthcare (MedicareRx Saver Plus) and Humana plans have the highest star rating.
What is the main problem with Medicare Part D in Virginia?
The biggest underlying problem with Medicare Part D is that it does not fully address the high cost of pharmaceuticals in the US Beneficiaries feel pressure to enroll in plans to avoid penalties, whether they need them or not. Even if they have coverage, the “donut hole” means they have to get gap coverage to cover some costs.
What is the average cost of a Medicare Part D plan in Virginia?
Premiums range from under $10 to nearly $100. The total cost of prescription drug coverage can be more than premium costs. The enrollee pays drug costs until they reach the deductible once they are in the donut hole gap phase.
Is Medicare Part D Automatically Deducted From Social Security in Virginia?
You can choose to have your Virginia Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage or Medicare Advantage premiums deducted from your monthly Social Security benefit.
How are Medicare Part D Premiums Paid in Virginia?
Your payment can be automatically deducted from your monthly benefits if you want. You can send payments directly to the company that provides your Part D coverage. For more information about Part D payments, contact the policy’s provider.
How to get help signing up for a Virginia Medicare Part D plan
If you turn 65 in the next three months or 65 within the past three months, now is the time to enroll in Medicare. Contact Medigap for more information about the Initial Enrollment Period.
Call us at the number above if you have any questions about Medicare coverage. Or, use the contact form to get rates. We’ll help you find the supplemental Medicare insurance you need.
