Roughly 848,039 Wisconsin residents currently have a Medicare Part D plan. Among those enrollees, 399,300 had a Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan, compared to the 458,640 standalone prescription drug plan enrollees.
Wisconsin Medicare Part D prescription drug plans for 2024
Wisconsin Medicare Part D plans are an optional part of Original Medicare that covers prescription drugs in Wisconsin. Several national and Wisconsin-based private insurance companies offer Part D plans with different benefits and price points. We’ll compare many of them here to help you find the best option.
Part D plans with the lowest premium
Premium payments are what you’ll owe per month for your Wisconsin Medicare Part D plans. Many providers tailor their Part D plans with low premiums for enrollee-friendly repeated costs but need to include high-priced deductibles to balance the expenses.
Aetna’s low-premium Part D plan has the most affordable monthly payments of any option in Wisconsin at $6.60. However, its $480 deductible is one of the state’s highest, and the plan’s star rating, a measurement of how much a plan covers on a one-to-five scale, sits in the middle of the road at three.
UnitedHealthcare’s low-premium Part D plan makes up for some of Aetna’s issues with a four-star rating and a more affordable $310 deductible. However, its $25.20 premium payment costs more than four similar plans in Wisconsin. Humana offers a more favorable alternative to UnitedHealthcare for enrollees prioritizing cheaper premiums over deductible costs. Like UnitedHealthcare, Humana’s low-premium Part D plan has a four-star rating but offers a $ 22.70 premium and a $480 deductible.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING | GAP COVERAGE |
| Aetna | $6.60 | $480 | 3 | No |
| Wellcare | $9.80 | $480 | 3 | No |
| Clear Spring | $16.70 | $480 | 2 | No |
| Humana | $22.70 | $480 | 4 | No |
| UnitedHealthcare | $25.20 | $310 | 4 | Yes |
Part D plans with a zero-dollar deductible
You pay deductibles out of pocket before your Wisconsin Medicare Part D plans kick in. Wisconsin has several zero-dollar deductible plans, including many with high ratings and three with premiums below $100. Aetna has the state’s most affordable zero-dollar deductible plan, with required premiums of just $45. This plan also has a three-star rating.
WPS Health has a more highly rated but more expensive alternative to Aetna. Their Part D plan has a four-star rating, but the monthly premium payments cost $133.30. Anthem’s zero-dollar deductible Part D plan offers a middle ground between the two. Its four-star rating is better than Aetna’s, even with WPS Health’s, and its $78.10 premium is cheaper than the latter but slightly costlier.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING | GAP COVERAGE |
| Aetna | $45.00 | $0 | 3 | Yes |
| Wellcare | $69.00 | $0 | 3 | No |
| Anthem | $78.10 | $0 | 4 | Yes |
| UnitedHealthcare | $100.80 | $0 | 3 | Yes |
| WPS Health | $133.30 | $0 | 4 | Yes |
Part D plans with gap coverage
Gap coverage allows you to receive coverage on your Wisconsin Medicare Part D plans before fulfilling your deductible payment. Gap coverage is not standard among Wisconsin’s Part D providers, but a few offer it. Cigna offers one of the most affordable plans with gap coverage with a $45.20 premium and $100 deductible.
UnitedHealthcare’s low-premium plan with a $310 deductible and $25.20 monthly payment includes gap coverage and a four-star rating. Anthem’s Part D plan includes a $78.10 premium, a zero-dollar deductible Part D plan includes gap coverage.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING | GAP COVERAGE |
| UnitedHealthcare | $25.20 | $310 | 4 | Yes |
| Aetna | $45.00 | $0 | 3 | Yes |
| Cigna | $45.20 | $100 | 3 | Yes |
| Anthem | $78.10 | $0 | 4 | Yes |
| WPS Health | $133.30 | $0 | 4 | Yes |
Part D plans With a Low-Income Subsidy
Among Wisconsin’s 848,000+ Part D enrollees, 178,324 are eligible for a low-income subsidy. Every Wisconsin Medicare Part D plan with a low-income subsidy has a $480 deductible and no gap coverage. Aetna’s low-income subsidy plan is Wisconsin’s cheapest, with a $35 monthly premium.
Clear Spring is close behind Aetna with a $35.30 monthly premium, but this plan has a two-star rating compared to Aetna’s three. UnitedHealthcare has a low-income subsidy option as well. This plan has a $41.40 premium but is the only similar Part D plan with a four-star rating.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING | GAP COVERAGE |
| Aetna | $35.00 | $480 | 3 | No |
| Clear Spring | $35.30 | $480 | 2 | No |
| Wellcare | $36.30 | $480 | 3 | No |
| Cigna | $40.40 | $480 | 3 | No |
| UnitedHealthcare | $41.40 | $480 | 4 | No |
Amount of beneficiaries that fall into each Part D coverage phase in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Medicare Part D plans have four coverage phases: the deductible phase, the initial phase, the coverage gap phase, and the catastrophic phase. Depending on the phase you fall into, you’ll have to pay more or less out of pocket for your Part D coverage. The coverage gap (also known as the “donut hole”) phase demands the most out-of-pocket costs, but as you can see, most Wisconsin enrollees fall within the first two phases.
| Deductible Phase | Initial Coverage Phase | Coverage Gap Phase | Catastrophic Phase |
| 304,258 | 283,943 | 87,450 | 66,344 |
Estimated premiums for Part D drug coverage in Wisconsin cities
Estimated Premiums for Part D prescription drug plans for the listed cities can be viewed using the charts provided in the link below:
Green Bay
Kenosha
Madison
Milwaukee
Racine
FAQs
What is the best low-cost Medicare Part D plan in Wisconsin?
Anthem offers a zero-dollar deductible Part D plan with a four-star rating and a premium payment of just $78.10. And while it isn’t the cheapest Part D plan in Wisconsin, it’s more highly rated than the two more affordable options in front of it (Aetna and Wellcare’s zero-dollar deductible plans).
Can you buy Medicare Part D by itself in Wisconsin?
You need to enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B and continue to make your Part B premium payments eligible for Part D coverage. Additionally, you must live within Wisconsin and your provider’s coverage area for a Wisconsin-specific Part D plan.
What does Medicare Part D include in Wisconsin?
Medicare Part D covers the cost of prescription drugs. And while the specific medications that qualify vary with each provider, the federal government requires every Part D plan to cover a prescription in the following categories:
- Antidepressants/anti-anxiety medication
- HIV treatments
- Antipsychotic drugs
- Anticancer drugs
- Immune system support medication
- Treatments for seizure disorders
Do I need Medicare Part D if I don’t take any drugs in Wisconsin?
You won’t have any immediate need for Medicare Part D if you don’t take prescription drugs. However, many people sign up for a Part D plan regardless of their prescription status since the coverage saves them money if they receive a prescription in the future.
When did Part D become mandatory in Wisconsin?
Part D plans are not mandatory in Wisconsin or the United States. But if you decide not to choose one, and don’t have creditable coverage, you’ll pay a late enrollment penalty if you enroll in one at a later date.
How to get help signing up for a Medicare Part D plan in Wisconsin
There is no shortage of options for Wisconsin Medicare Part D plans. Unfortunately, finding the perfect fit for your budget and health needs is often too much of a hassle.
But our licensed insurance agents will compare every Part D plan and provider in Wisconsin to help you confidently commit to the most appropriate one. And best of all, our services are completely free.
So, call us today or fill out our simple online rate form to receive the best rates in your area.
