By design, Original Medicare doesn't provide prescription drug coverage. If you need prescription drugs, you can purchase a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.
There are a number of prescription drug plans to choose from depending on where you live. Each plan has a different level of coverage with premiums, deductibles and copays to fit your health needs and budget. If you're shopping for a Medicare prescription drug plan, it's important to learn each plan's coverage and costs to decide which may be best for you.
NH, ME, DC, DE, MD, SC, GA, MO, CO, AK, NY, AR, KS, CA, FL, MS, NC, NV, OH, TX, OK 1
AL, AZ, CT, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MI, MN, MT, ND, NE, NJ, NM, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY 1
you fill your prescriptions primarily at Walgreens pharmacies
you want our most extensive drug coverage and access to a broad pharmacy network
you want a more robust pharmacy network
you receive Extra Help from Medicare
$0 for Drug Tier 1
$410 for Drug Tiers 2-5
Coverage gap 4
$2 for Tier 1 drugs; for Tier 2 to Tier 5 drugs you pay no more than 25% of the total cost for generic drugs or 25% of the total cost for brand name drugs, for any drug tier during the coverage gap
You pay no more than 25% of the total cost for generic drugs or 25% of the total cost for brand name drugs, for any drug tier during the coverage gap
You pay no more than 25% of the total cost for generic drugs or 25% of the total cost for brand name drugs, for any drug tier during the coverage gap
You pay no more than 25% of the total cost for generic drugs or 25% of the total cost for brand name drugs, for any drug tier during the coverage gap
Copays as low as $2 when you fill your prescription at a Walgreens pharmacy 1, 3, 6
Use a Preferred Retail Network pharmacy to get your plan’s lowest cost-shares 6
Copays as low as $2 when you fill your prescription at a Preferred Retail Network pharmacy 1,3, 6
Copays as low as $2 when you fill your prescription at a Preferred Retail Network pharmacy 1,3, 6
$6 copay for a 90-day supply of Tier 1 medication (typically generic drugs) 5
$0 copay for a 90-day supply of Tier 1 and Tier 2 medication (typically generic drugs) 5
Low copay for a 90-day supply of Tier 1 medication (typically generic drugs) 5
$6 copay for a 90-day supply of Tier 1 medication (typically generic drugs) 5
Choose this plan if
you fill your prescriptions primarily at Walgreens pharmacies
$0 for Drug Tier 1
$410 for Drug Tiers 2-5
Coverage gap 4
$2 for Tier 1 drugs; for Tier 2 to Tier 5 drugs you pay no more than 25% of the total cost for generic drugs or 25% of the total cost for brand name drugs, for any drug tier during the coverage gap
Preferred Retail Network
Copays as low as $2 when you fill your prescription at a Walgreens pharmacy 1, 3, 6
Optum Home Delivery Pharmacy
$6 copay for a 90-day supply of Tier 1 medication (typically generic drugs) 5
Choose this plan if
you want our most extensive drug coverage and access to a broad pharmacy network
Coverage gap 4
You pay no more than 25% of the total cost for generic drugs or 25% of the total cost for brand name drugs, for any drug tier during the coverage gap
Preferred Retail Network
Use a Preferred Retail Network pharmacy to get your plan’s lowest cost-shares 6
Optum Home Delivery Pharmacy
$0 copay for a 90-day supply of Tier 1 and Tier 2 medication (typically generic drugs) 5
NH, ME, DC, DE, MD, SC, GA, MO, CO, AK, NY, AR, KS, CA, FL, MS, NC, NV, OH, TX, OK 1
Choose this plan if
you want a more robust pharmacy network
Coverage gap 4
You pay no more than 25% of the total cost for generic drugs or 25% of the total cost for brand name drugs, for any drug tier during the coverage gap
Preferred Retail Network
Copays as low as $2 when you fill your prescription at a Preferred Retail Network pharmacy 1,3, 6
Optum Home Delivery Pharmacy
Low copay for a 90-day supply of Tier 1 medication (typically generic drugs) 5
AL, AZ, CT, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MI, MN, MT, ND, NE, NJ, NM, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY 1
Choose this plan if
you receive Extra Help from Medicare
Coverage gap 4
You pay no more than 25% of the total cost for generic drugs or 25% of the total cost for brand name drugs, for any drug tier during the coverage gap
Preferred Retail Network
Copays as low as $2 when you fill your prescription at a Preferred Retail Network pharmacy 1,3, 6
Optum Home Delivery Pharmacy
$6 copay for a 90-day supply of Tier 1 medication (typically generic drugs) 5
Finding a Medicare prescription drug plan can feel confusing at first. Asking yourself a few questions about how you'll use the plan may help you make a more confident choice.
Use the questions below as a starting point, take some notes, and use the links above to help with your decision.
You need prescription drug coverage, but do you need other health care benefits, too? You might be deciding between a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan and a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage.
Original Medicare Part A and Part B don't include prescription drug coverage. A Medicare Part D prescription drug plan helps cover the costs of medication. If you have Original Medicare coverage and only need to add prescription drug coverage, consider a UnitedHealthcare Part D. These plans can help you save money and provide greater peace of mind. Each plan includes commonly used generic and brand name prescription drugs, and has slightly different coverage and drug lists.
If you're looking for more complete coverage, there's an all-in-one option. Many Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans include prescription drug coverage and offer more benefits than Original Medicare. A Medicare Advantage plan provides doctor, hospital and prescription drug coverage with a range of monthly premiums — some as low as $0.
Medicare Advantage plans may include:
Remember: Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Prescription Drug plans cover a certain set of prescription drugs. Before enrolling, be sure to check each plan's drug list (formulary) to see if your medications are covered. If you already have prescription drug coverage, make sure your prescriptions are covered next year, too.
To make it easier to find the plan you need, UnitedHealthcare provides information and tools to help you get informed before you choose.
Answer a few basic questions, and UnitedHealthcare will give you plan recommendations.
Learn the basics of how Part D prescription drug plans work.
If you lose employer coverage, you have only a short time to choose a Part D plan without paying a penalty.
Chat is currently unavailable.
Please try again later.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week
Go to the member site to see your plan benefit information.
Footnotes
Benefits, features and/or devices vary by plan/area. Limitations, exclusions and/or network restrictions may apply.
1 Not all plans available in all areas.
AARP Preferred from UHC (PDP), AARP Medicare Rx Saver from UHC (PDP), and AARP Medicare Rx Basic from UHC (PDP) plans: Member may use any pharmacy in the network but may not receive preferred retail pharmacy pricing. Pharmacies in the Preferred Retail Pharmacy Network may not be available in all areas. Copays apply after deductible.
AARP Medicare Rx Walgreens from UHC (PDP) plan: Member may use any pharmacy in the network but may not receive the same pricing as Walgreens or Duane Reade, the plan's preferred retail pharmacies. Walgreens pharmacies may not be available in all areas. Duane Reade is only available in NY and NJ. Tier 1 $2 generic cost share applies to all drug payment stages except Catastrophic Drug Payment Stage where the member pays $0. Tier 2-5 member cost share applies after deductible. $15 or more savings for the AARP Medicare Rx Walgreens (PDP) plan applies to Tier 1 drugs when filled at a Walgreens or Duane Reade preferred retail pharmacy compared to a standard network pharmacy.
The Preferred Retail Pharmacy Network is not available for the AARP Medicare Rx Preferred from UHC (PDP) plan in the following territories: Guam, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands or Northern Mariana Islands. Copays apply after deductible.
2 The AARP Medicare Rx Preferred from UHC (PDP) plan will have a $545 deductible in the following territories: Guam, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Northern Mariana Islands.
3 Copay applies to Tier 1 preferred retail pharmacy prescriptions. Copays may vary by state.
4 If your drug is not eligible for coverage under Medicare Part D, you will pay the full cost of the drug. Refer to plan specific documents for an explanation of costs in the coverage gap stage.
5 Optum® Home Delivery Pharmacy is not available for the AARP Medicare Rx Preferred from UHC (PDP) plan in the following territories: Guam, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands or Northern Mariana Islands.
$0 copay may be restricted to particular tiers, preferred medications, or home delivery prescriptions during the initial coverage phase and may not apply during the coverage gap or catastrophic coverage stages. Optum Home Delivery Pharmacy and Optum Rx are affiliates of UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company. You are not required to use Optum Home Delivery Pharmacy for a 90-/100-day supply of your maintenance medication. If you have not used Optum Home Delivery Pharmacy, you must approve the first prescription order sent directly from your doctor before it can be filled. Contact Optum Home Delivery Pharmacy any time at 1-888-658-0539 / TTY 711.
6 AARP Medicare Rx Preferred from UHC (PDP)'s pharmacy network includes limited lower-cost pharmacies in rural AK, MT, NE, ND, SD and WY. There are an extremely limited number of preferred cost share pharmacies in suburban MT. AARP Medicare Rx Saver from UHC (PDP)’s pharmacy network includes limited lower-cost pharmacies in rural AK. AARP Medicare Rx Basic from UHC (PDP)’s pharmacy network includes limited lower-cost pharmacies in rural MT, NE, ND, SD and WY. There are an extremely limited number of preferred cost share pharmacies in suburban MT. AARP Medicare Rx Walgreens from UHC (PDP)’s pharmacy network includes limited lower-cost pharmacies in urban ND; suburban HI and PA; and rural AK, AR, HI, IA, ID, KS, MN, MS, MT, NE, OK, PA, SD and WY. There are an extremely limited number of preferred cost share pharmacies in suburban MT, ND and rural ND. The lower costs advertised in our plan materials for these pharmacies may not be available at the pharmacy you use. For up-to-date information about our network pharmacies, including whether there are any lower-cost preferred pharmacies in your area, please call us or consult the online pharmacy directory.
