2025 Medicare Part D Plans

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When it comes to your drug coverage in retirement there is only Medicare and if you choose to stay in Original Medicare things have become even more complex with the 2025 Medicare Part D Plans.

According to the Centers for Medicare Services in 2025 there will be only 788 Part D Plans available throughout the nation.

Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act premiums for just the Basic Part D Plans will decrease from last year while other Part D Plans, Enhanced Plans, will become much more expensive.

The Difference between Basic and Enhanced Part D Plans:

The biggest difference between the two types of Part D Plans in 2025 besides the costs happens to be the number of drugs that will be covered throughout the year.

Basic Part D Plans:

Across the nation there are 341 Basic Plans in 2025 with ach state providing between 5 to 8 Plans to choose from.

Basic Plans offer a standard monthly premium and cover the essential benefits Medicare requires.

Coverage typically provides:

  • Prescription drugs in the plan’s formulary (drug list).
  • Standard cost-sharing arrangements which include deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance while premiums will vary on both the Part D Plan and location.

Cost for Basic Part D plans (national average):

  • Monthly premium: $45.73 a month.
    • Every state has a at least a few Part D Plans with a much lower monthly premium.
  • Deductible: $590.00 for the year.
    • All Basic Plans have a deductible.
  • Total Cost (premium and monthly deductible): $94.90 a month.

Enhanced Part D Plans

In 2025 there are 447 Enhanced Plans nationwide with each state having between 7 to 10 Plans to choose from.

Enhanced Plans offer a broader range of drugs that are not included in the Basic formulary.

These Plans may also have an additional premium on top of the Basic premium. This is known as the “Supplemental Premium”.

Coverage typically includes:

  • A larger number of prescription drugs that will have coverage than the Basic Plan.
  • Cost-sharing of copayments or coinsurance may be lower than the Basic Plan.
  • Coverage during the coverage gap (the “donut hole”).

Note: The “Supplemental Premium” is entirely optional and is only available if you choose a plan that offers enhanced benefits beyond the Basic Plan. Remember, not all plans include this.

Cost for Enhanced Part D Plans (national average):

  • Monthly premium: $74.79 a month.
    • Every state has a at least a few Part D Plans with a much lower monthly premium.
  • Deductible: $514.13 for the year.
    • Deductibles vary with each Plan and every state has a couple of Plans with no deductible at all.
  • Total Cost (premium and monthly deductible): $105.66 a month.

Example between the 2 types of Plans:

A Part D plan may charge a $30 Basic Premium for standard coverage.

If the same plan offers extra benefits, it may charge an additional $10 Supplemental Premium for those enhancements. So, your total premium would be $40 if you choose that enhanced plan.

Which type of Plan is best for you?

When it comes to deciding on any Part D Plan cost is secondary.

The most important aspect in choosing any Part D plan is if your drugs will be covered or not.

Basic Plans do offer a wide selection of drugs that are covered, but, again, regardless of cost if you are prescribed certain drugs an Enhanced Part D Plan may be the way to go.

To see if a Part D Plan will cover your drugs in 2025 we strongly recommend that you visit Medicare’s Plan Finder website which you can access at Medicare Plan Finder.

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