In other words, 30% of all 2021 Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage will have a $0 premium and a $0 initial deductible for Medicare Part D drugs (1,248 $0/$0 plans out of a total of 4,186 MAPD plans) - as compared to 26% of MAPDs in 2020.
As might be expected, the highest concentration of $0/$0 Medicare Advantage plans are located in Florida and California.
However, 47 different states will have one or more counties where Medicare beneficiaries will have access to at least one Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage with a $0 deductible and has a $0 monthly premium plan.
As an example, Miami-Dade County, Florida offers 36 Medicare Advantage plans (MAPDs) with a $0 deductible and $0 monthly premium, 32 of these plans have some Gap (or Donut Hole) Coverage and 19 of those Medicare Advantage plans have a MOOP of $3,450 or less.
| 2021 Medicare
Advantage plans (MAPDs) with No Initial Deductible ($0) and No Monthly Premium ($0) |
||||||
| Medicare Advantage Plan Type (MAPD) |
Gap (Donut Hole) Coverage | 2021 Plans | 2020 Plans | Change '20 to '21 |
2019 Plans | 2018 Plans |
| Local HMO | No Gap Coverage | 333 | 283 | 50 | 215 | 171 |
| Local HMO | Yes | 683 | 536 | 147 | 419 | 313 |
| Local PPO | No Gap Coverage | 88 | 46 | 42 | 16 | 6 |
| Local PPO | Yes | 100 | 73 | 27 | 50 | 26 |
| Medicare-Medicaid Plan | No Gap Coverage | 0 |
0 |
0 | 0 |
0 |
| Medicare-Medicaid Plan | All Generics and All Brands | 44 | 44 | 0 | 50 | 54 |
| PFFS | No Gap Coverage | 0 |
0 |
0 | 0 |
0 |
| Regional PPO | No Gap Coverage | 0 |
0 |
0 | 0 |
0 |
| Total Plans | 1,248 | 982 | 266 | 750 | 570 | |
As a reminder: Be sure to look beyond the $0 premium and $0 deductible!
As you review your 2021 Medicare plan options, be sure the Medicare Advantage plan you are considering also:
- has an acceptable annual Medicare Part
A and Part B Maximum
Out-of-Pocket limit (or MOOP),
- has a healthcare network including the
physicians or health care providers that you can visit (with acceptable limits
on out-of-network healthcare), and
- provides a formulary (drug list) most affordably covering your prescription drugs (and includes your local pharmacies in their network).
Need additional help finding a plan?
If you are unsure about your Medicare Advantage plan options, contact a Medicare representative at 1-800-633-4227.
You can also use our MA-Finder to preview all $0 Premium 2021 Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage available in your area (just enter your ZIP code after clicking on the link or go to MA-Finder.com to start.)