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Are there any 2016 Medicare Advantage plans available that offer prescription drug coverage and have a $0 monthly premium with no initial deductible?

Category: Selecting Your Medicare Plan
Published: Nov, 13 2015 03:11:55


Yes. There are quite a few Medicare Advantage plans that offer prescription drug coverage with a $0 deductible and a $0 monthly premium ($0/$0).  In fact in 2016, 1,191 counties (or county equivalents) across the country (that is approximately 38% of all counties) offer $0/$0 MAPD plans.  However, these $0/$0 plans tend to be available in areas that are more heavily populated.  The highest concentration of these plans are in Florida and California, but 41 of the 49 states offering Medicare Advantage plans have at least one $0 deductible / $0 monthly premium plan.

As an example, Miami-Dade County, Florida offers 30 $0/$0 Medicare Advantage plans, 27 of which have some Gap Coverage and 14 of those have a MOOP of $3,400 or less.

2016 Medicare Advantage Plans with
No Deductible and No Monthly Premium
Health Plan Type Gap
(Donut Hole) Coverage
2016 Plans 2015 Plans Change 
'15 to '16
% Change
'15 to '16
2014 Plans
Local HMO No Gap
Coverage
176 198 -22 -11% 234
Local HMO Yes 300 333 -33 -10% 432
Local PPO No Gap
Coverage
13 21 -8 -38% 51
Local PPO Yes 13 15 -2 13% 8
Medicare-Medicaid Plan No Gap
Coverage
66 32 34 106% 1
Medicare-Medicaid Plan Yes 0 0 no change 3
PFFS No Gap
Coverage
0 0 no change 1
Regional PPO No Gap
Coverage
0 0 no change 9

You can use our MA-Finder to Preview all $0 Premium 2016 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.)

As a reminder:  Be sure to determine whether these $0 premium Medicare Advantage plans have a high annual Medicare Part A and Part B Maximum Out-of-Pocket limit (or MOOP) or whether there are any restrictions on the physicians or health care providers that you can visit.







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  • The Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plan data on our site comes directly from Medicare and is subject to change.
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  • Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, provider network, premium and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year. Our PDPCompare.com and MACompare.com provide highlights of annual plan benefit changes.
  • The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information contact the plan.
  • Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply.
  • We make every effort to show all available Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plans in your service area. However, since our data is provided by Medicare, it is possible that this may not be a complete listing of plans available in your service area. For a complete listing please contact 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day/7 days a week or consult www.medicare.gov.
    Statement required by Medicare:
    "We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options."
  • When enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan, you must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.
  • Medicare beneficiaries with higher incomes may be required to pay both a Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). Read more on IRMAA.
  • Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage (MAPDs) are considered Medicare Part D plans and members with higher incomes may be subject to the Medicare Part D Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA), just as members in stand-alone Part D plans. In certain situations, you can appeal IRMAA.
  • You must be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. Members may enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan only during specific times of the year. Contact the Medicare plan for more information.
  • If you are enrolled in a Medicare plan with Part D prescription drug coverage, you may be eligible for financial Extra Help to assist with the payment of your prescription drug premiums and drug purchases. To see if you qualify for Extra Help, call: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week or consult www.medicare.gov; the Social Security Office at 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. TTY users should call, 1-800-325-0778; or your state Medicaid Office.
  • Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-Star rating system. Star Ratings are calculated each year and may change from one year to the next.
  • A Medicare Advantage Private Fee-for-Service plan (PFFS) is not a Medicare supplement plan. Providers who do not contract with the plan are not required to see you except in an emergency.
  • Disclaimer for Institutional Special Needs Plan (SNP): This plan is available to anyone with Medicare who meets the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) level of care and resides in a nursing home.
  • Disclaimer for Dual Eligible (Medicare/Medicaid) Special Needs Plan (SNP): This plan is available to anyone who has both Medical Assistance from the State and Medicare. Premiums, co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles may vary based on the level of Extra Help you receive. Please contact the plan for further details.
  • Disclaimer for Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan (SNP): This plan is available to anyone with Medicare who has been diagnosed with the plan specific Chronic Condition.
  • Medicare MSA Plans combine a high deductible Medicare Advantage Plan and a trust or custodial savings account (as defined and/or approved by the IRS). The plan deposits money from Medicare into the account. You can use this money to pay for your health care costs, but only Medicare-covered expenses count toward your deductible. The amount deposited is usually less than your deductible amount, so you generally have to pay out-of-pocket before your coverage begins.
  • Medicare MSA Plans do not cover prescription drugs. If you join a Medicare MSA Plan, you can also join any separate (stand-alone) Medicare Part D prescription drug plan
  • There are additional restrictions to join an MSA plan, and enrollment is generally for a full calendar year unless you meet certain exceptions. Those who disenroll during the calendar year will owe a portion of the account deposit back to the plan. Contact the plan provider for additional information.
  • Medicare beneficiaries may enroll through the CMS Medicare Online Enrollment Center located at www.medicare.gov.
  • Medicare beneficiaries can file a complaint with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services by calling 1-800-MEDICARE 24 hours a day/7 days or using the medicare.gov site. Beneficiaries can appoint a representative by submitting CMS Form-1696.