As in past years, some 2018 Medicare Part D plans are changing their cost-sharing designs for 2019 prescription drug purchases.  For example, the Cigna-HealthSpring Rx Secure-Extra (PDP) will add an additional drug tier to its formulary and the EnvisionRxPlus (PDP) plan in California will change their Tier 3 drugs from a copay of $29 to co-insurance of 15% in 2019.

In the following example, the 2018 Cigna-HealthSpring Rx Secure-Extra plan formulary had five (5) drug tiers.  In comparison, the 2019 Cigna-HealthSpring Rx Secure-Extra plan formulary has added a new 6th drug tier for Select Care Drugs--with a $6 copay.



In the next example, the 2018 California EnvisionRxPlus plan formulary covers 471 medications as Tier Three "Preferred Brand" medications (with a 15% co-insurance).  In comparison, the 2019 EnvisionRxPlus plan formulary covers 470 medications as Tier Three "Preferred Brand" with a $29 copay.


There are approximately 7,640 members in the 2018 EnvisionRxPlus plan who will see this change. The 25,021 members of the AR Blue Cross - Medi-Pak Rx Basic (PDP) will see their cost-sharing Tier 4 Brands change to a 45% co-insurance.

In total, 32,661 members of various stand-alone Medicare Part D plans will see one or more of the drug tiers change cost-sharing from either coinsurance to copay or copay to coinsurance.

To compare annual changes in Medicare plans, our PDP-Compare and MA-Compare tools show the 2018 stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) and Medicare Advantage plans (MAs or MAPDs) across the country and include changes in plan features such as premium, deductible, cost-sharing and formulary size changes. Our compare tools also highlight plans that will be merged or discontinued and new plans being added in 2019.

Not sure where to begin with choosing your Medicare Part D plan?
Medicare beneficiaries can telephone Medicare at 1-800-633-4227, speak with a Medicare representative, and learn more about their 2019 Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan options.