How to Find the Best Part D Plan for Your Medications
The most important factor in choosing a Part D plan is how it covers your specific medications. Each plan has a formulary (list of covered drugs) with different tier placements and costs for each medication.
Your "best" plan minimizes total annual cost: premium + deductible + copays throughout the year. A low-premium plan may cost more overall if your medications are on expensive tiers.
Pharmacy choice also matters. Plans have preferred pharmacies with lower copays. If you prefer CVS, a plan with CVS as a preferred pharmacy will likely cost less than one that doesn't.
Part D Changes for 2025
Starting in 2025, Medicare Part D has a $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap on prescription costs. This is a major improvement that protects beneficiaries from catastrophic drug expenses.
This cap affects plan comparisons—plans that were previously expensive due to coverage gaps now become more comparable. However, monthly premiums and formulary coverage still vary significantly.
The insulin cap of $35/month continues in 2025, benefiting Broward County's many diabetic beneficiaries regardless of which Part D plan they choose.
Pharmacy Options in Broward County
Broward County has extensive pharmacy options including major chains (CVS, Walgreens, Publix, Walmart) and independent pharmacies. Each Part D plan has different preferred pharmacy designations.
Mail order pharmacy is another option that often provides 90-day supplies at lower cost. Most plans have preferred mail order pharmacies with additional savings.
Compare pharmacy costs for your specific medications—the same drug can cost very different amounts at different pharmacies under the same plan.