Free tool
Part D total cost estimator
The plan with the lowest premium is frequently not the cheapest plan. Put three plans side by side here and compare what a year actually costs on each.
Three plans, one honest total
Enter the premium, deductible and your combined monthly copays for each plan you are considering. The copay figures come from each plan’s summary of benefits, or from Medicare’s Plan Finder once your drug list is entered.
What this tool cannot do
- It uses the copay figures you enter; it does not look up formularies for you
- It assumes your drugs stay on the same tier for the whole year
- It does not model coinsurance that varies with the drug’s list price
- It does not apply Extra Help, manufacturer assistance or state pharmacy programs
- A real comparison needs your actual drug list run against actual plan formularies — that part we do by hand, for free
Calculators are for orientation. Before you act on a number, have a licensed person check it against your actual situation — that part is free.
Questions about this tool
Where do I find the copay figures to enter?
They are in each plan’s summary of benefits, listed by tier, and on Medicare’s Plan Finder once you have entered your drug list. If you would rather not do that, send us your drug list and we will run every plan in your county for you at no charge.
What is the out-of-pocket cap?
An annual ceiling on what you pay for covered prescription drugs. Once your out-of-pocket spending reaches it, your covered drugs cost nothing for the rest of the plan year. The amount is set each year — the estimator lets you enter the current figure.
Why does the cheapest premium so often lose?
Because plans differ enormously in how they treat individual drugs. The same medication can be a preferred generic on one plan and a non-preferred brand on another, a difference measured in hundreds of dollars a year — far more than the premium gap.
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