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Ilsa

(63,640 posts)
Mon Nov 24, 2025, 09:44 PM 12 hrs ago

Has anyone had any problems with $0 premium

Medicare Part D coverage? I won't meet my deductible (I take 4 prescription meds) on this or if I renewed my 2025 plan which is doubling in cost.

27 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Has anyone had any problems with $0 premium (Original Post) Ilsa 12 hrs ago OP
Who offers it? SheltieLover 12 hrs ago #1
Humana and WellCare. nt Ilsa 11 hrs ago #8
I've had the Wellcare one & np with it. SheltieLover 11 hrs ago #12
Same here. murielm99 28 min ago #26
My senior center hosting Council on Aging folks is precisely how I found my gap & Part D coverages! SheltieLover 6 min ago #27
You might check UpInArms 12 hrs ago #2
Thank you. There were two $0 premium plans Ilsa 11 hrs ago #7
I had Wellcare last year and will keep it next year RussBLib 10 hrs ago #18
There are drugs on Wellcare that are well over $30. Ms. Toad 9 hrs ago #21
I'm sure you are right RussBLib 36 min ago #25
Just use the website and it'll tell you your total cost for the year including premiums and drugs NoRethugFriends 12 hrs ago #3
Look up your state or county Department of Insurance or 1WorldHope 12 hrs ago #4
Thanks, I'll check out SHIIP. nt Ilsa 11 hrs ago #9
I just signed up for PXR-5 12 hrs ago #5
I have that from Wellcare KT2000 12 hrs ago #6
I thought Wellcare (0 dollars premium) was great for us last year - we are staying with it despite the premium going to NewHendoLib 11 hrs ago #10
Will taking no action renew it for me? SheltieLover 11 hrs ago #13
Yup. Medigap supplementals and part D plans autorenew if no new elections are made. NewHendoLib 10 hrs ago #16
Tyvm, NHL! SheltieLover 10 hrs ago #19
We use both GoodRx and Costco for some of our drugs. Ms. Toad 9 hrs ago #22
THANK YOU EVERYONE! nt Ilsa 11 hrs ago #11
I have Wellcare Part D and it's not 0 premium, not by a longshot. MIButterfly 10 hrs ago #14
You might be able to get your Part D quote Ilsa 10 hrs ago #15
It varies by geography. Ms. Toad 9 hrs ago #23
I have a giveback plan with Devoted to pay Part B...hubs and I have both have it. Demsrule86 10 hrs ago #17
I've been on Wellcare $0 premium. Ms. Toad 9 hrs ago #20
I pay $0 for Wellcare. It's worked well for a year and I'm continuing with it next year. JustABozoOnThisBus 51 min ago #24

murielm99

(32,522 posts)
26. Same here.
Tue Nov 25, 2025, 09:47 AM
28 min ago

I am sticking with it for next year.

We go to our senior center. A person from the state's department on aging compares plans and pharmacies for us and helps us find the best one. This help used to be the best kept secret in the area. I just walked in and got help. Now I need an appointment and I need to either mail or drop off a list of my meds so they can figure it out in advance for me and for my husband. Everyone should look for this type of help in their area.

SheltieLover

(75,288 posts)
27. My senior center hosting Council on Aging folks is precisely how I found my gap & Part D coverages!
Tue Nov 25, 2025, 10:09 AM
6 min ago

Great resource, free, & no ins broker involved to take advantage of us!

Ilsa

(63,640 posts)
7. Thank you. There were two $0 premium plans
Mon Nov 24, 2025, 10:21 PM
11 hrs ago

from WellCare in my zip code. It has the highest rating for no-cost, low-cost plans.

RussBLib

(10,375 posts)
18. I had Wellcare last year and will keep it next year
Mon Nov 24, 2025, 11:44 PM
10 hrs ago

Hard to beat a $0 premium and since all my meds are generic, the Rx's are $0 too. For the rare issue requiring a name-brand, those Rx's are never over $30. I thought they might increase costs for the next year, but I'll bet this one is a loss leader of some kind, taking a loss on $0 meds and enabling the company to write off elsewhere on their taxes, but I'm no accountant.

It's nice to find something that actually works well, and for me, it has.

Sounds like you got your answer.

Ms. Toad

(38,005 posts)
21. There are drugs on Wellcare that are well over $30.
Tue Nov 25, 2025, 12:47 AM
9 hrs ago

Jardiance and Januvia are. Potassium Citrate often is (although all plans have gotten better on that one). I'm sure there are others.

But they are as cheap on Wellcare are as on any other plan, when you take into account the $0 or low cost premiums.

RussBLib

(10,375 posts)
25. I'm sure you are right
Tue Nov 25, 2025, 09:40 AM
36 min ago

I have been lucky in that I've not needed any of those high-priced drugs. If you do, another plan is probably better.

NoRethugFriends

(3,621 posts)
3. Just use the website and it'll tell you your total cost for the year including premiums and drugs
Mon Nov 24, 2025, 09:57 PM
12 hrs ago

1WorldHope

(1,796 posts)
4. Look up your state or county Department of Insurance or
Mon Nov 24, 2025, 10:05 PM
12 hrs ago

look for the SHIIP program. Senior Health Insurance Information Program. They can help you find the best plan that fits you. They do it for free and they will do it yearly. Google it for your state.

PXR-5

(556 posts)
5. I just signed up for
Mon Nov 24, 2025, 10:07 PM
12 hrs ago

the Humana $4.40 plan. I don't take any meds, just didn't want to pay penalties in the future.
I think it has a 600$ deductible.

KT2000

(21,839 posts)
6. I have that from Wellcare
Mon Nov 24, 2025, 10:09 PM
12 hrs ago

and it works well for me. A couple of the ones I take cost $15 for 90 day supply. Check out the formulary to see what level the drugs you you take are on.

NewHendoLib

(61,455 posts)
10. I thought Wellcare (0 dollars premium) was great for us last year - we are staying with it despite the premium going to
Mon Nov 24, 2025, 10:23 PM
11 hrs ago

around 3.60. Using this, combined with GoodRX, gives us great prices for all of our meds.

Ms. Toad

(38,005 posts)
22. We use both GoodRx and Costco for some of our drugs.
Tue Nov 25, 2025, 12:49 AM
9 hrs ago

Although the number of drugs it was cheaper to buy of plan was near zero last year. I haven't done this year's calculations yet.

MIButterfly

(1,713 posts)
14. I have Wellcare Part D and it's not 0 premium, not by a longshot.
Mon Nov 24, 2025, 11:19 PM
10 hrs ago

I got a letter from them today and nowhere in that letter did they mention how much it's going up for 2026. I have been all over their website and nowhere does it say how much it will go up for 2026. I guess I'll have to call them tomorrow and waste 40 minutes trying to find out how much it will go up in 2026.

I have a Medigap supplemental but it's not Wellcare.

Ilsa

(63,640 posts)
15. You might be able to get your Part D quote
Mon Nov 24, 2025, 11:30 PM
10 hrs ago

from WellCare for 2026 on the Medicare.gov website. That's how I discovered my SilverScript was going to double.

Ms. Toad

(38,005 posts)
23. It varies by geography.
Tue Nov 25, 2025, 12:53 AM
9 hrs ago

But it's generally the cheapest, and often zero. This will be my 5th year on it. Premiums are $0 for 3 years, about $8 for next year, and under $10 the other year it wasn't $0.

Demsrule86

(71,457 posts)
17. I have a giveback plan with Devoted to pay Part B...hubs and I have both have it.
Mon Nov 24, 2025, 11:42 PM
10 hrs ago

Puts $370.00back in our pocket per month. We pay no premium for the plan also...been very happy with it...was quite sick this year...but hopefully it is resolved.

Ms. Toad

(38,005 posts)
20. I've been on Wellcare $0 premium.
Tue Nov 25, 2025, 12:39 AM
9 hrs ago

My spouse has, as well. No problems for either of us. My meds are relatively cheap. My spouse's are expensive (she's been on both Jardiance and Januvia). Most of the time it's the cheapest overall for both of us. Last year a $10 premium plan from Cigna was cheapest for her. This year Wellcare is best - but in our area it is around $7.

Diabetes testing supplies are always a pain, regardless of which plan we're on.

JustABozoOnThisBus

(24,500 posts)
24. I pay $0 for Wellcare. It's worked well for a year and I'm continuing with it next year.
Tue Nov 25, 2025, 09:25 AM
51 min ago

But you need to run your prescriptions through the Medicare web site to get the whole picture on your total costs.

Get moving, you only have a few weeks

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