22 Medicare Part D Drug Plans in Washington D.C. for 2023

All Medicare has 22 Medicare Part D prescription drug plans available in Washington D.C. for you to compare.   See Plans

Every Part D Plan Has 4 Cost Phases

Medicare's prescription drug plans, or PDPs, are additional coverage you can buy in Washington D.C. to help you pay for your prescription medications. Many of the concepts of Part D plans are foreign to new Medicare beneficiaries, so let's have a look at the four phases.

Phase 1: Your Deductible

The deductible is the amount you pay before the plan's initial coverage phase begins. You pay the full amount for your prescriptions until the deductible is met, then the plan will start paying its share. For example, if you join a plan with a $325 deductible, you'll pay that amount at the pharmacy for your prescriptions. After you've spent that amount, you will pay the copay amount only until you reach the coverage gap phase.

TIP: Some plans in Washington D.C. exclude Tier 1 drugs from the annual deductible. With these plans, you get first-dollar coverage on most of your generic drugs.

Phase 2: The Initial Coverage Limit

The Initial Coverage Limit begins after the deductible phase and is the same for all plans. This year the amount is $4,660. In this phase, you and your plan share all costs until the total retail spending on your prescriptions reaches $4,660. You pay the amount specified in the plan's formulary, and the plan pays the remainder. For example, if your medication is $64, and the formulary says you pay a 20% copay, then your share is $12.80.

CRITICAL: When the total cost of your prescriptions exceeds $4,660, you enter the Coverage Gap phase (aka, "donut hole").

Phase 3: The Coverage Gap

You'll pay 25% of the full retail price for brand-name medications while you're in the Coverage Gap phase (aka, "donut hole"). The manufacturer is required to give you a discount of 70%, and your Medicare Part D plan will pick up the remaining 5%. The 25% payment plus the 70% discount will be added to your True Out Of Pocket Costs (TrOOP). Once your spending reaches $7,400, you move into the catastrophic phase.

TIP: Some Washington D.C. plans offer additional gap coverage, so look for it on the plan information pages.

Generic drugs are different. Your Medicare Part D plan covers 75% and you pay 25%. But, only the 25% that you pay yourself is counted towards your TrOOP to get you out of the donut hole.

Phase 4: Catastrophic Prescription Coverage

Once you've spent $7,400 out-of-pocket in 2023 you are out of the coverage gap phase and will receive catastrophic coverage. This happens automatically and ensures that you only pay a small amount for all covered drugs for the remainder of the year. This is a feature that's built into every Medicare prescription drug plans sold in Washington D.C..

Costs That Help You Get Catastrophic Coverage

1. Your plan's deductible;
2. What you paid during the initial coverage limit period;
3. Most of the full cost of brand-name drugs (and the manufacturer’s discount) purchased in the coverage gap;
4. The amount paid by others, including family members, most charities, and other persons on your behalf; and
5. The amount paid by State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs), AIDS Drug Assistance Programs, and the Indian Health Service.

Get Your Prescription Benefits with a Medicare Advantage Plan

You have two options for prescription drug coverage. All Medicare prescription drug plans available in Washington D.C. are compatible with Original Medicare. That's just one way to get coverage. Maybe you want even more benefits. In that case, one of the many Medicare Advantage plans available in Washington D.C. can help you get more benefits. The majority of these plans offer Part D coverage.

Medicare Part D and Medicare Supplement Insurance Work Together

Just like Medicare Advantage, Original Medicare does not cover all of your hospitalization and medical bills. In fact, it only covers about 80 percent of your major medical costs, and there isn't an annual cap like there is with Medicare Advantage. That's why All Medicare maintains an up-to-date directory of Washington D.C. Medigap plans, also called Medicare supplements, with a free quoting tool that lets you get rates from all carriers in your area. Best of all, Medicare Part D plans are fully compatible with Washington D.C. Medigap plans.

Medicare Part D for Dual Eligible Washington D.C. Residents

Are you eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid (aka "dual eligible")? If you are, you may be enrolled in the Extra Help program and a Medicare Prescription Drug plan that's been pre-selected for dual-eligible people in Washington D.C.. The Extra Help program covers most of your prescriptions if you meet certain eligibility requirements. Contact your local Medicaid office to learn more about benefits for dual-eligible people.

The 2023 Medicare Part D Plan information for Washington D.C. was last updated by the All Medicare team on January 13, 2023