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Humana Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Part D) Reviews

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Medicare rating: 4 stars A.M. Best financial strength rating: A- BBB rating: A+ NCQA rating: 2.5 to 4 stars Consumer Affairs rating: 3.8 stars J.D. Power ranking: 4th out of 10

Quick Humana Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) review: Humana has offered Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage through standalone Part D plans and Medicare Advantage Plans since 2006. There are more than 60,000 pharmacies in the Humana network across the country, including popular national chains, grocers, and local independently-run pharmacies. PDPs are available in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Humana is the brand name for Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans. Humana Inc is the parent company of all subsidiaries and affiliates, known as “Humana Entities.” This article focuses on Humana’s PDPs, but some ratings and reviews are based on Humana Inc or Humana’s Medicare Advantage Plans.

If you have Original Medicare Part A and/or B or a Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) Medicare Advantage Plan, you can purchase one of Humana’s standalone Part D plans. If you have a Humana Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) or Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Medicare Advantage Plan, your plan should include drug coverage.

Monthly premium prices vary depending on where you live and which type of plan you choose. You can find Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) quality rating information for each plan by searching Medicare.gov.

Pros and Cons of Humana Medicare Part D Plans

What we like about Humana Medicare Part D Plans: The drawbacks of Humana Medicare Part D Plans:
  • Three standalone plans available with low, medium, and high monthly premiums
  • Broad pharmacy network
  • Nationwide coverage
  • No low monthly premium plan offered for people who don’t need prescription drugs but need coverage to avoid paying a penalty for late enrollment in a Part D plan
  • The highest cost plan is the only one that participates in the Senior Savings Model for insulin

What Do Humana Medicare Part D Plans Cover?

Humana’s Medicare Part D plans are regulated by CMS and must cover a wide range of prescription drugs that people with Medicare take. Plans include a coverage gap that begins when you and your plan have spent a certain amount ($4,600 in 2023) on prescription drugs and ends when you’ve spent $7,400 and entered the catastrophic coverage period. You then will pay a small coinsurance percentage or copay amount for drugs you need until the end of the year. When you are in the coverage gap, you will pay up to 25% of drug costs.

Humana has a formulary (list of drugs) and separates drugs into tiers that correspond to costs. Lower tiers include generic, lower-cost medications, and higher tiers include higher-cost, brand name, or specialty drugs.

Your share of costs for each prescription drug may change depending on which pharmacy you choose, the tier of the drug, and when you enter each coverage phase. You must meet your annual deductible before your plan pays unless you choose a plan that covers tiers one and two without the deductible requirement.

Humana’s Premier plan is the only one that participates in the Senior Savings Program for select insulins to keep your costs below $35/month. Generic drugs and those obtained from in-network, preferred pharmacies are the least expensive.

What Are Humana’s Medicare Part D Plan Options?

Humana offers three different Part D Plan options, including a value plan with lower monthly premiums, a medium-range plan, and a premier plan. Initial coverage limits and annual out-of-pocket threshold amounts are the same for all three plans. These options and coverage limits are similar to other carriers of Part D prescription drug coverage. The differences lie in the monthly premiums, formularies, and preferred pharmacies. All plans include generic options to help you save money.

Humana’s Value Walmart plan has the lowest monthly premium and no deductible for drugs in tiers one and two. It may be best for you if you don’t need prescription drugs but need prescription drug coverage to avoid paying late penalties. The Basic plan has a slightly higher monthly premium than the value plan. It is geared toward enrollees who are eligible for Extra Help to pay the monthly premium and includes access to Humana’s preferred pharmacies. The Premier plan is the most comprehensive and has the highest monthly premium. Benefits of the Premier plan include a zero deductible for lower-tiered drugs and access to the Senior Savings Model for insulin.

Compare these 2022 Humana Medicare Part D Plans in Cook County, Illinois:

Plan name Monthly premium* Annual deductible Initial coverage limit Annual out-of-pocket threshold amount
Humana Value Walmart RX Plan (PDP)  $30.60 $505 $4,430 $7,050
Humana Basic RX (PDP) $28.80 $505 $4,430 $7,050
Humana Premier RX Plan (PDP) $77.30 $300 $4,430 $7,050

*Based on pricing in Cook County, Illinois

Humana Medicare Part D Plans Reviews and Ratings

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) provide separate ratings for Humana’s Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans. A.M. Best and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) rate Humana’s parent company, Humana Inc. Consumer Affairs, NCQA, and J.D. Power don’t rank Humana’s Part D plans separately but provide insight into Humana’s health and Medicare Advantage Plans.

Medicare rating: 4 stars Humana’s Medicare Part D Plans have an overall average quality rating of 4 stars from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
A.M. Best financial strength rating: A- A.M. Best sets credit ratings for insurers. In October 2021, A.M. Best affirmed its A- Financial Strength Rating (FSR) for Humana, Inc. and its health subsidiaries. An A- rating indicates Humana has an excellent ability to meet financial obligations.
BBB rating: A+ Humana, Inc., the parent company for Humana’s Part D plans, has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. The company has closed 210 complaints in the last three years.
NCQA rating: 2.5 to 4 stars According to the National Committee for Quality Assurance, a leading accreditation agency, satisfaction ratings for Humana’s Medicare Advantage PPO and HMO plans range from 2.5 to 4.0 stars. Standalone drug plans are not rated separately, but HMO and PPO Medicare Advantage Plans usually include prescription drug coverage.
Consumer Affairs rating: 3.8 stars  Consumer Affairs gave Humana health insurance 3.8 out of 5 stars based on 664 ratings within the last year. Positive and negative reviews focus on Humana’s Medicare Advantage Plan’s extra benefits, such as dental coverage. Humana’s Part D plans do not have a separate rating by Consumer Affairs, but many of their Medicare Advantage Plans include drug coverage.
J.D. Power ranking: 4th out of 10 In its 2021 Medicare Advantage Study, J.D. Power measured Medicare Advantage Plan satisfaction based on these important factors: coverage, benefits, provider choice, cost, customer service, information, communication, billing, and payment. Humana scored 822 points out of 1,000, coming in fourth out of the top 10 Medicare Advantage providers.
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Kelly Blackwell
Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)Ⓡ

As a health care professional since 1987, Kelly Blackwell has walked alongside and cared for seniors as they journey through the season of their fourth quarter of life. Blackwell holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Northern Colorado, a Master of Science in health care administration from Grand Canyon University, an interprofessional graduate certificate in palliative care from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and holds a Certified Senior Advisor® credential from the Society of Certified Senior Advisors.

Blackwell contributes to the University of Colorado-Anschutz blog and has been published in “The Human Touch” distributed by the University of Colorado Center for Bioethics and Humanities. She cowrote “Dying Is” for Pathways Hospice.

A registered nurse, Blackwell understands health insurance choices influence quality of life and are driven by values, goals, and beliefs. She’s passionate about engaging with, educating, and empowering seniors as they navigate the health care system. She’s equipped to lend an experienced, compassionate voice to beneficiaries seeking information about Medicare Advantage Plans.

As a CSAⓇ, Blackwell has access to valuable resources for Medicare beneficiaries. Her work as a bedside nurse and clinical manager has given her the opportunity to see how Medicare rules, regulations, and benefits work when patients need them. With a passion to learn and to make a difference in the lives of seniors, Blackwell supports seniors through Medicare and fourth-quarter life decisions.

Kelly-Blackwell Headshot
Kelly Blackwell
Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)Ⓡ

As a health care professional since 1987, Kelly Blackwell has walked alongside and cared for seniors as they journey through the season of their fourth quarter of life. Blackwell holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Northern Colorado, a Master of Science in health care administration from Grand Canyon University, an interprofessional graduate certificate in palliative care from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and holds a Certified Senior Advisor® credential from the Society of Certified Senior Advisors.

Blackwell contributes to the University of Colorado-Anschutz blog and has been published in “The Human Touch” distributed by the University of Colorado Center for Bioethics and Humanities. She cowrote “Dying Is” for Pathways Hospice.

A registered nurse, Blackwell understands health insurance choices influence quality of life and are driven by values, goals, and beliefs. She’s passionate about engaging with, educating, and empowering seniors as they navigate the health care system. She’s equipped to lend an experienced, compassionate voice to beneficiaries seeking information about Medicare Advantage Plans.

As a CSAⓇ, Blackwell has access to valuable resources for Medicare beneficiaries. Her work as a bedside nurse and clinical manager has given her the opportunity to see how Medicare rules, regulations, and benefits work when patients need them. With a passion to learn and to make a difference in the lives of seniors, Blackwell supports seniors through Medicare and fourth-quarter life decisions.

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