Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans in California

A prescription drug plan (Medicare Part D) with Anthem in California can help you save money on your medications. We have plan options with low copays, extensive drug coverage, and you can go to pharmacies across the U.S.

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Choose The Right Prescription Plan For You

Original Medicare doesn’t include drug coverage. In California, Part D standalone plans or Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug benefits offer comprehensive medication and vaccine coverage, low copays, competitive premiums, a national pharmacy network, and more.

Standalone Part D Plans

Whether you have Original Medicare or a Medicare Supplement plan, you can purchase a stand-alone Part D plan to complement your coverage.

This could be a good fit if you’re satisfied with your Original Medicare or Medicare Supplement coverage and want to cover your medications and lower your prescription costs.

All-In-One Plans

You also can purchase a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan that includes Part D prescription drug benefits, plus hospital, medical, dental, vision, and hearing coverage – all in one plan.

Many prefer Medicare Advantage plus Part D to conveniently manage their healthcare and prescriptions with a single plan.

Compare Part D MediBlue Rx Plan Options

If you’re considering a standalone Part D plan in California, use this overview to help you decide which one is right for you.

	Anthem MediBlue Rx Standard Part D Plan*	Anthem MediBlue Rx Plus Part D Plan*
Recommended For …	Those who take fewer medications	Those who take multiple medications
Monthly Premium	$136	$165
Annual Prescription Deductible	Tiers 1 - 5 $590	Tiers 1 and 2 $0 Tiers 3 - 5 $120
Copay Costs	Low copays for most generic drugs at preferred pharmacies	Low copays for most generic drugs at preferred pharmacies
Covered Drugs	Many brand-name and generics	Wider range of brand-name and generics
Network Pharmacies	Nationwide 62,000 + Preferred Cost-Sharing Pharmacies (Lower Drug Costs) 27,000 +	Nationwide 62,000 + Preferred Cost-Sharing Pharmacies (Lower Drug Costs) 27,000 +
Preferred Retail Chains	Includes Albertsons, CVS Pharmacy, Costco, Giant Eagle Pharmacy, Harris Teeter Pharmacy, H-E-B Pharmacy, Kinney Drugs, Kroger, Publix, Roundy's, Safeway, and Walmart	Includes Albertsons, CVS Pharmacy, Costco, Giant Eagle Pharmacy, Harris Teeter Pharmacy, H-E-B Pharmacy, Kinney Drugs, Kroger, Publix, Roundy's, Safeway, and Walmart
Mail Order Option
Network details, deductibles, copays, and premiums may change year to year. Costs reflect 2025 rates.

Anthem MediBlue Rx Standard Part D Plan*

Recommended For …	Those who take fewer medications
Monthly Premium	$136
Annual Prescription Deductible	Tiers 1 - 5 $590
Copay Costs	Low copays for most generic drugs at preferred pharmacies
Covered Drugs	Many brand-name and generics
Network Pharmacies	Nationwide 62,000 + Preferred Cost-Sharing Pharmacies (Lower Drug Costs) 27,000 +
Preferred Retail Chains	Includes Albertsons, CVS Pharmacy, Costco, Giant Eagle Pharmacy, Harris Teeter Pharmacy, H-E-B Pharmacy, Kinney Drugs, Kroger, Publix, Roundy's, Safeway, and Walmart
Mail Order Option
Network details, deductibles, copays, and premiums may change year to year. Costs reflect 2025 rates.

Anthem MediBlue Rx Plus Part D Plan*

Recommended For …	Those who take multiple medications
Monthly Premium	$165
Annual Prescription Deductible	Tiers 1 and 2 $0 Tiers 3 - 5 $120
Copay Costs	Low copays for most generic drugs at preferred pharmacies
Covered Drugs	Wider range of brand-name and generics
Network Pharmacies	Nationwide 62,000 + Preferred Cost-Sharing Pharmacies (Lower Drug Costs) 27,000 +
Preferred Retail Chains	Includes Albertsons, CVS Pharmacy, Costco, Giant Eagle Pharmacy, Harris Teeter Pharmacy, H-E-B Pharmacy, Kinney Drugs, Kroger, Publix, Roundy's, Safeway, and Walmart
Mail Order Option
Network details, deductibles, copays, and premiums may change year to year. Costs reflect 2025 rates.

Smart Tip: If you need financial assistance, check to see if you qualify for Extra Help, a federal program that helps you pay for drug coverage.

Check Prescriptions, Costs, And Pharmacies

Before you enroll, use our tool to look up your prescriptions and their costs. You can customize your search selections to fit your specific needs and find out which pharmacies are nearby.

Look Up Prescriptions And Pharmacies

Avoid A Late Enrollment Penalty

Be sure to consider your Part D enrollment options in California during your Initial Enrollment Period or when you're first eligible for Medicare. If you don’t have creditable prescription coverage via an employer or another source, you could receive a monthly Part D late enrollment penalty.

Read About Medicare Part D Enrollment

Medication Therapy Management

If you’re managing complex medical needs and take multiple medications, you might be eligible for the Medication Therapy Management program. It’s a free program that will help you and your doctor make sure you’re getting the best results from your medications.

Learn More About Medication Therapy Management

Medicare Part D Glossary Of Terms

Here are common terms you may run into when comparing Medicare Part D plans.

Drug Plan Exceptions

You and your doctor have the right to request exceptions set by your drug plan. You can request exceptions from step therapy and quantity limits, or request a lower cost-sharing amount for some drugs.

Drug Tiers

Some plans no longer have pricing tiers for drugs. For those that do, the majority of generic drugs fall into the lowest tiers and are the most affordable. Brand name and specialty drugs may be in higher tiers that cost more.

Formulary

Most plans have a formulary, which is a list of drugs the plan covers. While there are many drugs Medicare requires Part D plans to cover, you still want a plan that fits your personal prescription needs.

Prior Authorization

Some drugs, and certain amounts of some drugs, require your doctor to obtain prior approval and submit documentation of medical necessity before they can be covered by your plan.

Quantity Limits

For safety reasons, your plan may limit the amount of medication you can receive at one time. If your prescription is in excess of safety guidelines or refilled too soon, your doctor may need to contact us for approval.

Step Therapy

Step therapy helps keep costs down while ensuring you get effective drugs. For some health conditions, the plan requires you to try a less costly, clinically effective drug before “stepping up” to a more costly one.

Frequently Asked Questions About Part D

When reviewing Part D plans, you might want to consider whether:

Your preferred pharmacy is in the plan network
Your medications are covered by the plan formulary (covered list) and if they offer generic options
The plan offers generic options for cost savings
The plan fits your budget when it comes to premiums, deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket maximums
You can save on mail-order medications with 30-day or 90-day supplies

Check My Prescriptions And Pharmacies

If you have Original Medicare or a Medicare Supplement plan, you can sign up for a Medicare Part D plan during:

Your Initial Enrollment Period, which starts three months before your 65^th birthday month and ends three months after it
The General Enrollment Period: January 1 to March 31
The Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 to December 7

You can add, change, or drop your Medicare Part D plan during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. You could also qualify for a special enrollment period.

Learn More About Medicare Enrollment Periods

Yes. In previous years, you faced a coverage gap when you and your health plan spent a certain amount on your medications ($5,030 in 2024). After that you were required to pay 25% of your prescription drug costs until you reached an $8,000 annual out-of-pocket limit. Starting January 1, 2025, you will not pay anything for covered medications after you reach a $2,000 annual out-of-pocket limit.

Plus, the new rules make it easier to manage your out-of-pocket prescription drug costs. You can enroll in the new Medicare Prescription Payment Plan designed for members with high out-of-pocket prescription drug costs. This will let you make monthly payments versus paying the entire amount upfront. Participation in this program is completely optional. You will receive enrollment instructions from your health plan or give us a call if you have questions.

Ready To Shop?

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Read Our Medicare Articles

Get more details about Medicare Part D and important cost considerations. You can also take a deeper dive into other articles offering detailed information about Medicare plans, benefits, eligibility, enrollment, and more.

Broaden Your Knowledge

Learn About Plans In Your State

California Colorado Connecticut Georgia Indiana Kentucky Maine Missouri Nevada New Hampshire New York Ohio Virginia Wisconsin

If your state isn't listed, visit www.bcbs.com for other coverage options.

Anthem Blue Cross, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare Contract, offers HMO, HMO D-SNP, HMO C-SNP, and HMO I-SNP plans. Anthem Blue Cross Partnership Plan, a Medicare Advantage Organization with a Medicare Contract, offers HMO and HMO-CSNP plans. Anthem Life and Health Insurance Company, a Medicare Advantage Organization with a Medicare Contract, offers LPPO, LPPO D-SNP, and LPPO C-SNP plans. Anthem Blue Cross HMO D-SNP plans and Anthem Life and Health Insurance Company LPPO D-SNP plans additionally contract with state Medicaid programs. Anthem BC Health Insurance Company, a Medicare Advantage Organization with a Medicare Contract, offers LPPO plans. Enrollment in an Anthem Blue Cross, Anthem Blue Cross Partnership Plan, Anthem BC Health Insurance Company and Anthem Life and Health Insurance Company plans depend on contract renewal.