The bottom line: Cigna plans will become HealthSpring in 2026 because Cigna sold its Medicare business. HealthSpring Medicare Part D plans get slightly below-average star ratings in 2026. Most people won’t find the lowest premiums with the company either, since HealthSpring is discontinuing the low-cost Saver Rx plan. However, HealthSpring does offer $0-premium plans in 11 states. Jump to: Full Review
HealthSpring (formerly Cigna) Medicare Part D pros and cons
Pros
- $0 premiums: HealthSpring offers $0-premium Assurance Rx plans in 11 states.
- Low out-of-pocket costs: HealthSpring’s high-end Extra Rx plan has some $0-deductible and a $0-copay drug tiers.
Cons
- Low star ratings: HealthSpring’s weighted average of 2.5 stars is below the 3-star weighted average for all stand-alone Part D plans.
- Higher premiums: With an average premium of $71.99, HealthSpring’s plans with a premium can be pricier than many.
Compare against other providers
» More options in our roundup of the best Medicare Part D plans
Compare against other providers
» More options in our roundup of the best Medicare Part D plans
Our full review
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HealthSpring (formerly Cigna) Medicare Part D star ratings
Average Part D star rating, weighted by enrollment: 2.5 stars
HealthSpring's stand-alone Medicare Part D plans get an average star rating of 2.5 out of 5 stars from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in 2026, weighted by enrollment. For comparison, the weighted average star rating for all stand-alone Part D plans is 3 stars.
CMS rates Medicare Part D plans on 12 quality measures. (You can find definitions for each of these factors in the CMS Star Ratings Technical Notes.)
These ratings use a 5-point scale where 5 is the best and 1 is the worst. The agency bases its ratings on drug plans’ quality of service and customer experiences, and ratings are updated annually.
» MORE: Medicare star ratings: How they can help you choose a plan
HealthSpring Medicare Part D prescription drug plans
HealthSpring's 2026 Medicare prescription drug plans are as follows:
HealthSpring Assurance Rx: HealthSpring describes this plan as basic coverage that’s a good fit for Extra Help recipients, with “$0 or low cost-shares for many generic medications.”
HealthSpring Extra Rx: HealthSpring describes this plan as offering additional coverage with “flexible benefits” and a “$0 copay for many generic medications.”
Medicare beneficiaries with Original Medicare (Part A and/or Part B) can purchase a Medicare Part D plan for prescription drug coverage. Part D plans are sold by private insurance companies. The costs and coverage can vary significantly, so it’s important to compare options.
Before it was acquired, Cigna was the fourth-largest company offering Medicare Part D plans. Over 3 million Medicare beneficiaries have Cigna (soon to be HealthSpring) Part D plans as of September 2025.
More Nerdy Perspective
Without an offering like Cigna’s low-cost Saver Rx plan, HealthSpring falls short of the competition in 2026. The company doesn’t offer the lowest premiums, and its government ratings have dipped below the average. That said, the best Medicare Part D plan for you is one that covers your prescription drugs at an affordable out-of-pocket cost. It’s important to check the plan’s formulary for your medications before making a decision.
HealthSpring (formerly Cigna) Medicare Part D cost
HealthSpring Medicare Part D premiums and deductibles
Here are the 2026 premiums and deductibles for HealthSpring's stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans:
Plan | Pricing |
|---|---|
HealthSpring Assurance Rx | Monthly premiums:
Annual deductible: $615. |
HealthSpring Extra Rx | Monthly premiums:
Annual deductible: $615. |
» If you have concerns about affording Medicare Part D, look into Medicare Extra Help.
$0-deductible options
Only one of HealthSpring’s plans has no deductible for drugs on certain tiers:
HealthSpring Extra Rx: $0 deductible for Tier 1-2 drugs. The deductible is $615 for Tier 3-5 drugs. This is a change from 2025, when the Extra Rx deductible was significantly below the Part D deductible limit.
$0-copay options
Both of HealthSpring’s prescription drug plans offer $0 copays in certain circumstances, but the specifics vary. Copays and coinsurance for higher tiers can quickly get more expensive. As a result, it’s important to check where your medications and pharmacies fall on each plan’s formulary.
Here are the $0-copay options for each of HealthSpring’s Medicare Part D plans:
HealthSpring Assurance Rx: $0 or 5% copay for Tier 1 drugs from preferred retail pharmacies and preferred mail-order pharmacies (as a 90-day supply), depending on your location.
HealthSpring Extra Rx: $0 copay for Tier 1 drugs from preferred retail pharmacies and preferred mail-order pharmacies (as a 90-day supply).
Coinsurance vs. copay requirements
You’ll want to check whether you’ll pay a copay or coinsurance for your medications. Copays are set dollar amounts, so it’s easy to know what you’ll pay. Coinsurance is a percentage of the price for your medications, so coinsurance requirements can be less predictable and more expensive.
Both of HealthSpring’s Part D plans have coinsurance for Tiers 3-5. The HealthSpring Assurance Rx plan may have copays or coinsurance for Tiers 1-2 depending on your location, while the HealthSpring Extra Rx plan has copays for Tiers 1-2.
You can enter your medications and pharmacy information on HealthSpring's website to see which drugs are covered and review your estimated costs with different plan options.
» MORE: How much does Medicare Part D cost?
HealthSpring Medicare Part D service area
Stand-alone HealthSpring Medicare prescription drug plans are available in 48 states, plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Plans are not available in Florida or Hawaii.
The HealthSpring Assurance Rx plan is available in all of the company’s markets, but the HealthSpring Extra Rx plan is not available in a handful of states.
About HealthSpring (formerly Cigna)
HealthSpring is the new brand name for Cigna Medicare plans starting in 2026. The name change comes after Cigna sold its Medicare business to Health Care Service Corp. (HCSC) in March 2025.
Current Cigna Medicare members will not experience any disruption in their coverage due to the acquisition. You can call the number on your member ID card if you have any questions.
HCSC also sells Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Its headquarters are in Chicago.
Read the NerdWallet reviews of these other HealthSpring Medicare offerings:
Compare Medicare Part D companies
Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Part D companies. These insurers offer plans in most states, but specifics may vary depending on your location.
Find the right Medicare Part D prescription drug plan
The interactive tool on Medicare.gov can help you find a Medicare Part D plan that covers your prescriptions. It also helps you compare costs among Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans available to you.
Here are some things to keep in mind when comparing plans:
Check the formulary: Make sure the medicines you currently take are covered. Talk to your health care providers about what medications to look for. You might also also want to check for possible alternatives and/or drugs you think you might need in the future.
Look for plan changes: Formularies (lists of covered drugs) change frequently. Your insurer should send you a Notice of Plan Change when the formulary changes. Read that document carefully.
Check the pharmacy network: Most Medicare Part D plans have networks of lower-cost pharmacies. Check to see if the plan's pharmacies are convenient for you. Also, compare prices for using mail order.
You can switch plans during Medicare's open enrollment period, Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. Changes go into effect on the following Jan. 1.
If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).
- $0-premium plans are available in 11 states.
- High-end plan has $0-deductible and $0-copay options.
- Star ratings are below average.
- Premiums generally aren't competitive.
Article sources
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
- 1.NerdWallet analysis of CMS data. 2026 Star Ratings Data Tables. Accessed Oct 14, 2025.
- 2.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare 2026 Part C & D Star Ratings Technical Notes. Accessed Oct 14, 2025.
- 3.HealthSpring. Medicare Part D Plans (PDP) Prescription Coverage. Accessed Oct 14, 2025.
- 4.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. PDP Plan Directory. Accessed Oct 14, 2025.
- 5.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CY2026 Landscape (202509). Accessed Oct 14, 2025.
- 6.HealthSpring. 2026 HealthSpring Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) Enrollment Guide. Accessed Oct 14, 2025.
Medicare Part D plan review methodology
NerdWallet’s Medicare Part D reviews are based on ratings data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), pricing, cost-sharing requirements, formulary design, consumer experience and more.
NerdWallet reviewed eight Medicare Part D insurance companies based on highest enrollment and greatest online search volume. Together, these eight companies cover about 92% of Medicare beneficiaries with stand-alone Medicare Part D plans, according to CMS data. We review at least five major Medicare Part D companies in every state in the United States.
These reviews are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several plans to find the best coverage and rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines for additional information.
Compare Medicare Part D Plans
Insurance company | CMS star rating | Out-of-pocket costs | Member experience | Learn more | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BEST FOR LOW AVERAGE PREMIUMS | |||||
(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 3.50 | 3.50/5 | Varies | 3.5 (Above average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet |
BEST FOR $0 PREMIUMS | |||||
(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 3.00 | 3.00/5 | Lower than average | 3 (Average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet |
(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on http://askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 3.00 | 3.00/5 | Higher than average | 1.5 (Below average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on http://askchapter.orgon NerdWallet |
(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 2.50 | 2.50/5 | Average | 2.68 (Average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet |