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Medicare Part D
Prescription Drug Coverage 2027
HealthSpring Medicare Part D Plans 2027: Assurance Rx and Extra Rx
Reviewed by Russell Noga, Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker (all 50 states) — Last updated October 31, 2026
HealthSpring offers two Medicare Part D plans for 2027: Assurance Rx, sold nationwide, and Extra Rx, now sold only in Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Puerto Rico. HealthSpring is the former Cigna Medicare business, which Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) bought in March 2025.
2027 by the Numbers
40
HealthSpring standalone Part D filings for 2027 (our count of CMS 2027 plan filings)
$9.30
lowest 2027 Assurance Rx monthly premium, in nine states (HealthSpring premium table)
22
regions where Extra Rx was withdrawn for 2027 (KFF analysis of CMS data)
If you had a Cigna drug plan a few years ago, you have it under a new name now. The Cigna Group sold its Medicare plans to HCSC, the company behind Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, and the plans now carry the HealthSpring brand.
Below we cover the two 2027 plans, where each is sold, published premiums, the odd company name in Medicare’s files, and a cost example. For other carriers, start at Medicare Part D plans 2027.
Key Takeaways
- HCSC closed its purchase of Cigna’s Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, Part D and CareAllies businesses on March 19, 2025.
- Our count of CMS 2027 plan filings shows 35 Assurance Rx filings (all 34 regions plus Puerto Rico) and 5 Extra Rx filings.
- HealthSpring lists 2027 Assurance Rx premiums from $9.30 to $158.60 a month depending on the state.
- Extra Rx left 22 regions for 2027, so most Extra Rx members must choose a new plan by December 31, 2026.
- Medicare’s files show the sponsor as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of IL, NM, OK, TX, but the plans are sold as HealthSpring.
From Cigna to HealthSpring: What Changed
1
January 2024: The Cigna Group agreed to sell its Medicare businesses to Health Care Service Corporation.
2
March 19, 2025: HCSC completed the purchase, including Cigna’s Part D plans. Cigna’s Evernorth unit agreed to keep providing pharmacy services to these members for a set period after closing.
3
2026 plan year: The Medicare plans were marketed under the HealthSpring name.
4
2027 plan year: HealthSpring trims its standalone lineup to Assurance Rx everywhere and Extra Rx in five areas.
HCSC is a customer-owned insurer, not a stock company. After the deal it reported serving about 4.3 million Medicare members. Cigna still sells employer and individual coverage under its own name, which is why you may still see Cigna on non-Medicare products.
HealthSpring's Two 2027 Drug Plans Side by Side
| Assurance Rx (PDP) | Extra Rx (PDP) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it is filed | All 34 regions plus Puerto Rico (35 filings) | Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Puerto Rico (5 filings) |
| 2027 monthly premium | $9.30 to $158.60 depending on state | $12.90 (Puerto Rico) to $164.70 (Texas) |
| Deductible approach (reported) | Full $700 deductible, applying to all tiers | $0 deductible on many generics, $700 on other tiers |
| Who it may suit | People who want a low premium and use few drugs | People who fill generics often and want copays from the first fill |
Filings from our count of CMS 2027 plan filings; premiums from HealthSpring’s published 2027 table. Confirm deductible and tier details in each plan’s 2027 Summary of Benefits.
$9.30
Assurance Rx in AK, AR, AZ, CA, FL, MI, NM, OR and WA
$90.90 to $98.40
Assurance Rx in Illinois, Texas and Pennsylvania
$158.60
Assurance Rx in CT, MA, RI and VT
Why Medicare's Files Say Blue Cross and Blue Shield
When we pulled the 2027 plan files, all 40 HealthSpring filings sat under one contract, S5715. Its marketing name is Blue Cross and Blue Shield of IL, NM, OK, TX, and its legal name lists the Medco Containment insurers that came over from the Cigna business, together with HCSC. Our data tool labels this sponsor HealthSpring because each plan name in it is HealthSpring.
Inside HCSC’s five Blue states
✔
Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas filings point to Blue-branded websites
✔
These are still HealthSpring plans, not local Blue Cross Blue Shield PDPs
✔
Montana is grouped in a multi-state region and uses the national setup
Everywhere else
✔
Filings point to HCSC’s corporate site
✔
The pharmacy and drug list address listed is myprime.com, the member site of Prime Therapeutics
✔
Check your 2027 plan materials to see which pharmacy services your plan uses
Do not mix these up: Other Blue companies, such as Florida Blue or Horizon in New Jersey, sell their own separate drug plans. Our Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Part D 2027 page covers those.
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Extra Rx Members: The 2027 Pullback
KFF’s review of CMS data found HCSC withdrew Extra Rx from 22 regions for 2027, one of the two main reasons standalone plan choices fell this year. News reports on that analysis estimated about 190,000 Extra Rx members are affected. KFF also found that Assurance Rx members in 11 states who paid no premium in 2026 face increases of $9.30 to $14.70 a month if they stay.
If your Extra Rx plan is ending
✔
Your coverage ends December 31, 2026; choose a new plan by December 7 for a seamless start
✔
Assurance Rx is one option, but its deductible works differently, so price your drugs both ways
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Members of an ending plan can also enroll from December 8 through the end of February, with coverage starting the next month
✔
Extra Help members who do not choose will be placed in a plan by Medicare
Cost Example: Assurance Rx vs Extra Rx in Illinois
This is our own math using CMS 2027 rules and HealthSpring’s published Illinois premiums ($90.90 for Assurance Rx, $108.20 for Extra Rx). Say you take two generics that cost the plan $20 each per month, or $480 a year. With a $700 deductible on every tier, you pay the full $480 because you never finish the deductible. If Extra Rx skips the deductible on those generics and charges, say, a $5 copay, you pay $120.
| Illustrative yearly cost | Assurance Rx (Illinois) | Extra Rx (Illinois) |
|---|---|---|
| Two $20 generics, 12 months | $480 (all inside the deductible) | $120 (assumed $5 copays) |
| Premiums, 12 months | $1,090.80 | $1,298.40 |
| Total | $1,570.80 | $1,418.40 |
The $5 copay is an assumption for illustration; check Extra Rx’s actual 2027 copays. Drug prices vary by pharmacy and plan.
What the math shows: Extra Rx comes out about $152 ahead here because the generic savings ($360) beat the $207.60 premium gap. With only one cheap generic, the higher premium would win out and Assurance Rx would cost less.
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Checking a HealthSpring Plan Before You Enroll
1
Confirm the plan is sold in your area. Assurance Rx is filed everywhere; Extra Rx only in the five areas above.
2
Look up each drug on the 2027 formulary. Note the tier and any prior authorization, step therapy or quantity limit.
3
Check pharmacy pricing. Ask whether your usual pharmacy is in network and whether a preferred pharmacy lowers your cost.
4
Review the star rating. Medicare Plan Finder shows the 2027 rating; some reviews report HealthSpring ratings below the industry average.
If your costs could reach the $2,400 cap, read our 2027 Part D out-of-pocket maximum guide.
How HealthSpring Fits in the 2027 Market
| Sponsor | 2027 standalone filings (our count) |
|---|---|
| Humana | 102 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 73 |
| Wellcare | 68 |
| HealthSpring | 40 |
| Aetna (SilverScript) | 20 |
Our count of CMS 2027 plan filings; Medicare Plan Finder counts can differ slightly.
HealthSpring is the fourth-largest standalone sponsor by filings and one of only a few with a plan in every region. Compare it with Aetna Medicare Part D plans 2027 and others before you decide.
The Bottom Line
The Bottom Line
HealthSpring is the Cigna Medicare business under HCSC ownership, with Assurance Rx sold nationwide and Extra Rx kept in only five areas for 2027. Premiums swing widely by state, so check your state’s figure and run your own drugs through the formulary before choosing.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048) to get information on all of your options.
Frequently Asked Questions
➤ Is HealthSpring the same company as Cigna?
Not anymore. HealthSpring is the Medicare business Cigna sold to Health Care Service Corporation in March 2025. Cigna still exists but no longer runs these Medicare plans.
➤ Where is HealthSpring Extra Rx sold for 2027?
Only in Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Puerto Rico, based on our count of CMS 2027 plan filings and HealthSpring’s own premium table.
➤ Why does Medicare Plan Finder or a CMS file show Blue Cross and Blue Shield for a HealthSpring plan?
The 2027 HealthSpring plans are filed under an HCSC contract whose marketing name is Blue Cross and Blue Shield of IL, NM, OK, TX. The plans themselves are named and sold as HealthSpring.
➤ What is the cheapest HealthSpring Assurance Rx premium in 2027?
HealthSpring lists $9.30 a month in nine states, including California, Florida and Michigan, and in Puerto Rico. Some states are much higher, up to $158.60.
➤ Is HealthSpring Assurance Rx good for someone who only takes generics?
It can be if the premium is low where you live, but the plan is reported to apply its deductible to every tier, so you may pay full price for generics until you spend $700.
➤ My Extra Rx plan is ending. Will I be moved to Assurance Rx automatically?
Not unless you get Extra Help and Medicare assigns you. Everyone else must pick a plan, which can be Assurance Rx or another company’s plan.
➤ Does HealthSpring still use Express Scripts for 2027?
HCSC said Cigna’s Evernorth unit would provide pharmacy services for a period after the 2025 sale. The 2027 CMS filings for most regions list a Prime Therapeutics member site, so check your 2027 plan materials for current pharmacy details.
➤ Can I keep my Medigap policy with a HealthSpring drug plan?
Yes. HealthSpring Assurance Rx and Extra Rx are standalone drug plans, so they work alongside Original Medicare and a Medigap policy.
ZRN Health & Financial Services, LLC, a Texas limited liability company.
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