Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D).
Medicare prescription drug coverage is available to everyone
who has Part A Medicare and/or Part B Medicare. Even if you
don’t take many prescriptions now, you should consider joining
a Medicare drug plan.
If you decide not to join a Medicare drug plan when you’re first
eligible, and you don’t have other creditable prescription
drug coverage, or you don’t get Extra Help, you’ll likely pay
a late enrollment penalty if you join a plan later.
To get Medicare prescription drug coverage, you must join a
plan run by an insurance company or other private company
approved by Medicare. Each plan can vary in cost and specific
drugs covered.
How to get Medicare prescription drug coverage.
1. Medicare Prescription Drug Plans. These plans
(sometimes called “PDPs”) add drug coverage to Original
Medicare and are purchased through private insurance
companies and often accompany a Medicare Supplemental
Insurance plan.
2. Medicare Advantage Plans (like an HMO or PPO)
or other Medicare health plans that offer Medicare
prescription drug coverage. You get all of your Part A
and Part B coverage, and prescription drug coverage
(Part D), through these plans.
In either case, you must live in the service area of the
Medicare drug plan you want to join.
