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What Is Part D (Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage)?
Medicare prescription drug coverage is insurance run by an insurance company or other
private company approved by Medicare. There are two ways to get Medicare
prescription drug coverage:
1. Medicare Prescription Drug Plans.
These plans (sometimes called "PDPs") add drug coverage to Original Medicare,
some Medicare Cost Plans, some Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) Plans,
and Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plans.
2. Medicare Advantage Plans
(like an HMO or PPO) are 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. Medicare Advantage
Plans with prescription drug coverage are sometimes called "MA-PDs."
If you decide not to join a Medicare drug plan when you’re first eligible, and you
don’t have other credible prescription drug coverage, you will likely pay a late
enrollment penalty.
How Much Does Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Cost?
Each plan can vary in cost and drugs covered. The Medicare Plan Finder can help you find and compare plans in your area.
Your Part D monthly premium could be higher based on your income. This includes Part D coverage you get from a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, or a Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare Cost Plan that includes Medicare prescription drug coverage. If your modified adjusted gross income as reported on your IRS tax return from 2 years ago (the most recent tax return information provided to
Social Security by the IRS) is above a certain amount, you will pay a higher monthly premium. For more information, visit Social Security’s website.
Many people qualify to get Extra Helppaying their Medicare prescription drug costs but don’t know it. Most who qualify and join a Medicare drug plan will get 95% of their costs covered. Don’t miss out on a chance to save. Extra Help and other programs (like Medicare Savings Programs) may help make your health care and prescription drug costs more affordable.
How Do I Get Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage?
To join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, you must have Medicare Part A or Part B. To join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you must have Part A and Part B. You must also live in the service area of the Medicare drug plan you want to join.
Remember, costs and coverage varies with each plan. Check out the Medicare Plan Finder can help you find and compare plans in your area. Medicare also has information on quality to help you compare plans. If you have employer or union coverage, call your benefits administrator before you make any changes, to before you sign up for any other coverage. If you drop your employer or union coverage, you may not be able to get it back. You also may not be able to drop your employer or union drug coverage without also dropping
your employer or union health (doctor and hospital) coverage. If you drop coverage for yourself, you may also have to drop coverage for your spouse and dependants.
Once you choose a Medicare drug plan, you may be able to join by completing a paper application, calling the plan, or enrolling on the plan’s Web site or on the Medicare Plan Finder. You can also enroll by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1‑877-486-2048. When you join a Medicare drug plan, you will have to provide your Medicare number and the date your Part A and/or Part B coverage started. This information is on your Medicare card. Note: Medicare drug plans aren’t allowed to call you to enroll you in a plan. Call 1-800-MEDICARE to report a plan that does this.
How Does My Other Insurance Work with Medicare Drug Coverage?
If you have other insurance how it works with, or is affected by, Medicare prescription drug coverage.
Employer or Union Health Coverage
This is health coverage based on your, your spouse’s, or other family member's current or former employment. If you have prescription drug coverage based on employment, the employer or union will notify you each year to let you know if your drug coverage is creditable. Keep the information you get. If you join a Medicare drug plan, you, your spouse, or your dependants may lose your employer or union health overage. Call your benefits administrator for more information before making any changes to your coverage.
Medicare prescription drug coverage is insurance run by an insurance company or other
private company approved by Medicare. There are two ways to get Medicare
prescription drug coverage:
1. Medicare Prescription Drug Plans.
These plans (sometimes called "PDPs") add drug coverage to Original Medicare,
some Medicare Cost Plans, some Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) Plans,
and Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plans.
2. Medicare Advantage Plans
(like an HMO or PPO) are 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. Medicare Advantage
Plans with prescription drug coverage are sometimes called "MA-PDs."
If you decide not to join a Medicare drug plan when you’re first eligible, and you
don’t have other credible prescription drug coverage, you will likely pay a late
enrollment penalty.
How Much Does Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Cost?
Each plan can vary in cost and drugs covered. The Medicare Plan Finder can help you find and compare plans in your area.
Your Part D monthly premium could be higher based on your income. This includes Part D coverage you get from a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, or a Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare Cost Plan that includes Medicare prescription drug coverage. If your modified adjusted gross income as reported on your IRS tax return from 2 years ago (the most recent tax return information provided to
Social Security by the IRS) is above a certain amount, you will pay a higher monthly premium. For more information, visit Social Security’s website.
Many people qualify to get Extra Helppaying their Medicare prescription drug costs but don’t know it. Most who qualify and join a Medicare drug plan will get 95% of their costs covered. Don’t miss out on a chance to save. Extra Help and other programs (like Medicare Savings Programs) may help make your health care and prescription drug costs more affordable.
How Do I Get Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage?
To join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, you must have Medicare Part A or Part B. To join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you must have Part A and Part B. You must also live in the service area of the Medicare drug plan you want to join.
Remember, costs and coverage varies with each plan. Check out the Medicare Plan Finder can help you find and compare plans in your area. Medicare also has information on quality to help you compare plans. If you have employer or union coverage, call your benefits administrator before you make any changes, to before you sign up for any other coverage. If you drop your employer or union coverage, you may not be able to get it back. You also may not be able to drop your employer or union drug coverage without also dropping
your employer or union health (doctor and hospital) coverage. If you drop coverage for yourself, you may also have to drop coverage for your spouse and dependants.
Once you choose a Medicare drug plan, you may be able to join by completing a paper application, calling the plan, or enrolling on the plan’s Web site or on the Medicare Plan Finder. You can also enroll by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1‑877-486-2048. When you join a Medicare drug plan, you will have to provide your Medicare number and the date your Part A and/or Part B coverage started. This information is on your Medicare card. Note: Medicare drug plans aren’t allowed to call you to enroll you in a plan. Call 1-800-MEDICARE to report a plan that does this.
How Does My Other Insurance Work with Medicare Drug Coverage?
If you have other insurance how it works with, or is affected by, Medicare prescription drug coverage.
Employer or Union Health Coverage
This is health coverage based on your, your spouse’s, or other family member's current or former employment. If you have prescription drug coverage based on employment, the employer or union will notify you each year to let you know if your drug coverage is creditable. Keep the information you get. If you join a Medicare drug plan, you, your spouse, or your dependants may lose your employer or union health overage. Call your benefits administrator for more information before making any changes to your coverage.
