Even if you don’t take a lot of prescription drugs now, you should still consider joining a Medicare drug plan. If you decide not to join a Medicare drug plan when you are first eligible, and you don’t have other creditable prescription drug coverage (also called creditable coverage), you will likely pay a late enrollment penalty (higher premiums) if you join later.
Note: Discount cards, doctor samples, free clinics, drug discount Web sites, and manufacturer’s pharmacy assistance programs aren’t considered prescription drug coverage and aren’t creditable coverage.
