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What is Medicare Part D - Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage?

Medicare offers prescription drug coverage (Part D) to everyone with Medicare. To get Medicare 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 drugs covered.

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) 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. Medicare Advantage Plans with prescription drug coverage are sometimes called “MA-PDs.”

What is Medicare?

Medicare is health insurance for the following: People age 65 or older People under age 65 with certain disabilities People of any age with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney...

What is Medicare Part A?

Part A helps cover the following: Inpatient care in hospitals (such as critical access hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and long-term care hospitals) Inpatient care in a skilled nursing facility (not custodial or long term...

What does Medicare Part A cost?

Many People Automatically Get Part A If you get benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), you automatically get Part A starting the first day of the month you turn age 65. If you are under age 65 and disabled, you...

What is Medicare Part B?

Part B helps cover medically-necessary services like doctors’ services, outpatient care, home health services, and other medical services. Part B also covers some preventive services. You can find out if you have Part B by looking at your...

What does Medicare Part B cost?

You pay the Part B premium each month. Most people will pay the standard premium amount. However, if your modified adjusted gross income as reported on your IRS tax return from 2 years ago is above a certain amount, you may pay more.   Your...

How do I get Medicare Part B?

If you get benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), in most cases, you will automatically get Part B starting the first day of the month you turn age 65. If your birthday is on the first day of the month, your Part B...

What is a Medicare Supplement Plan?

Original Medicare pays for many, but not all, health care services and supplies. A Medigap policy, sold by private insurance companies, can help pay some of the health care costs (“gaps”) that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, like...

Why should I sign up for Medicare Part D?

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...