MEDICARE PART D

Part D prescription drug plans cover your prescription medications. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) doesn’t cover the prescriptions you pick up at the pharmacy and take at home. Part D coverage is available through private insurance companies and costs a monthly premium.

Before enrolling in any prescription drug plan, you’ll want to make sure its formulary includes your medications, as well as the dosages you take. Part D plans involve stages of coverage, including a coverage gap called the donut hole. Yet, once you make it out of the donut hole, your plan pays nearly the total amount for your prescriptions.

If you choose Original Medicare over Medicare Advantage, it is wise to sign up for a Part D plan as soon as possible. Otherwise, you could be subject to the penalty that comes with delaying enrollment. Even if you don’t currently take medications, you should not wait to sign up for Part D because the penalty stays for as long as you are on the plan.