Medicare Part D Overview

As of January 1, 2006, Medicare began offering Medicare Part D, a prescription drug program. This drug coverage allows most people who are eligible for Medicare to save considerably on their prescription drug costs.

The choice will be yours under Medicare Part D. How much you save will depend on your unique circumstances. Everyone who is eligible will benefit from knowing they’re covered should their drug costs change.

Choosing the program that’s right for you is a big decision. We can explain the benefits of Medicare Part D drug coverage, how different Medicare Part D drug plans work, and how to get the most from your coverage.

To start, gather your own personal information and use the tools on this site to help you determine which prescription drug plan might best fit your needs. If you haven’t already determined whether you are eligible for the additional subsidies available to people with limited income and resources, refer to the eligibility requirements at www.socialsecurity.gov.

Determine the Plan that's Right For You

Here is the information you will need before you select your plan:

  • List of pharmacies where you prefer to shop.
  • List of the prescription drugs that you currently take or anticipate taking in the upcoming year based on recent health diagnoses. You may wish to have your physician help you with this.

Even if you do not spend a lot of money on prescription drugs at this time, please keep in mind that the Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage is a prescription drug insurance plan. This means that you will be covered and will not have to worry about the high cost of prescription drugs when you may need them. All of the prescription drugs you purchase through your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan are provided to you at negotiated discounted prices. You may be able to save costs on drugs by obtaining them at lower prices than would otherwise be available. To assure that you are covered and don’t incur the late enrollment penalty, you can learn which plan is best for you now and enroll before the deadline. You may pay a financial penalty if you did not enroll in a plan offering Medicare Part D drug coverage when you first became eligible for this drug coverage or you experienced a continuous period of 63 days or more when you didn't keep your prescription drug coverage. Typically, you may only enroll in a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan during the annual open enrollment period between October 15 and December 07 of each year. However, there are exceptions that may allow you to enroll in a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan outside of the annual open enrollment period.


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