Prescription Drug Plans (Part D)
Pairs with Medicare. Picks up where your other coverage stops — at the pharmacy counter.
The plain-English version.
Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage. It pays for the medications you pick up at the pharmacy — typically with a small copay or coinsurance, depending on the drug's tier.
Standalone Part D plans pair with Original Medicare and a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) — because Supplements don't include drug coverage on their own. If you're going with a Medicare Advantage plan instead, drug coverage is usually built right in; those plans are called MAPDs (Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug).
There's a penalty if you skip Part D when you're eligible and try to enroll later — and it follows you for the rest of your life. So this is one to handle on time, even if you're not currently on many medications.
Probably you, if any of these sound familiar.
- Anyone newly eligible for Medicare who takes prescription medications.
- Seniors who don't take many drugs today but want to avoid the late-enrollment penalty.
- Folks on Original Medicare with a Supplement plan (Part D isn’t included with Supplements).
- People whose current Part D plan has changed its drug formulary and stopped covering one of their prescriptions.
In John’s own words.
“I run your actual prescription list against every Part D plan available in your zip code. The plan that looks cheapest at first glance often isn't — once we account for which tier each of your drugs falls into and whether your pharmacy is in-network.”
“I help you find the plan that gives you the lowest total annual cost for the medications you actually take. Premium, deductible, copays — all of it.”
“When a plan drops one of your drugs from its formulary mid-year, or when you start a new prescription, call me. We'll find the right next move.”
About Prescription Drug Plans
Do I need a separate Part D plan if I have Medicare Advantage?
What's the late-enrollment penalty if I skip Part D?
Why do my prescriptions cost different amounts at different pharmacies?
What if I start a new prescription mid-year?
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
You might also want to read about...
Medicare Advantage
Most coverage for the least out-of-pocket — for most of the seniors I talk to.
Read moreMedicare Supplements (Medigap)
When you want predictable costs and the freedom to see almost any doctor in the country.
Read moreSocial Security & Medicare Enrollment
The soup-to-nuts walk-through. The thing nobody else does.
Read moreReady to talk? Let’s find 30 minutes.
No pressure. No quotas. I’ll listen, ask a few questions, and if I can help you I’ll tell you how. If I can’t, I’ll tell you that too.
I read every text. Even on Christmas.