Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage
Your Questions Answered
By: Patricia Barry | Source: AARP Bulletin Today | Updated November 10, 2009
Six key things you should know about Medicare Part D
1. Anyone on Medicare can get drug coverage regardless of income or health.
2. You are not obliged to sign up (but there may be financial consequences if you don’t enroll when you’re first eligible to do so).
3. To get Medicare drug coverage, you must select one approved private drug plan among many offering different choices. There is no single government plan.
4. Is your income limited? If you qualify for a part of the program known as Extra Help, you’ll pay very little for your medications.
5. Are your drug costs very high? You’ll pay no more than 5 percent of the cost of each prescription after you’ve spent a certain amount out of pocket in any one year.
6. Do you have better drug coverage already? You probably won’t need Medicare’s Part D coverage. But it’s wise to check.
Illustration by Christoph Niemann
How Medicare Drug Coverage Works
Understanding the basics of Part D
Before deciding whether to sign up for Medicare drug coverage, you need to understand how the program works together as a whole. More>>
Extra Help Paying for Drugs
A better deal if your income is limited
Extra Help is a special part of Medicare drug coverage that gives much more assistance to people with limited incomes. If you qualify, you can save a lot of money. More>>
In and Out of the Doughnut Hole
Navigating the Part D coverage gap
In any one year, the drug benefit gives you initial coverage up to a certain level. But then in most cases there’s a gap in coverage when you pay 100 percent of your costs. More>>
Deciding Whether You Need Part D
Consider all your options
Don’t dismiss Medicare drug benefits out of hand—even if you now have good coverage or don’t take any drugs. First consider all the angles. More>>
Choosing a Part D Drug Plan
How to find the plan that’s right for you
To get Medicare drug coverage, you must sign up for one of the private drug plans approved by Medicare. You have many to choose from—at least 45 plans. More>>
Enrolling in Medicare Part D
How to sign up and avoid scams and hard sells
Once you’ve chosen a plan, it’s easy to sign up. But first make sure that it’s the plan you want and that you haven’t been talked into it by a salesperson. More>>
• Glossary of Terms
• Where to Go for Help
• Quick Route Through the Medicare Drug Plan Finder
• Ask Ms. Medicare Archive
If you can’t find the Part D answer you’re looking for in this guide, e-mail your query to Ask Ms. Medicare at msmed@aarp.org. Be sure to include your name, age, state and Zip Code. Your name will not be published.
Patricia Barry is a senior editor at the AARP Bulletin.
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