Medicare Part D

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Medicare Part D covers prescription drugs. Medicare offers prescription drug coverage to everyone with Medicare through private insurance companies. Even if you don't take many prescriptions now, you should consider joining a plan when you first become eligible. If you decide not to join a Medicare drug plan when you're first eligible, and you don't have other creditable prescription drug coverage, you'll likely pay a late enrollment penalty when you join later. Generally, you'll keep paying this penalty for as long as you have coverage.  

• Stand-Alone Prescription Drug Plan - These plans add drug coverage to Original Medicare, Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement,  and some Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans. You must have Part A or Part B to join a prescription drug plan.
• Medicare Advantage Plans - You get all of your Part A, Part B, and prescription drug coverage (Part D), through these plans. Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage are sometimes called "MAPDs". You must have Part A and Part B to join a Medicare Advantage plan. Not all Medicare Advantage plans offer drug coverage.