Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Part D)
Medicare contracts with private companies to offer prescription drug plans. You must have Part A and/or Part B to join a Medicare Part D drug plan.
How to Get Prescription Drug Coverage
There are two ways to get this coverage:
1. Join a Medicare Drug Plan (also called Part D). These plans add drug coverage to:
- Original Medicare; or
- A Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plan that does not offer prescription drug coverage, or
- A Medicare Cost Plan (if the Cost Plan itself does not include prescription drug coverage).
2. Join a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) that offers drug coverage along with medical benefits.
- Remember you must have Part A and Part B to join a Medicare Advantage Plan.
- You must live in the planβs service area.
Find more information about Part D in our Medicare Drug Coverage (Part D): How Does it Work? (747.92 KB) .pdf guide.
Selecting your Prescription Drug Coverage Plan
You can complete your own drug plan comparison and enrollment through Medicare.gov. When comparing plans, it is important to ensure the plan you select covers all your prescriptions and is the most affordable. The video below will lead you through the steps to complete a comparison using Medicare's Plan Finder tools at available at Medicare.gov.