Medicare Part D

Prescription drugs

Medicare Part D covers prescription drugs. You can sign up for a Part D plan if you have Part A, Part B, or both. It's often included in Part C plans, also known as Medicare Advantage.

How do I get Medicare Part D?

In general, you get Medicare Part D through:

• Medicare Advantage plans
• Stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans (PDP)

We'll explain each option below.

Medicare Advantage plans

These plans (also known as Medicare Part C), cover a range of benefits and may include Part D. Visit the Medicare Part C section of this website for more details on these plans.

Stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans (PDPs)

Medicare PDPs are stand-alone plans that only cover prescriptions drugs. Helpful things to know:

• If you buy a stand-alone PDP, you can add its drug coverage to your Original Medicare (Parts A and B) or Medicare Supplement plan.
• If you have a Medicare Advantage plan that doesn't include Part D, you may be able to add this coverage if it's offered in your area.

Please note: You can only have one prescription drug plan at a time. If you already have a Medicare health plan with Part D coverage, joining a stand-alone PDP could make you lose your current Medicare health plan coverage.

How do I sign up for Medicare Part D?

You can only join, change, or drop a Medicare Part D plan during certain times of year, or under certain special circumstances.

Sign up directly with your Medicare plan of choice, or contact Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 (TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, 7 days week.

What will I pay for Medicare Part D?

Your Part D cost will depend on which plan you choose.

If you're on a limited income, you may qualify for the Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs program, also called the low-income subsidy program (LIS). This program may help you with the cost of Part D premiums, deductibles, and copays.