Paying for care
Medicare Part D
Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage. People with Medicare can get it through a separate drug plan added to Original Medicare or through a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drugs. Private companies offer these plans. Each plan has its own list of covered drugs, called a formulary.
Why it matters for your family
Part D helps with the cost of medicines taken at home, which matters when an older adult takes several each day. Each plan has its own premium, covered drug list, and pharmacy network, so a plan that fits one person may not fit another. Check the plan's drug list every year. A common mistake is to skip Part D when healthy and enroll late. Medicare can add a late enrollment penalty to the premium if you go without creditable coverage for 63 days or more. Part D pays for the drugs. It does not pay for someone to remind a person to take them.
Source: medicare.gov
Read more: What Medicare Doesn't Cover
Related terms
- Medicare Part BMedicare Part B is medical insurance.
- Medicare Advantage (Part C)Medicare Advantage, also called Part C, is a Medicare-approved health plan sold by a private company.
- Medication managementMedication management is the full set of steps for using medicines safely.
- Medication reminderA medication reminder is a prompt that tells a person it is time to take a medicine they already have.
- Dual eligibleA dual eligible is a person who has both Medicare and Medicaid.
- State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)A State Health Insurance Assistance Program is a free, state-run counseling service for people with Medicare and their families.
