Part D
What is Medicare Part D?
Prescription coverage sold by private companies under federal rules. Here is how it works, what it costs and why skipping it is expensive.
Part D
How much does Medicare Part D cost per month?
Four separate charges, only one of which is the premium. Here is what makes up your actual annual drug spending.
Part D
Do I need Part D if I do not take any medications?
Almost always yes, and the reason is arithmetic rather than sales. Here is what going without actually costs.
Part D
What is the Part D late enrollment penalty?
About 1 percent of a national base premium for every month you went without, added permanently. Here is how it is calculated and how to fight it.
Part D
Is my drug covered? How to check a Part D formulary
Every plan covers a different list at different prices. Here is how to check yours properly, and what to do when a drug is not on it.
Part D
What is the Medicare donut hole?
The coverage gap that used to sit in the middle of every drug plan year, what replaced it, and why it still matters for understanding your costs.
Part D
What is the annual out of pocket cap on Medicare drug costs?
A hard limit on what you pay for covered prescriptions each year. What counts toward it, what does not, and why it changes plan selection.
Part D
When can I enroll in or change my Part D plan?
Every window for joining, switching or dropping drug coverage, and the two month deadline that catches people leaving employer plans.
Part D
What is Extra Help and do I qualify?
A federal subsidy that cuts prescription costs sharply for people with limited income. Widely available in South Texas and widely unclaimed.
Part D
How do I compare Medicare Part D plans?
A step by step method that takes about thirty minutes and routinely saves people hundreds a year.
Part D
Does Medicare Advantage include Part D, or do I need a separate plan?
Most Advantage plans include drug coverage. Here is how to tell which route you are on and the mistake that gets people disenrolled.
Part D
What drugs are not covered by Medicare Part D?
Some categories are excluded by law, others are simply off your plan's list. The difference determines whether you can do anything about it.
Part D
What are Part D drug tiers and copays?
Every plan sorts drugs into tiers and prices them accordingly. Here is what each tier means and where the real money is.
Part D
What is prior authorization and step therapy for my medication?
Two ways a plan controls costs before covering a drug. Both are appealable, and both are worth checking before you enroll.
Part D
Can I switch Part D plans if my drug is dropped?
Usually not, and that surprises people. Here is what protections you actually have and how to handle a mid year formulary change.
Part D
What is creditable drug coverage?
Coverage at least as good as Part D. Knowing whether yours qualifies is what stands between you and a permanent penalty.
Part D
How do I sign up for Part D for the first time?
What you need before you can enroll, the three ways to do it, and the checks worth doing first.
Part D
What is the Part D deductible?
The amount you pay before the plan starts sharing costs, and why the tiers it applies to matter more than the number itself.
Part D
Do I pay a Part D penalty if I had VA or employer drug coverage?
Generally no, because both are creditable. Here is how to prove it if a penalty gets applied anyway.
Part D
What happens to my Part D if I have Medicaid too?
Dual eligibles get automatic Extra Help, automatic plan enrollment, and more chances to switch. Here is what to know so the automatic part works for you.