Medicare Part D
Medicare Part D stands apart from Original Medicare, exclusively available through private insurance companies. It can be obtained either as a standalone plan, often in conjunction with a Medicare Supplement, or included within a Medicare Advantage plan. Monthly premiums and drug copayments for Part D plans vary significantly among providers. Furthermore, each plan maintains its own formulary, detailing the covered drugs, a critical factor in determining cost-effectiveness.
But what if you don’t require prescription medications coverage? Medicare still requires you to have Medicare Part D or “creditable drug coverage” as good as Medicare’s. If you go more than 62 days without creditable drug coverage then Medicare will assess a late enrollment penalty that you pay every month for the rest of your life whenever you do decide to add Part D.