Even if you don’t take prescription drugs now, you should consider getting Medicare drug coverage. Medicare drug coverage is optional & is offered to everyone with Medicare.

If you decide not to get it when you’re first eligible, & you don’t have other creditable prescription drug coverage (like drug coverage from an employer or union) or get Extra Help, you’ll likely pay a late enrollment penalty if you join a plan later. Generally, you’ll pay this penalty for as long as you have Medicare drug coverage.

To get Medicare drug coverage, you must join a Medicare-approved plan that offers drug coverage. Each plan can vary in cost & specific drugs covered.

1. Medicare drug plans. These plans add drug coverage to Original Medicare, some Medicare Cost Plans, some Private Fee‑for‑Service plans, & Medical Savings Account plans. You must have Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) &/or Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) to join a separate Medicare prescription drug plan (Part D).

2. Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) or other Medicare Health Plan with drug coverage. You get all of your Part A, Part B, & drug coverage, through these plans.

Remember, you must have Part A & Part B to join a Medicare Advantage Plan, & not all of these plans include prescription drug coverage.

Before you make a decision, learn how prescription drug coverage works with your other drug coverage.

For example, you may have drug coverage from an employer or union, TRICARE, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Indian Health Service, or a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy.

Compare your current coverage to Medicare drug coverage. The drug coverage you already have may change because of Medicare prescription drug coverage, so consider all your coverage options.

If you have (or are eligible for) other types of drug coverage, read all the materials you get from your insurer or plan provider. Talk to your benefits administrator, insurer, or plan provider before you make any changes to your current coverage.

If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you’ll usually get drug coverage through that plan.

In certain types of plans that can’t offer drug coverage (like Medical Savings Account plans) or choose not to offer drug coverage (like certain Private Fee-for-Service plans), you can join a separate Medicare drug plan (Part D).

If you’re in a Health Maintenance Organization, HMO Point-of-Service plan, or Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), & you join a separate drug plan, you’ll be disenrolled from your Medicare Advantage Plan & returned to Original Medicare.

You can only join a separate Medicare drug plan without losing your current health coverage when you’re in a:

• Private Fee-for-Service Plan

• Medical Savings Account Plan

• Cost Plan

• Certain employer-sponsored Medicare health plans