It’s common for people who are at retirement age to already have a couple daily medications they rely upon by the time they qualify for Medicare enrollment. Medicare prescription drug plans (Part D) are an optional program that helps people with Medicare afford and pay for brand-name and generic prescription drugs. More than 48 million Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in a prescription drug plan.
Medicare Part D plans are for outpatient prescription drugs, which is everything you don’t receive while admitted in a hospital or treated in a doctor’s office (literally while in the doctor’s office).
For the Medicare enrollment year of 2023, there are just over 800 stand-alone prescription drug plans. As of recently, these drug plans have become a stand part of Medicare Advantage plan, whereby 88% of plans are a “MAPD” (Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan).
The average person on Medicare shopping for a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan has approximately two-dozen PDP plans to choose from. States with large selection of stand-alone Part D plans (PDP) include: Arizona (28 plans); Texas (27 plans); Pennsylvania (26 plans); and California (26 plans). States with the smallest marketplace for PDP plans in 2023 include: New York (19 plans), Alaska (21 plans), and Hawaii (20 plans).
Everyone on Medicare should consider a Part D plan as a part of their overall Medicare coverage. In fact, even people on Medicare who don’t take any medications should enroll in Medicare prescription drug plan to avoid paying a Part D late-enrollment penalty later.
Prescription Drug Coverage is becoming a common part of every Medicare Advantage Plan
88% of Medicare Advantage plans have a Part D plan built into the “all-in-one” MAPD plan.
How Much Do Medicare Drug Plans Cost?
The average monthly premium for Part D plans is $32.75, which includes both stand-alone Part D plans (PDP), and the Part D portion included in a MA-PD (Medicare Advantage with Prescription Drug Coverage). To that end, monthly premium vary a lot by the state you live in and your household income. The spectrum for all Part D plans is between a couple dollars per month, to a couple-hundred dollars per month.
Do High-Income People on Medicare Pay More for Part D Plans?
Yes. About 8% of everyone purchasing Part D are subject to a high-income surcharge on top of their Part D monthly premium.
As a retired person that makes more than $97,000 of taxable income, or a married couple filing taxes jointly making $194,000 of taxable income, you will pay a Part D premium surcharge.
This income-relate surcharge is generally paid directly to the Part D insurance company; however, the high-income surcharge can also be deducted from a retiree’s Social Security check.
Additional Monthly Part D Premium Surcharge for “High-Income” Medicare Beneficiaries Less
When Should You Enroll in a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D)?
Anyone eligible for Medicare should enroll in a Medicare Part D plan as soon as possible.
People who have Original Medicare, Original Medicare with a Medigap policy, or a Medicare Advantage plan without drug coverage need to enroll in Part D when first eligible. Otherwise, Medicare may hit them with penalties in the form of an extra charge for the rest of their lives.
People without Medicare prescription plans may need to pay for the entire cost of their medicine because Original Medicare only covers prescriptions under specific circumstances.
Some people who have creditable coverage through a job-based plan may have the chance to delay enrollment without a penalty.
Why is the Initial Enrollment Period for Part D Prescription Drug Plan so Important?
Medicare beneficiaries can enroll in Part D or a Medicare Advantage plan with drug benefits during their Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). For people aging into Medicare this 7-month period timeframe starts 3 months before the month in which you turn 65 until three months after. Missing IEP enrollment can translate to having penalty costs added to the enrollee’s monthly premiums.
How to Avoid the Part D Late-Enrollment Penalty
Late enrollment into the Part D prescription drug plan will cost the enrollee a 1% penalty of the average nation premium added to their monthly premium for every month the person was eligible and did not enroll. For more information visit Medicare Part D Premium and Costs for 2022.
What is the Open Enrollment Period for Part D Prescription Drug Plan?
People enrolled in Medicare have a chance to switch plans during every year between October 15th and December 7th. This 8-week enrollment period is called AEP (Annual Enrollment Period), and is commonly called Open Enrollment.
Most people on Medicare can only change plans during Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment in the fall. Naturally, Medicare recipients may receive new prescriptions over the course of a year. Keeping track of medication costs and knowing when to time enrollments should enable beneficiaries to be satisfied for the choice of drug coverage.
Why You Need to Understand Your Medicare Drug Plan’s Formulary?
Every Medicare Part D plan has a plan formulary. The formulary is a list of covered drugs the plan will cover.
Medicare Part D drug plans negotiate with drug manufacturers to get lower price for their larger Part D member prices, which is why using those drugs within a plan’s formulary will save you money.
Formularies may also have various tiers, such as one for generic, brand-name, or specialty medication. To ensure that people on Medicare with different health conditions have access to the medications they need, Plan D formularies are designed to include at least 2 drugs in the most frequently prescribed drug categories and drug classes.
As you many find, not all Part D formularies include every commonly request drug, because, they only have to cover at least 2 drugs per category – NOT EVERY drug in the category.
Part D Rule-of-Thumb: Using the generic drug instead of brand-name version will generally lower your Part D out-of-pocket costs.
Formularies are not inclusive of every drug in a pharmacy, but they are supposed to offer the closes available ‘similar’ drug. When your Part D plan doesn’t include the medication your doctor prescribed, and your doctor doesn’t agree with Part D plan’s provided “next best alternative”, you can submit a request for coverage exception.
A coverage exception request submitted by your doctor with that provides a supporting statement that justifies the medical reason for the formulary exception where the Plan D insurance company will agree to pay for the drug. Part D rule-of-thumb: Opting for a prescription drug that isn’t on your Part D plan’s formulary will be expensive. You’ll likely have to pay retail price for the medication instead of a copayment or coinsurance, unless of course you’re granted a formulary exception.
Yes. Each tier within a formulary may impose different copays or other out-of-pocket expenses. Thus, Medicare beneficiaries should compare these formularies against the prescriptions they need to maintain their health.
In fact, it’s common for a Part D plan’s coinsurance to increase on specific drugs when the drug manufacturer jacks up the price. Don’t be surprised when your copayment or coinsurance goes up when generic option of your specific medication becomes available, and you continue to take the brand name drug. They’re attempting to incent you to try the cheaper generic alternative.
Do Medicare Drug Plans Pay for Vaccinations?
Yes. Medicare drug coverage (Part D) must include all commercially available vaccines that are deemed to be “reasonable and necessary to prevent illness” according the CMS. Medicare Part D formularies now cover the shingles shot. Part D does not pay for vaccines covered under Medicare Part B, like the flu or pneumococcal shot.
Which Prescription Drugs do Medicare Part D Plans Cover?
For a Medicare Part D plan to include a medication within the plan formulary, the drug must be first and foremost, approved by the FDA. Part D drugs must also be available only by prescription, sold within the United States, and included in a CMS-filed and approved Part D plan formulary.
Why is the Medicare “Star Rating” Valuable with Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage Plans
Medicare (CMS) developed a star rating system as a quick guide to various Medicare plans, including Part D and Medicare Advantage. The plans rated highest for performance and customer satisfaction get a five-star rating, but only a handful of plans qualify for the highest honor.
Medicare offers a Special Enrollment Period for five-star plans. From December 8th to November 1st, enrollees can switch to a five-star plan, and the new plan’s effective date will be the first day of the following month.
Not every service area may have plans with five-star ratings, but most places should have four-star plans. According to CMS, about 68% of all plans earned at least four stars, and these four-star plans serve about 90% of all enrollees. Thus, most people should strongly consider shopping for policies that have achieved at least a four-star rating from CMS.
Do Part D Prescription Drug Plans Have Extra Benefits?
Yes. Medicare drug coverage only includes prescription drugs, but some plans may offer extra perks that help members enjoy discounts on over-the-counter medicine, like nutritional supplements or pain relievers. Medicare plans may also provide convenient services, including home deliveries and automatic refills or refill reminders. Be sure to ask questions and get a good understanding of what perks are included in the plan before enrolling or switching.
Why is Comparing Different Medicare Drug Plans So Important?
According to a survey sponsored by the Kaiser Family Foundation, almost 90% of people at least 65 years old take prescription medication. The chance of needing prescriptions rises as people age, and older people also have a greater chance of needing multiple medications.
The same survey found that almost one-quarter of older adults struggled to afford medication. Populations of older, less healthy, and less-affluent people had more trouble with their out-of-pocket prescription expenses than others. At the same time, the federal government’s Extra Help program, Medicaid, or other state programs can help people with lower incomes afford better Part D coverage.
Most Medicare beneficiaries might enroll in a stand-alone Part D plan to complement Original Medicare or Original Medicare with a Medigap plan. They might also choose a Medicare Advantage plan with similar benefits as Part D for prescription medication. Part D plans may have deductibles, copayments, and varying benefits for different kinds of prescription medicine.
These plans can vary because of the drugs covered, and the amount members need to pay for specific types of prescriptions. Spending some time comparing various options and investigating possible other sources of assistance should help more Medicare beneficiaries afford their vital medications.
Most Commonly Asked Questions About Medicare Drug Plans
- How Much Do Medicare Part D Plans Cost?
- Do High-Income People on Medicare Pay More for Part D Plans?
- When Should You Enroll in a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D)?
- Why is the Initial Enrollment Period for Part D Prescription Drug Plan so Important?
- What is the Open Enrollment Period for Part D Prescription Drug Plan?
- Why You Need to Understand your Part D Plan’s Formulary?
- Does Medicare Part D Plans Pay for Vaccinations?
- Which Prescription Drugs do Medicare Part D Plans Cover?
- Why is the Medicare “Star Rating” Valuable with Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage Plans
- Why is Comparing Medicare Part D Prescription Plans Important?
Part D Research Sources
1. [CMS.gov] Medicare Part D Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts
2. [CMS.gov] 2023 Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings
3. [Kaiser Family Foundation] An Overview of the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit
4. [Medicare.gov] Help with drug costs
Related TrustMedicare Articles Regarding Medicare Part D Plans and Other Medicare Benefits
- What to Know About Joining, Dropping and Switching Medicare Drug Plans
- The Medicare Part D Donut Hole
- Most Important Details About Medicare Part D Enrollment
- Medicare Part D Eligibility
- Medicare Part D Costs
- The Easiest Ways to Pay Medicare Premiums
- Healthcare Costs In Retirement, What Should I Plan For And Expect?
- Does Your Medicare Plan Have Gym and Fitness Benefits like SilverSneaker?
