Medicare Part D
Prescription drug coverage that helps lower the cost of your medications. Find a Part D plan that covers the drugs you need at a price you can afford.
What is Medicare Part D?
Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. It helps cover the cost of prescription drugs, including many recommended shots and vaccines.
Part D plans are available as standalone Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) that work alongside Original Medicare and Medigap, or as part of a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage (MA-PD).
Each plan has its own list of covered drugs (formulary), network pharmacies, and costs. It's critical to review plans annually because formularies and pricing change each year — even if you're happy with your current plan.
How Part D Coverage Works
Deductible Phase
You pay the full cost of your drugs until you meet the annual deductible (some plans have $0 deductibles for certain drugs).
Initial Coverage
After the deductible, you pay a copay or coinsurance for each drug. The plan pays the rest until you reach the coverage limit.
Coverage Gap
Thanks to recent legislation, the coverage gap (donut hole) has been largely eliminated for brand-name and generic drugs.
Catastrophic Coverage
After reaching the out-of-pocket threshold, you pay little to nothing for covered drugs for the rest of the year.
Tips for Choosing a Part D Plan
- Make a list of all your current prescriptions, including dosage and quantity
- Check that your preferred pharmacy is in the plan's network
- Compare total annual cost — not just the monthly premium
- Look at the plan's formulary to ensure your drugs are covered
- Review plans every year during the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct 15 – Dec 7)
- Ask about Extra Help — a federal program that helps pay Part D costs for eligible individuals
Let Us Review Your Drug Coverage
Bring us your medication list and we'll compare Part D plans to find the one that saves you the most — at no cost to you.