Is Part D included in Original Medicare?

Original Medicare has two main parts. Part A covers hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, and some home health services. Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care, and certain medical equipment. Neither one covers most prescription drugs you pick up at a pharmacy.To get drug coverage, you need Medicare Part D. Part D is offered through private insurance companies approved by Medicare. You buy it as a standalone plan and add it on top of Original Medicare. Each plan has its own list of covered drugs, called a formulary, and its own costs, so plans vary quite a bit.If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan instead of sticking with Original Medicare, many of those plans bundle drug coverage in. That's often written as MAPD, Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan. But if you stay with Original Medicare and a Medigap supplement, you'll need to shop for and enroll in a Part D plan separately.Skipping Part D when you first become eligible can cost you later. Medicare charges a late enrollment penalty if you go without creditable drug coverage for 63 days or more after your initial enrollment window. That penalty gets added to your premium and typically stays with you as long as you have Part D coverage.Drug plans change their formularies and costs every year, so reviewing your Part D plan at each annual enrollment period is worth doing.

Related Medicare Resources

• Part D Prescription Drug Plan Plans
• Compare Medicare Plans