the medicare drug plan
6 Key Facts

1. Anyone on Medicare can get coverage regardless of income or health.

2. You are not obligated to enroll, but there may be consequences if you don't sign up when you are first eligible to do so.

3. To get Medicare drug coverage, you must select one approved private drug plan among many offering different choices. There is no single government plan.

4. Is your income limited? If you qualify for a part of the program known as "Extra Help." you'll pay very little for your medications.

5. Are your drug costs very high? You'll pay no more than 5 percent of the cost of each prescription after you've spent a certain amount of money out-of-pocket in any one year.

6. Do you have better drug coverage already? You probably won't need Medicare's Part D coverage. But it's wise to check.

AARP Home » Health » Medicare & Medicaid »Medicare Part D Glossary

Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Guide

Medicare Part D Glossary

Defining Part D's words, phrases and jargon

by: Patricia Barry, from: AARP Bulletin, Updated Fall 2012

Medicare Part D is full of jargon that you may come across in dealing with your drug plan. Here are the meanings of words and phrases commonly used in Part D, arranged alphabetically. Words in italics within definitions indicate that they’re explained elsewhere in the glossary. … Back to Article