Part D Prescription Drug Plans

You can sign up for Part D Prescription Drug Plans, which helps cover prescription drug costs, along with other components of Medicare starting three months before your 65th birthday, or if you are under 65 and eligible for Medicare.

It's important to do this on time because there' may be a permanent premium surcharge for enrolling after your initial enrollment period if you don't have equivalent drug coverage from another source, such as a retiree plan.

Let us help you with your enrollment

If you are already enrolled in a Part D "standalone" plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that incorporates drug coverage, you can switch plans during the open-enrollment period, which runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 every year.

Making Part D work

In 2024, you are facing higher out-of-pocket drug costs before you can qualify for catastrophic coverage. The out-of-pocket spending threshold will increase by $600, from $7,400 to $8,000 in 2024.

You will also face higher out-of-pocket costs in 2024 for the deductible and in the initial coverage phase before reaching the catastrophic coverage. The standard deductible is increasing from $505 in 2023 to no more then $545 in 2024, while the initial coverage limit is increasing from 4,660 in 2023 to $5,030 in 2024.

For costs in the coverage gap phase, beneficiaries will pay 25% for both brand-name and generic drugs. Manufacturers provide a 70% discount on brands and plans pay the remaining 5% of costs for brand name drugs. Plans pay the remaining 75% of generic drug costs. 

Choosing a plan

It pays to review your Part D coverage every year, especially if you have started taking new drugs.

• Start at Medicare.gov, where you can find the basics about the benefit and Part D plans. There's a link to the Medicare Part D Plan Finder, which allows you to compare offerings and coverage options in your area and includes a helpful formulary finder that allows you to compare plans based on their coverage of your personalized list of drugs. It will even show you your monthly out-of-pocket drug cost for the year

Call us to help you understand your options.

Getting financial help

Individuals with 2023 annual incomes of less than $21,870 and financial resources of up to  $16,600, or married couples with incomes of less than r $29,580 and financial resources of up to  $33,240, might qualify for Extra Help from Medicare to pay their Part D premiums and out-of-pocket drug costs.

Download Medicare's instructions on applying for the Extra Help program.

Additionally, read about the five ways to lower your drug costs on Medicare.gov.

This information was obtained from www.medicare.gov

By contacting the phone number on this website you will be directed to a licensed agent.