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What is Medicare Part D?

Medicare Part D is the part of Medicare that offers prescription drug benefits. Medicare Part D covers drugs not included in Original Medicare (Parts A and B). 
 
Medicare Advantage Plans, sometimes called “Part C” or “MA Plans,” are offered by Medicare-approved private companies like Florida Blue. These companies offer standalone prescription drug coverage called prescription drug plans (PDPs) or Medicare Advantage Plans (MAPDs).

If you join a standalone PDP, Original Medicare would provide your Part A and Part B medical coverage. However, if you join a MAPD, you’ll still have Medicare but you’ll get most of your medical coverage from your Medicare Advantage plan.

What does Medicare Part D cover?

Medicare decides which drugs are covered under your medical (Part B) or pharmacy (Part D) benefits. The drugs covered by a Medicare Part D plan can be found in each plan’s formulary list of covered drugs, called a formulary.

What’s the difference between Medicare Part B and Part D drugs?

Part B drugs are covered under your medical benefit. Part B typically covers medications you would get in the hospital or at a doctor’s office. Part B also covers durable medical equipment for some health conditions. You’ll typically pay 20% of the cost for these drugs. 

Part D drugs are covered under your pharmacy benefit. Part D typically covers prescription drugs you take at home. How much you’ll pay for your drugs depends on your plan, what tier the drug is in and your coverage stage. 
 

Are there drugs Medicare Part D does not cover?

Medicare Part D does not cover all drugs available on the market. For example, Medicare does not cover drugs used for weight loss, weight gain, fertility, hair growth or sexual dysfunction. You’ll want to check the formulary of a plan to ensure that your prescription drugs are included and covered.

How much will I pay for my drugs with Medicare Part D drug coverage?

In addition to your Part D monthly premium, you’ll pay a different amount for your drugs depending on what drug coverage stage you’re in. Your cost sharing can also vary depending on your medications, like what drug tier they fall in and whether they’re generic or brand name.

  • Deductible stage: If your Medicare Part D prescription drug plan has a deductible, you’ll have to pay the full cost for your medications until you reach your deductible amount. Your deductible may not apply to all your plan’s medication tiers. 
  • Initial Coverage Stage: During this stage, your plan pays a portion of your prescription drug costs and you pay the rest. How much you pay depends on which plan you have, what tier your prescription is in and where and how you fill your prescription. 
  • Coverage Gap Stage (Donut Hole): In the coverage gap, you’re responsible for a higher percentage of your drug costs. That’s why it’s called a “gap.” During this time, you’ll usually pay 25% of the plan’s costs for brand name and generic drugs.
  • Catastrophic Coverage Stage: If your out-of-pocket prescription drug costs reach $7,050, you’ll be in the catastrophic coverage stage through the end of the year. You’ll have lower out-of-pocket costs than you did in the coverage gap. And you may be eligible for extra benefits.

What are prescription drug tiers?

Drugs are sorted into tiers (levels) so the most effective and least costly medicines are used first. This helps make your medications more affordable. Your drugs will cost different amounts depending on what tier they’re in. 

Each Part D plan can divide their tiers in different ways. Generally, prescription drugs in higher tiers are associated with higher costs (like copayments and coinsurance) than drugs in lower tiers. 

What if I don’t enroll in a Part D plan when I’m first eligible?

If you don’t sign up for a Part D prescription drug plan when you are first eligible, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty. The late enrollment penalty is an extra amount you will pay with your Part D plan’s monthly premium. 

The late enrollment penalty never goes away. Enroll in Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage when you are first eligible. You are eligible for Part D coverage:

  • During your Medicare initial enrollment period (the seven-month period around your 65th birthday)
  • When you lose creditable drug coverage. Private drug coverage is considered “creditable” if it meets Medicare guidelines. If you lose this coverage, you will need to get Part D coverage within 63 or more days in a row without creditable coverage. Make sure to bring records about your creditable coverage when you enroll in a Part D plan. 

How is Medicare Part D coverage different from commercial prescription drug coverage?

Here are some of the ways Medicare Part D coverage is different than commercial (employer-offered or individual and family) health insurance:

  • The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) determines the general coverage rules for Medicare plans. With Medicare, the amount you pay for a prescription depends on what coverage stage you’re in and what tier the drug is in.
  • You may have to get approval (called a coverage determination) for any drugs you take if they’re not on your Medicare plan’s formulary. This includes when you switch from a commercial plan to a Medicare plan within the same company.
  • Medicare drug coverage rules are different from commercial plans. Each plan has criteria that must be met to make sure the drug is used safely.

Florida Blue Medicare Part D plans

Interested in learning more about our Medicare Part D plans? Find more information about our available Medicare Prescription Drug plans.

Explore our Part D plans

Need help choosing a Part D plan?

Use our tool to help you find a Medicare plan that meets your needs. When searching for a plan, enter all the prescriptions you take so you can see how much your drugs will cost with each plan. 

Help me choose a plan

Part D Prescription Drugs

You may qualify for a lower monthly premium, deductible and copays for your prescriptions.

Getting help paying for prescription drugs

Call a licensed Medicare agent.

Shop for Medicare plans in your area.

Have questions about Medicare?
Request a call from a licensed agent.

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FBM EDU 205 NF 082022
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Last Updated: 08.01.2022
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