The Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D)

The Medicare prescription drug benefit (Part D) covers most outpatient prescription drugs (the kind you get at the pharmacy or through mail-order). Anyone entitled to Medicare is eligible for this benefit; however, Part D is only offered through private plans—there is no Original Medicare equivalent of Part D. Coverage is options for most people. However, there may be a penalty for late enrollment. Whether you should sign up for Medicare drug coverage depends on your particular needs.

To learn about the Medicare drug benefit, please use the resouces below:

• Downloadable Handouts (in PDF format unless otherwise noted). Spanish translations where available.

• Essential Answers from Medicare Interactive (MI) Counselor, an independent, public resource of the Medicare Rights Center. MI offers expert information and advice on Medicare.

Note: If you are not eligible for Medicare drug coverage or you want to find other ways to pay for your prescription drugs (Rx), MRC has put together a resource list of discount drug programs.
• Programs that could help pay for your prescription costs

General Information You Should Know | When Enrolling in a Medicare Private Drug Plan
Using Your Drug Plan | Help Paying for Your Drug Coverage
Other Coverage and Medicare Drug Coverage | New York Specific Information on Medicare Drug Coverage

General Information You Should Know
Downloadable Handouts	MI Counselor Essential Answers
The Medicare Drug Benefit: Consumer Handout      Download The Medicare Drug Benefit: Overview      Download Medicare Drug Coverage 101: Everything You Need to Know About the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit      Download (Information last updated on 4/23/08) Medicare Drug Coverage: What You Need to Know if You live in a Nursing Home      Download en Español The Medicare Drug Benefit: Consumer Handout      Download	Am I eligible for the Medicare drug benefit (Part D)?      Go To What is the Medicare prescription drug benefit (Part D)?      Go To Which drugs does the Medicare drug benefit cover?      Go To What do I need to know about Medicare drug coverage if I live in a nursing home?      Go To
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When Enrolling in a Medicare Private Drug Plan . . .
Downloadable Handouts	MI Counselor Essential Answers
Thinking about changing how you get your Medicare benefits?      Download Should I enroll in Medicare's prescription drug benefit?      Download Special Enrollment Periods Chart      Download How to Compare Medicare Prescription Drug Plans      Download Marketing Fraud: How To Avoid Getting Taken For A Ride      Download en Español Worried about Medicare changes?      Download Should I enroll in Medicare's prescription drug benefit?      Download How to Compare Medicare Prescription Drug Plans      Download	Should I enroll in the Medicare drug benefit (Part D)?      Go To How do I compare Medicare private drug plans?      Go To Can I change my Medicare private drug plan (Part D) at any time?      Go To What if I enrolled in a Medicare private health plan or drug plan by mistake or because I was misled?      Go To
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Using Your Drug Plan
Downloadable Handouts	MI Counselor Essential Answers
Part D Appeals Manual: An advocate’s manual to navigating the Medicare private drug plan appeals process      Download How do I get the most out of my new private Medicare drug plan?      Download My Part D plan won't pay for a drug I need. What should I do?      Download Helping Your Patients Get Their Medications: How to Appeal (Physician's Guide)      Download Physician's Exceptions Request Letter on Behalf of Their Patients to the Private Drug Plans (MSWordTM file)      Download What Physicians Need to Know to Ensure Their Medicare Patients Get the Drugs They Need      Download Getting Medicare to Cover Your Drugs: Parts A, B, or D?      Download What if I cannot afford my Medicare private drug plan’s copays (with or without Extra Help)?      Download en Español How do I get the most out of my new private Medicare drug plan?      Download	Which part of Medicare will cover my drugs: Parts A, B or D?      Go To How do I get the most out of my private Medicare drug plan?      Go To What can I do if the drug I need is not covered by my Medicare drug plan or it is too expensive?      Go To
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Help Paying For Your Drug Coverage
Downloadable Handouts	MI Counselor Essential Answers
Extra Help Paying for Your Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage      Download Charity programs that help pay your Medicare prescription drug plan copays      Download Do I have to change my Medicare drug plan for next year if I have Extra Help?      Download Tips on Applying for Extra Help with Medicare Drug Costs      Download 2008 Extra Help Premium Amounts      Download en Español Extra Help Paying for Your Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage      Download Tips on Applying for Extra Help with Medicare Drug Costs      Download Do I have to change my Medicare drug plan for next year if I have Extra Help?      Download	My income is low. Are there programs that can help pay for my prescriptions?      Go To Will I get help paying for the Medicare drug benefit if my income is low (Extra Help)?      Go To How will my state prescription drug coverage work with the Medicare drug benefit?      Go To
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Other Coverage and Medicare Drug Coverage
Downloadable Handouts	MI Counselor Essential Answers
How will my Medicaid and Medicare drug coverage (Part D) work together?      Download en Español How will my Medicaid and Medicare drug coverage (Part D) work together?      Download	How will my Medicaid and Medicare drug coverage work together?      Go To Is there anything I should know about enrolling in the Medicare prescription drug benefit (Part D) if I receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or am enrolled in a Medicare Savings Program (MSP)?      Go To
Note: If you enroll in the Medicare drug benefit (Part D), you cannot also have a Medicare supplemental insurance policy (Medigap) that offers drug coverage. As of January 1, 2006, Medigap plans are no longer sold with drug coverage. If you have a Medigap H, I and J with drug coverage that you purchased before 2006, you can keep it, but it is important to know that your coverage is not considered to be at least as good as Medicare drug coverage ("creditable"). If you decide to drop or switch Medigaps and sign up for the Medicare drug benefit after you are first eligible, you may have to pay a premium penalty.
Medigap Plans: Comparison Chart      Download Also available in Spanish      Download
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New York Specific Information on Medicare Drug Coverage
Downloadable Handouts	MI Counselor Essential Answers
The Medicare Drug Benefit: Consumer Handout      Download Marketing Fraud: How To Avoid Getting Taken For A Ride      Download What Physicians Need to Know to Ensure Their Medicare Patients Get the Drugs They Need      Download Physician's Exceptions Request Letter on Behalf of Their Patients to the Private Drug Plans (MSWordTM file)      Download What happens to my Medicaid drug coverage when the Medicare drug benefit begins?      Download Extra Help Paying for Your Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage      Download Get Assistance Enrolling in Extra Help!      Download EPIC and the Medicare drug benefit: What you need to know      Download en Español The Medicare Drug Benefit: Consumer Handout      Download What happens to my Medicaid drug coverage when the Medicare drug benefit begins?      Download Extra Help Paying for Your Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage      Download Get Assistance Enrolling in Extra Help!      Download EPIC and the Medicare drug benefit: What you need to know      Download	You can find Medicare coverage information specific to your state in Medicare Interactive Counselor! Just click on your state name in the pull-down menu that you see in the upper right-hand corner of any page in Medicare Interactive.
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