Do You Have To Have Medicare Part B To Enroll In Part D?

Medicare has become so complicated. There are all these different parts and plans now. Part D is the newest but it should not be the one that confuses you most.

What are all these different “Parts” of Medicare?
Medicare has three parts now. Part A is your inpatient hospital insurance, Part B is your medical insurance, Part C is Medicare Advantage Plans, like HMO or PPO’s and Part D is your prescription drug coverage.

What does Part A cover?

It helps to cover your inpatient hospital costs. This includes regular hospitals, inpatient rehab, hospice care and some home care and skilled nursing facilities. It does not cover custodial or long term care. There is no monthly premium for Part A coverage.

What is Part B?

This helps to cover services of doctors, and outpatient care. It also covers some preventive services such as flu shots, cardiovascular screenings and diabetes screenings. There is a monthly premium for this.

So what is not covered by these two?

Things like cosmetic surgery, hearing aids, long-term care, eyeglasses and dental care aren’t covered. Neither are prescription drugs.

What is Part D?

Medicare Part D is the part that covers prescription drugs for everyone with Medicare. It can help lower your costs and give you better access to drugs that you need. You have to simply join a plan run by and insurance company approved by Medicare. Premiums vary and you should join as soon as you can because if you do so later it costs more. If your income is limited your may be able to get extra help. Contact your local Social Security office for more information.

How do I get Part D?

In order to get part D you have to already be enrolled in Medicare Part A and/or B. There is “open” enrollment once a year from November 15 to December 31. This is also the period when you can make any changes to the Part D policy you already have.

Related posts

1. What Are My Main Choices For Getting Medicare Coverage?
2. Does Medicare Pay For Any Portion Of The Cost Of Care?
3. Out-Of-Pocket Costs when Medicare Parts A and B are primary
4. What are the 4 Parts Of Medicare?
5. What does Medicare Part B Cover?

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