How to Sign Up for Prescription D Coverage

With the cost of prescription drugs on the rise and many seniors taking multiple medications just to maintain good health, affordability is a real issue. That is why Congress passed the law that established the Medicare Part D program. This newest part of the Medicare program helps seniors pay for the high cost of prescription medications, offsetting some of those high expenses and giving seniors a bit of breathing room in their budgets. You can sign up for Medicare Part D coverage as soon as you become eligible for the other benefits of the program.

Instructions

• 1

  Go to the plan finder section of the Medicare website (see Resources). Enter your ZIP code in the box and click on "Find Plans."

• 2

  Select the situations that apply to you at the next box. You can indicate whether or not you currently have Medicare, your preferred type of Medicare plan and whether or not you receive any state or federal subsidies to help you pay for your prescription drugs.

• 3

  Click the "Continue to Plan Results" button and type in the name of any prescription medications you currently take. It is a good idea to gather all of your prescriptions before you start shopping for a Medicare Part D plan.

• 4

  Click "My Drug List is Complete" when you are finished entering all of your medications. You will now see a list of pharmacies within driving distance of your home. Select the pharmacies that are most convenient for you and click "Continue to Plan Results."

• 5

  Choose the plans you wish to review. You can select plans based on a number of different criteria, making it easy to customize the list of results. Chances are multiple plans serve your area, and this filtering makes it easier to find plans that meet your needs.

• 6

  Check the details of each plan in your area. Note the telephone numbers for each plan, then contact each one for complete information about their premiums and what they have to offer.