Do I Have to Be Enrolled in Medicare Part B to Sign Up for Part D?

Original Medicare consists of Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). Part D is optional prescription drug coverage that you can purchase from a private insurance company. You must be enrolled in either Medicare Part A or Part B to be eligible for Part D coverage.

Part A

• Medicare Part A pays the cost of inpatient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and hospice, and also covers home health care, after deductibles and coinsurance, up to a limited specified by Medicare. If you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes while working, you usually do not pay a premium for Part A. However, if you can't get premium-free Part A, you may be able to pay a premium to buy Part A.

Part B

• Medicare Part B (medical insurance) is optional - you can decline it. If you do want coverage, you pay a monthly premium for Part B, the amount of which is based on your income. Part B covers doctors' services, hospital outpatient care, home health care and some preventative health services.

Part C

• Medicare Part C is an alternative to having Medicare Parts A and B. Part C coverage is called a Medicare Advantage Plan. These plans, sold by private companies approved by Medicare, must provide all the services of Original Medicare Part A and Part B, except hospice care. Original Medicare will cover hospice care. Most Medicare Advantage Plans include prescription drug coverage (Part D)

Considerations

• Medicare coverage has deductibles, copayments and coinsurance, along with limits on how much Medicare will pay. If you want to fill in some of the gaps in Medicare coverage, you can buy a Medicare supplement, called a Medigap policy.