Description of The AARP Medicare Rx Plan

The AARP Medicare Part D MedicareRx coverage plans are designed to provide assistance for people who have very high drug costs or to take preventive measures against extremely high prescription drug bills that may come later in life. These plans are designed for patients with little or no income. Through the plans, Medicare will help cover part or even all of your prescription drug costs.

Medicare Parts

• The AARP MedicareRx plan covers the cost of prescription drugs only and is not applicable to hospital or emergency costs. Medicare Part A is hospital insurance for inpatient care, hospice care and some in-home nursing. Medicare Part B is medical insurance to cover doctor visits, outpatient care, physical or occupational therapy, and at times in-home care. Anyone already receiving Social Security benefits is automatically enrolled in Parts A and B. Medicare Part C is the Medicare Advantage Plan, which works with private Medicare advantage plans such as HMOs and PPOs to provide coverage not provided by the A and B plans. Sometimes these plans include Part D, so check the details of your plan if you are already enrolled in a Part C plan.

MedicareRx Details

• AARP Medicare Part D MedicareRX is designed to help cover the cost of prescription drugs and can be purchased by anyone already enrolled in a Medicare program. Medicare users can join this optional plan by selecting a Medicare-approved prescription drug plan through a private insurance company. Anyone who wants to enroll must do so during the seven-month enrollment window, which begins three months before the month of your 65th birthday and lasts until three months after your 65th birthday month. If you miss your enrollment window, you can enroll in a plan between Nov. 15 and Dec. 31 of each year. Some people may qualify for an exception that allows them to enroll in AARP MedicareRX outside this window.

Eligibility

• If you qualify for Medicare benefits, you are eligible to enroll in Part D, even if you are not an AARP member. If you are enrolled in Medicare Part A or Medicare Part B, you can add Medicare part D to your plan. You must reside in the United States or a U.S. territory to enroll in a Part D plan.

  Some people may also qualify for low-income subsidies that help cover the cost of Plan D coverage.

Restrictions

• To be enrolled in a Part D plan, you must be enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan with prescription drug coverage or you must enroll in a standalone part D plan. You cannot be enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan if you are enrolled in a standalone prescription drug plan, unless it is a Medicare Advantage Private Fee-for-Service plan that does not include prescription drug coverage.

  You can only be enrolled in one Medicare Part D plan at a time.

  You must continue to pay for Medicare Part B coverage if not covered by Medicaid or another third party.

  If your employer or former employers assists in paying your Medicare Plan D coverage, you may enroll in an AARP MedicareRx Saver or Preferred Plan but not the AARP MedicareRx Enhanced plan.

How to Enroll

• You can enroll in an AARP Medicare Plan D Medicare Rx plan on the Web (see Resources).

  You can also print an enrollment form from the Web site and mail it in or call (866-255-4835) or [phone] (TTY).