Skip to content
WebMD: Better Information. Better Health.
Other search tools:Symptoms|Doctors|Videos

Medicare Health Center

Font Size
A
A
A

FAQs on Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage

Medicare offers insurance coverage for prescription drugs for all people with Medicare. You may sometimes hear this coverage referred to as "Part D." This coverage is designed to help you save money on your prescription costs. It will pay for some, but not all of your prescription drugs.

FAQs for People on Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligibles)

If My Prescription Drugs Are Covered by Medicaid, Does This Affect Me?

One of the major changes under the law that created the new Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit is that people who have both Medicare and Medicaid will receive their prescription drug coverage through Medicare, rather than their state Medicaid program.

Do I Need to Sign Up for the Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage or for Extra Help?

If you have both Medicare and Medicaid, you should automatically receive the Extra Help for people with limited incomes and resources available through the new Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage. You do not need to apply for it.

However, the plan Medicare assigns you to will be chosen at random. It may not be the plan that best meets your needs. So your best bet is to do your homework, and make an informed choice about which plan is right for you.

What If I Don't Like the Plan to Which I Am Assigned?

If you don't like the plan to which Medicare assigns you, you can change as often as once a month.

WebMD Medical Reference

Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD on August 16, 2009
webMD Video

Show or hide information about video: Free Drug Programs   Free Drug Programs

Having no insurance can be a disaster when serious illness strikes. But there may be a way to get needed medicine for free.

Watch Video: Free Drug Programs (opens in a new window)

Show or hide information about video: Home Health Monitoring   Home Health Monitoring

Show or hide information about video: Nursing Homes that Feel Like Home

  Nursing Homes that Feel Like Home

Show or hide information about video: Caregiving Stress   Caregiving Stress

Show or hide information about video: Senior-Friendly Neighborhoods   Senior-Friendly Neighborhoods