Choosing Medicare Part D Plan Can Be a Tricky Prospect

Most people are surprised to learn when they reach age 65 and sign up for Medicare that the standard government health plan does not cover prescription drugs. To get prescription coverage, you need to sign up with a private insurance company for Medicare Part D. That supplements Part A (which covers hospital stays, skilled nursing facilities and hospice care) and Part B (which covers doctor visits and other outpatient care). A survey by Walgreens found that 37% of Medicare beneficiaries have daily concerns about prescription costs, and 20% have had to make sacrifices to cover those costs. One way to save on prescription drugs is to choose the right Medicare Part D plan. But it’s not easy. For some helpful tips on how to choose a Part D plan, go to our sister site, Living on the Cheap.