Medicare Part D

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In the United States of America, Medicare Part D is a "stand-alone drug plan offered by insurers and other private companies to beneficiaries that receive their Medicare Part A and/or B benefits through the Original Medicare Plan.[1]

Who is eligible for coverage

Anyone with Medicare Part A or Medicare Part B is eligible for Part D.

Components

Medicare Part D "includes Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plans that do not offer prescription drug coverage and Medicare Cost Plans offering Medicare prescription drug coverage."[1]

Criticisms

Medicare Part D has been criticized for its "Byzantine complexity"[2] and "doughnut hole" coverage.[3]

History

Medicare Part D was enacted as the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003."[1] Coverage provided by the plan began January 1, 2006.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Anonymous (2024), Medicare Part D (English). Medical Subject Headings. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
  2. Cooper HA. Medicare drug benefit. N Engl J Med. 2006 May 4;354(18):1960-1; author reply 1960-1. PMID 16672714
  3. Kravitz RL, Chang S. Promise and perils for patients and physicians. N Engl J Med. 2005 Dec 29;353(26):2735-9. PMID 16382057