Medicare Part A only covers medications that you receive while you are in a hospital or a skilled nursing facility. Medicare Part B only covers a limited number of medications — and typically only if they are administered in an outpatient setting (such as a doctor’s office or clinic). Examples include vaccines, injectable medications and medications given by IV.

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This lack of regular prescription coverage can be a significant problem for older adults. According to a 2016 report published by the CDC, more than 90% of adults 65+ are taking at least one prescription drug each month — and more than 42% are taking five or more prescription drugs monthly. If you’re 65 or older, it’s worth looking into how signing up for Medicare Part D coverage may save you money — especially if you are already taking multiple prescriptions.

Who qualifies for Medicare Part D?

Anyone who is eligible for Medicare coverage is also eligible for Medicare Part D. In general, you will qualify for Medicare if you are 65 years of age or older. However, if you are under 65, you may also qualify under special circumstances — for example, if you’re disabled (and have been receiving disability checks from Social Security Disability Insurance for at least 24 months) or have end-stage renal disease.

Medicare is an insurance plan provided by the federal government and overseen by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Medicare coverage is divided into four general sections, each of which covers different services. You must be enrolled in Parts A and B to be eligible for Part D.

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Medicare Part A covers hospital expenses (i.e., pays for costs if you are hospitalized or placed in a nursing home).

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Medicare Part B covers outpatient services such as doctor’s visits, labs, immunizations, X-rays and surgeries that don’t require you to stay overnight in a hospital.

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Medicare Part C — also known as Medicare Advantage — is a type of Medicare coverage offered by private insurance companies who contract with CMS. It is available to anyone who is enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B. Medicare Advantage plans cover not only the services provided by Parts A and B, but may also offer dental, vision and/or prescription drug coverage.

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Medicare Part D is a supplemental form of Medicare that specifically covers prescription drug services. If you are enrolled in Parts A and B, then you can enroll in a Part D plan for prescription coverage.

Once you are enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, you can sign up for Medicare Part D coverage on the Medicare Plan Finder page. You can review and select health plans after entering your zip code and answering a series of questions. If you are already enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan, your plan will automatically renew, so technically, you’ll only need to visit the website if you want to change plans. However, it’s still a good idea to review your plan every year in case your current plan has changed — or to see if a different plan would better fit your current needs.

In 2025, Courtyard Pharmacy will not be participating in some Medicare drug plans due to unfair contract terms. Please check with our staff to see if we will be accepting the plan you are interested in using. We offer a free service of reviewing your medication list to help you determine which plan works best for your needs.

The Medicare Plan Finder page will also give you pricing information. You will be prompted to type in your list of medications and select your preferred pharmacy. The website will then populate with a list of plans you can choose from. The cost of your Medicare Part D plan may vary based on the plan you select and where you live. You’ll want to compare plan costs and copay to determine which plan will work best for you.

Courtyard Pharmacy staff can help you with this process. This is a free service that we provide to our patients and to the local community. This year, this process is even more important since patients that wish to stay with Courtyard Pharmacy may need to switch their plans. Some insurances contracts are so unfair to independent pharmacies that we could not accept their terms and have chosen to not participate in their pharmacy network. If you are interested in this service, please make an appointment with our staff for your one-on-one review of plan options.