Medicare Part D (Rx) Initial & Annual Enrollment Notes
Fall 2026 Note – many previously zero-dollar premium plans are charging nominal premiums this year. With all Part D plans – pay attention to the billing you’ll likely receive in December – if you’re taking social security, you may have to opt to have your Part D premiums deducted from your payment, otherwise, make sure to pay the bill. If paying the bill yourself, we recommend paying the whole year’s premium at once, so that you don’t risk missing a payment and losing coverage. Part D plans cannot be reinstated if they lapse mid-year.
Use our Medicare Part D Shopper’s Guides at the bottom of this page to help select your best plan!
- Below are two guides: one for those with a Medicare account, and one for those wishing to browse anonymously.
- The process itself on the Medicare website is largely unchanged from last year.
- As always, when selecting dosage, make sure you select the correct style of pill you use. Tablets (TAB) are generally far less expensive than Capsules (CAP).
We provide information allowing you to quickly analyze the entire market and purchase your plan directly from the provider. We want to give you the complete view of the market rather than broker a handful of plans. Remember, there are penalties for not enrolling in a timely manner. (Penalty information) To appeal a late penalty once enrolled, use Part D “Late Enrollment Penalty (LEP) Reconsideration Request Form.”
Medicare Part D enrollment is available when initially enrolling in Medicare (anytime during 3 months before, the month of, or 3 months following enrollment), during Special Enrollment Periods (like leaving qualified group coverage after age 65) and during the Annual Election Period – October 15th through December 7th for an effective date of January first. It’s important to review the market each year as plans change cost, deductible, copays, participating pharmacies and what drugs they cover – what worked last year may no longer be the best for you.
The government has created an excellent tool for research & enrollment at www.medicare.gov. Simply enter your current prescriptions and let it determine the plan with the lowest total cost.
- ”Total Drug + Premium Cost” includes premiums, deductible, copays and coinsurance for either the balance of the year (for initial enrollees only) or the upcoming year at one of the selected pharmacies.
- The system will also recommend less costly prescription medicines to consider.
- Remember, the plan’s position in the result list, based on it’s costs and benefits, is more important than the carrier’s name. There is no “best company” – the best is the one that fits your particular needs.
Click the image below for our detailed guide to Medicare’s Part D tool.
Standard Version (for those with Medicare accounts)
