Understand Medicare Part D without the confusion

It's generally recommended to enroll in Part D when you're first eligible, even if you take few or no medications. If you delay enrollment and don't have other creditable drug coverage, you'll face a permanent late enrollment penalty — an extra charge added to your premium for as long as you have Part D. Learn about the late penalty →

The coverage gap (or "donut hole") was effectively eliminated in 2025 thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. Part D now has a simplified three-phase structure: deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic coverage. Once your out-of-pocket spending reaches $2,100 in 2026, you pay nothing more for covered drugs that year. Read the full explanation →

Every Part D plan publishes a formulary — a list of covered drugs organized into tiers. You can check a plan's formulary on its website, or use a plan comparison tool to see which plans cover your specific medications. Compare plans on PlanMatch.com →

Yes. You can switch Part D plans during the annual open enrollment period (October 15 – December 7). Certain life events — like moving or losing employer coverage — may also trigger a special enrollment period. If you receive Extra Help, you can change plans once per month. Learn about switching plans →

Yes. The Extra Help program (also called the low-income subsidy) helps people with limited income pay for Part D premiums, deductibles, and copays. You can also look into state pharmaceutical assistance programs and the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which lets you spread costs over the year. Check if you qualify →