What is Medicare Part D?

For nearly two decades, Medicare Part D has provided seniors and people with disabilities affordable and comprehensive coverage for prescription medicines. Patients can pick up these medicines at retail pharmacies or order them through mail order or specialty pharmacies. Part D helps tens of millions of patients manage chronic and life-threatening conditions, including diabetes, mental illness, cancer and heart disease. In 2023, 51.5 million seniors and people with disabilities were enrolled in Part D.
 
Part D is a voluntary prescription drug benefit run by Medicare-approved private insurance plans. Since Part D was created, enrollees have experienced improved health outcomes, including an 8% decrease in hospital admissions, a 2.2% reduction in risk of mortality and an 18.3% decrease in non-emergency Emergency Department visits for seniors. Because of these benefits, more than 90% of enrollees reported they are satisfied with their Part D coverage and the program.

To ensure seniors and people with disabilities continue to have access to treatments for serious and debilitating diseases, all Part D plans are required to cover “all or substantially all” medicines in six therapeutic classes and categories. These six protected classes include anticonvulsants, antidepressants, antineoplastics, antipsychotics, antiretrovirals and immunosuppressants.