Medicare Part D is a program from the government that helps seniors pay for their medicine. It is not required, but it helps people who are part of Medicare by covering the cost of their prescription drugs. Medicare Part D can be used with these Medicare plans:

• Original Medicare Part A (for hospital stays)
• Original Medicare Part B (for doctor visits)
• Medicare Part C (also known as Medicare Advantage)

Choosing the right Part D plan is important and there are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Costs: Look at how much each plan will cost. This includes things like monthly payments (premiums), how much you pay before insurance kicks in (deductibles), and how much you pay for medicine after that (coinsurance). Also, check if there’s a coverage gap where you might have to pay more.
2. Medication Coverage: Check if the medicines you currently take are on the plan’s list of covered drugs, called the formulary. This list is organized into groups that show how much you’ll pay. Make sure there aren’t any special rules for getting your medications, like needing permission first.
3. Pharmacy Network: Make sure your favorite pharmacies are part of the plan. Some plans give you a better deal if you use certain stores to buy your medicines.