How is Medicare prescription drug coverage different from the coverage Part B provides for certain drugs?

Part B provides limited prescription drug coverage. Part B covers certain injectable, cancer, and/or immunosuppressive drugs. You pay coinsurance, and the Part B deductible applies. Part B also covers vaccines such as the flu or pneumococcal shot. Generally, Medicare drug plans cover vaccines that aren’t covered under Part B when the vaccine is needed to prevent illness.

Note: Generally, self-administered drugs you get in an outpatient setting like an emergency room or observation unit aren’t covered by Medicare Part A or Part B. Your Medicare drug plan may cover these drugs under certain circumstances. You may need to pay out-of-pocket for these drugs and submit a claim to your plan. Call your plan for more information.

For more information on what Medicare drug plans cover, see Section 2: How Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Works

(Primary Source: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services - Your Guide to Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage 2008. This content may have been enhanced by Q1Group LLC to include further examples, explanations, and links.)

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