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I have Medicare and a Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) policy with prescription drug coverage

Before 2006, some Medigap policies included prescription drug coverage. If you still have a Medigap policy with prescription drug coverage, your Medigap insurer must send you a detailed notice each year describing your choices for prescription drug coverage and whether the drug coverage under your Medigap policy is creditable prescription drug coverage. Read the notice carefully for more information. Some of your choices for prescription drug coverage are listed below:
  • You can join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan and keep your current Medigap policy without the prescription drug coverage.
  • You can join a Medicare Advantage Plan that includes prescription drug coverage. You will get all your health care coverage including prescription drug coverage from this plan, and you won’t need a Medigap policy. However, you can continue to use your Medigap drug coverage if you join a Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plan since MSAs can’t offer Medicare prescription drug coverage.
  • You can keep your current Medigap policy with the prescription drug coverage included.


The information you get from your Medigap insurer describes these choices in detail. You can also check with your state insurance department to find out what other options you may have for prescription drug coverage.

If you decide to join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, you can keep your current Medigap policy without the prescription drug coverage. You will need to tell your Medigap insurer when your Medicare prescription drug coverage starts. They must remove the prescription drug coverage from your Medigap policy and adjust your premium based on this change. Also, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty to join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan if the prescription drug coverage you have had under your Medigap policy doesn’t expect to pay, on average, at least as much as standard Medicare drug coverage. You will pay this higher premium for as long as you are in a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

Tip: Contact your Medigap insurer before you make any changes to your prescription drug coverage.

For more information about Medigap policies, read the "Choosing a Medigap Policy: A Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare" booklet. You can view or download this booklet by visiting www.medicare.gov on the web. Under "Search Tools," select "Find a Medicare Publication." You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.



(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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Tips & Disclaimers
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  • The Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plan data on our site comes directly from Medicare and is subject to change.
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  • We provide our Q1Medicare.com site for educational purposes and strive to present unbiased and accurate information. However, Q1Medicare is not intended as a substitute for your lawyer, doctor, healthcare provider, financial advisor, or pharmacist. For more information on your Medicare coverage, please be sure to seek legal, medical, pharmaceutical, or financial advice from a licensed professional or telephone Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.
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  • The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information contact the plan.
  • Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply.
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    Statement required by Medicare:
    "We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options."
  • When enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan, you must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.
  • Medicare beneficiaries with higher incomes may be required to pay both a Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). Read more on IRMAA.
  • Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage (MAPDs) are considered Medicare Part D plans and members with higher incomes may be subject to the Medicare Part D Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA), just as members in stand-alone Part D plans. In certain situations, you can appeal IRMAA.
  • You must be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. Members may enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan only during specific times of the year. Contact the Medicare plan for more information.
  • If you are enrolled in a Medicare plan with Part D prescription drug coverage, you may be eligible for financial Extra Help to assist with the payment of your prescription drug premiums and drug purchases. To see if you qualify for Extra Help, call: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week or consult www.medicare.gov; the Social Security Office at 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. TTY users should call, 1-800-325-0778; or your state Medicaid Office.
  • Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-Star rating system. Star Ratings are calculated each year and may change from one year to the next.
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  • Disclaimer for Institutional Special Needs Plan (SNP): This plan is available to anyone with Medicare who meets the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) level of care and resides in a nursing home.
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  • Disclaimer for Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan (SNP): This plan is available to anyone with Medicare who has been diagnosed with the plan specific Chronic Condition.
  • Medicare MSA Plans combine a high deductible Medicare Advantage Plan and a trust or custodial savings account (as defined and/or approved by the IRS). The plan deposits money from Medicare into the account. You can use this money to pay for your health care costs, but only Medicare-covered expenses count toward your deductible. The amount deposited is usually less than your deductible amount, so you generally have to pay out-of-pocket before your coverage begins.
  • Medicare MSA Plans do not cover prescription drugs. If you join a Medicare MSA Plan, you can also join any separate (stand-alone) Medicare Part D prescription drug plan
  • There are additional restrictions to join an MSA plan, and enrollment is generally for a full calendar year unless you meet certain exceptions. Those who disenroll during the calendar year will owe a portion of the account deposit back to the plan. Contact the plan provider for additional information.
  • Medicare beneficiaries may enroll through the CMS Medicare Online Enrollment Center located at www.medicare.gov.
  • Medicare beneficiaries can file a complaint with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services by calling 1-800-MEDICARE 24 hours a day/7 days or using the medicare.gov site. Beneficiaries can appoint a representative by submitting CMS Form-1696.
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