Should the Pharmacy List play a large role in my Medicare Part D plan selection?

Most national stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) have a relatively large network of participating pharmacies ranging from 40,000 to 50,000+ locations. So, for most Medicare Part D participants, finding a participating pharmacy will not be a challenge.

However, we have spoken with people who are choosing a Medicare Part D plan based solely on a single participating pharmacy. One person noted that she lived in a rather remote area and there was truly only one pharmacy to be found nearby. She was also not particularly interested in receiving prescription via mail order. In this case, she had to consider a Medicare Part D plan that, not only most affordably covered her medications, but included this local pharmacy.

If you find that you are in such a situation, you may wish to consider asking your local pharmacy if they would join into a particular Medicare Part D plan's pharmacy network.