Question: What happens when I join a Medicare Part D drug plan when you already have a Part D drug plan?
You will automatically replace the older Part D plan with your newly chosen Medicare drug plan. As an example, if you are enrolled in Medicare Part D plan ABC and decide that another Medicare drug plan, Plan ZZZ provides more economical coverage or has some additional formulary drugs, and you use a Medicare plan enrollment period to join Medicare drug Plan ZZZ, you will be automatically disenrolled from your original Plan ABC when your newly-chosen Medicare Plan ZZZ becomes effective.
Question: What happens when I join a stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan when I already have a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage (MAPD)?
You lose your MAPD coverage. As in the example above, if you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage (MAPD) and find a stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) having more extensive drug coverage, and you use an enrollment period to join the stand-alone PDP, you will be automatically disenrolled from your Medicare Advantage MAPD plan, and will be returned to Original Medicare Part A and Part B, along with your new Medicare Part D PDP.
Question: What happens when I join a Medicare prescription drug plan when I already have an employer drug plan included within my employer health plan?
You probably will lose all of your employer health plan coverage. In most cases, you cannot add a Medicare drug plan (MAPD or PDP) to your existing employer healthcare coverage. In fact, most people find that joining a Medicare drug plan will mean that they will lose all of their employer healthcare coverage, not just the prescription drug portion.
Important: Some exceptions may apply depending on your specific type of employer plan so be sure to speak with your employer health plan administrator before enrolling in a Medicare Part D drug plan (PDP or MAPD) - the telephone number for Member Services should be on your health plan documentation or the health plan ID card.
Question: Is it possible to use both VA drug coverage and Medicare Part D drug coverage (PDP or MAPD)?
Yes. If you have VA coverage (that is, prescription drug coverage as part of Veterans Administration benefits), then you may not need Medicare Part D coverage. However, if you find that the VA does not cover all of your medication needs, you can also enroll in a Medicare Part D program by joining either a stand-alone Medicare Part D plan (PDP) or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage (MAPD).
Unlike other forms of drug coverage, you can use either your VA drug coverage or your Medicare Part D coverage, depending on the medication or pharmacy - but you cannot use both coverage benefits for a single purchase.
Question. Can I use both TRICARE drug coverage and Medicare Part D coverage?
Yes. If you have a TRICARE pharmacy benefit (that is, prescription drug coverage as part of TRICARE benefits), then you will already receive comprehensive drug coverage and may not need Medicare Part D coverage. As noted by TRICARE:
"Unlike many non-DoD Medicare beneficiaries, TRICARE beneficiaries already have a robust pharmacy benefit with no monthly premium and minimal copays for TRICARE retail network and TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy (TMOP) services and no costs for prescription drugs at military treatment facilities. If you have a question about the DoD TRICARE Retail Pharmacy (TRRx) program, please call 1-866-363-8779."However, if you have TRICARE you may also enroll in a Medicare Part D plan (paying the Part D plan's monthly premiums, deductibles, and drug copays) and have TRICARE help cover the additional cost of your TRICARE prescriptions. As noted by TRICARE:
"If you choose to purchase a prescription drug plan that adds prescription coverage to the Original Medicare plan, Medicare is primary and TRICARE, as second payer, will pay your out-of-pocket expenses (deductible and cost shares) for TRICARE-covered medications. TRICARE will not reimburse you for the monthly Medicare Part D premiums."
Sources include:
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
"VA health care and other insurance - If you have other forms of health care coverage (like a private insurance plan, Medicare, Medicaid, or TRICARE), you can use VA health care benefits along with these plans. Learn more about how VA works with other health insurance."http://www.tricare.mil/medicarepartd/faqs.cfm#1664
https://www.va.gov/health-care/about-va-health-beneits/va-health-care-and-other-insurance/