If I do not use any prescription medications, should I just join a 2013 Medicare Part D plan or Medicare Advantage plan with prescription coverage that has the lowest monthly premium?

Selecting your Medicare plan · published Nov 15, 2012

Probably. If you are not using any medications and just want to avoid the permanent late-enrollment premium penalty, you may want to join a Medicare prescription drug plan with the lowest premium.

Depending on your state, the 2013 stand-alone Medicare Part D plan with the lowest monthly premium is either the AARP MedicareRx Saver Plus (PDP) with a $15.00 monthly premium or the Humana Walmart-Preferred Rx Plan (PDP) with a $18.50 monthly premium.

Both the 2013 AARP MedicareRx Saver and the Humana-Walmart plan have a $325 initial deductible.

If you prefer a stand-alone 2013 Medicare Part D plan with no deductible (or $0 initial deductible), then you might consider such plans as the WellCare Classic (PDP) that has a monthly premium of $22.10 in New Mexico or the First Health Part D Value Plus (PDP) with a $29.10 premium in Idaho and Utah.

In addition, you can use our 2013 MA-Finder to see if there are Medicare Advantage plans in your area that include prescription drug coverage and have an even lower or $0 monthly premiums.