CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES

Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage: 

How to Join a Medicare Drug Plan 

Medicare offers insurance coverage for prescription drugs through Medicare drug 

plans. Insurance companies and other private companies approved by Medicare 

provide these plans. You may choose from many Medicare drug plans available in 

your area. To get information about Medicare drug plans in your area, visit 

www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan. Or, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). 

TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. You can also look in your “Medicare & You” 

handbook. 

Note: If you have prescription drug coverage now, your insurer will send you 

more information about how your coverage works with, or is affected by, Medicare 

prescription drug coverage. Read the information carefully before deciding whether 

to join a Medicare drug plan because the action you take may affect your current 

coverage. 

How do I join a Medicare drug plan? 

You may be able to join a Medicare drug plan in the following ways: 

■ By filling out a paper application. Contact the company offering the Medicare 

drug plan you choose and ask for an application. Once you fill out the 

application, mail or fax it back to the company. 

■ By calling the Medicare plan. You may be able to join over the telephone. 

■ By calling 1-800-MEDICARE. Call and tell them the name of the Medicare 

drug plan you want to join. 

■ By visiting the plan’s Web site. Visit the drug plan’s Web site to see if you can 

join online. 

■ By visiting Medicare’s Web site. You may be able to join a Medicare drug plan 

through Medicare’s online enrollment center by visiting 

www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan. Drug plan participation in Medicare’s 

enrollment center is voluntary, so not all plans offer this option. You will have 

to provide the number on your Medicare card when you join. You may also be 

asked to give your Social Security number, but you aren’t required to give it. 
When can I join a Medicare drug plan? 

Generally, you can join, switch, or drop a Medicare drug plan at the following times: 

■ When you first become eligible for Medicare due to age (the 7-month period that 

begins 3 months before the month you turn 65, includes the month you turn 65, and 

ends 3 months after the month you turn 65.). 

■ If you get Medicare due to a disability, you can join during the 3 months before to 3 

months after your 25th month of entitlement to disability payments. 

■ During open enrollment, from November 15–December 31, 2010. Beginning in 2011, 

open enrollment will run from October 15–December 7. If you make a change 

during open enrollment, your coverage will begin on January 1 of the following year. 

■ At any time if you qualify for Extra Help. This includes people who have Medicare 

and Medicaid, belong to a Medicare Savings Program, get Supplemental Security 

Income (SSI) benefits (but not Medicaid), and those who apply and qualify. 

In certain situations, you may be able to join, switch, or drop Medicare drug plans at other 

times, including the following: 

■ You permanently move out of your drug plan’s service area. 

■ Your plan stops offering prescription drug coverage. 

■ You enter, live in, or leave a nursing home. 

You can get information on special enrollment periods by reading the “Understanding 

Medicare Enrollment Periods” tip sheet at http://go.usa.gov/lsi. 

For many people, joining when you’re first eligible means you will pay a lower monthly 

premium. Waiting and joining after you’re first eligible may mean paying a late enrollment 

penalty, an amount added to your Part D monthly premium. You may owe a late 

enrollment penalty if you didn’t join a plan when first eligible and you didn’t have other 

creditable prescription drug coverage. However, if you get Extra Help, you don’t pay a late 

enrollment penalty. 

What happens after I join a Medicare drug plan? 

Once your enrollment is approved, your Medicare drug plan will send you a membership 

card, member handbook, list of covered drugs (called a formulary), pharmacy provider 

directory, complaint and appeal procedures, and other important information about being 

a plan member. 

How can I learn more about Medicare drug plans? 

■ Read or download the “Medicare & You” handbook at http://go.usa.gov/iDJ or “Your 

Guide to Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage” booklet at http://go.usa.gov/3GG. 

■ Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

■ Call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free personalized 

health insurance counseling. To get the telephone number, visit 

www.medicare.gov/contacts. Or, call 1-800-MEDICARE. 

CMS Product No. 11111 

Revised September 2010