Part D
Do I need Part D if I don't take any medications?
This is one of the most common questions I get, and the honest answer is almost always yes, enroll in something. Here's why skipping drug coverage because you're healthy tends to be an expensive decision.
How the penalty works
- If you go 63 days or more without Part D or other creditable drug coverage after you're first eligible, Medicare adds a late enrollment penalty to your premium when you eventually sign up.
- The penalty is calculated as roughly 1% of the national base beneficiary premium for each full month you went without coverage, and it is added to your premium for as long as you have Part D. It doesn't expire after a year or two. It follows you.
- Someone who waits five years before enrolling is looking at a permanent surcharge of roughly 60% of that base premium, every month, for the rest of their life.
What counts as creditable coverage
- You don't need a Part D plan specifically. You need drug coverage that Medicare considers at least as good as Part D, which is what creditable means.
- Employer or union retiree drug coverage, TRICARE, and VA drug benefits typically qualify. Your plan is required to send you a notice each year telling you whether your coverage is creditable. Keep those notices, because they're the proof that protects you from the penalty.
- Discount cards, drug coupon programs, and prescription savings clubs do not count, no matter how useful they are day to day.
Why healthy people enroll anyway
- Health changes without warning. A new diagnosis can mean an expensive medication starting next month, and without Part D you'd be paying full retail for it while waiting for the next enrollment window to open.
- Weigh the monthly cost of a drug plan against a permanent penalty plus full-price drugs in a year you didn't see coming.
- Recent law also added a real safety net: in 2026 your out-of-pocket costs for covered Part D drugs are capped at $2,100 for the year, after which covered medications cost you nothing for the rest of the year. Plan deductibles are capped at $615. That protection only applies if you're enrolled.
Where this fits with my services
- I focus on Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans and do not sell stand-alone Part D plans. Most Medicare Advantage plans include drug coverage built in, so if you go that route it's handled.
- If you choose Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement, you'll want a stand-alone Part D plan alongside it. I'll gladly explain how to review them on Medicare.gov, or connect you with California's HICAP counselors at 1-800-434-0222 for free, unbiased help.
The short version: enroll in drug coverage when you're first eligible, even if your medicine cabinet is empty. A basic drug plan is usually enough to keep you penalty-free and protected.
New to Medicare generally? Start with the plain-English guide to how Medicare works. Want to talk about your own situation? A consultation is free and there's no obligation.
Let's talk
Questions about your own situation?
Call or text Justin
(916) 343-8517Monday – Friday, 9am – 6pm
Evenings and weekends by appointment
When we talk, have handy:
- Your red, white, and blue Medicare card (if you have one)
- A list of your doctors and any specialists you see
- A list of your prescription medications and dosages
- Your current plan information, if you're already enrolled
Serving Placer, Sacramento, Nevada & Yuba counties