<Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article needs to be updated . Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information . (January 2018) </Td> </Tr> <P> Medicare Part D, also called the Medicare prescription drug benefit, is an optional United States federal - government program to help Medicare beneficiaries pay for self - administered prescription drugs through prescription drug insurance premiums (the cost of almost all professionally administered prescriptions is covered under optional Part B of United States Medicare). Part D was originally proposed by President Clinton in 2000 and enacted as part of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 (which also made changes to the public Part C Medicare health plan program) and went into effect on January 1, 2006 . </P> <P> Individuals on Medicare are eligible for prescription drug coverage under a Part D plan if they are signed up for benefits under Medicare Part A and / or Part B. Beneficiaries obtain the Part D drug benefit through two types of plans administered by private insurance companies: the beneficiaries can join a standalone Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) for drug coverage only or they can join a public Part C health plan that jointly covers all hospital and medical services covered by Medicare Part A and Part B at a minimum, and typically covers additional healthcare costs not covered by Medicare Parts A and B including prescription drugs (MA - PD). (NOTE: Medicare beneficiaries need to be signed up for both Parts A and B to select Part C whereas they need only A or B to select Part D .) </P> <P> About two - thirds of all Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled directly in Part D or get Part - D - like benefits through a public Part C Medicare health plan . Another large group of Medicare beneficiaries get prescription drug coverage under plans offered by former employers or through the Veterans Administration . It is also possible that a former employer or union might sponsor a Part D plan for former employees / members (such plans are called Employer Group Waiver Plans). </P>

Who receives medicare part d prescription drug coverage
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