Medicare Part D is the part that covers most prescription drugs for seniors, offered as a standalone plan or bundled in most Medicare Advantage plans, helping with brand-name and generic costs, though you pay premiums and other costs for this optional coverage. Some specific outpatient drugs, like certain vaccines or chemo-related meds, might be covered under Part B, but Part D is the main source for pharmacy prescriptions.
A Part D plan is private insurance that offers prescription drug coverage. Original Medicare does not offer drug coverage. Some Part D plans, called MAPD, are bundled with Medicare Advantage plans.
Medicare Part A can cover medications that you receive during an inpatient hospital stay, such as anesthesia during surgery. Medicare Part B can cover medications administered to you by a healthcare professional in an outpatient facility setting, which can include vaccinations, some antigens, and more.
How much does Medicare Part D usually cost? Monthly premiumsAverage of $34.50 in 2026. Annual deductibleUp to $615 in 2026. Copays/coinsuranceVary by plan, drug and/or pharmacy.
Drug coverage (Part D)
Extra coverage people with Medicare can choose to help lower costs of prescription drugs. Medicare-approved private plans offer this coverage.
Visit SSA.gov/extrahelp to apply for Extra Help. If you need help filling out the application, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778. Visit Medicare.gov/extrahelp to learn more about the Medicare Extra Help program.
You are entitled to free prescriptions if you or your partner receive the following benefits:
Medicare generally doesn't cover prescription drugs for weight loss/gain, fertility, cosmetic purposes (like hair growth), or routine cough/cold relief, most vitamins/minerals (except prenatal/fluoride), or ED drugs (unless for other conditions like pulmonary hypertension). Drugs for anorexia/cachexia or certain cosmetic conditions (psoriasis, acne) might be covered, and Part B covers drugs given in a doctor's office, while Part D handles most outpatient prescriptions, with specific exclusions.
If you don't have Medicare Part D and lack other "creditable" drug coverage (like from an employer), you risk a permanent late enrollment penalty if you join a Part D plan later, which adds 1% of the national base premium monthly for each uncovered month you were eligible, plus you'll pay full costs for prescriptions out-of-pocket until you enroll, often during Open Enrollment (Oct 15-Dec 7) for January 1st coverage. You can avoid this by signing up when first eligible or if you have other good coverage (like VA or employer plans) that's considered "creditable".
Sign in to MyHumana to search the list of drugs covered by your specific Humana Medicare plan and to price your medication. Or, use our search tool to look up the specific drug you need. It will tell you whether the drug is covered under your Humana plan, and provide alternatives and generics.
The out-of-pocket maximum for prescription drugs covered by your plan ($2,100 in 2026). The prescription drug law caps your out-of-pocket drug costs for covered drugs at $2,100 in 2026. This is true for everyone with Medicare drug coverage, even if you don't participate in the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan.
Here are some of the biggest Medicare mistakes to avoid:
Drugs that promote fertility (i.e., Clomid, Gonal-f, Ovidrel®, Follistim®, etc.) Drugs for cosmetic purposes or hair growth (i.e., Propecia®, Renova®, Vaniqa®, etc.) Drugs for the relief of cough and cold symptoms (i.e., Phenergan w/Codeine, Robitussin® AC, Tanafed, Tessalon® Perle, etc.)
Eliquis (generic name: Apixaban) alone racked up $18.3 billion in Medicare spending in 2023, nearly double the next drug, Ozempic. Alongside Xarelto, anticoagulants accounted for over $24 billion in 2023.
Yes, Medicare Part D is generally considered worth it for seniors, even if they don't take many drugs now, because it provides crucial prescription drug coverage, protects against future high costs, helps avoid costly late enrollment penalties, and offers significant savings through negotiated drug prices and new benefits like the $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap (increasing to $2,100 in 2026). While it involves monthly premiums, deductibles, and copays, the overall financial protection and access to medications often outweigh the costs, especially for those with chronic conditions or who want to avoid penalties for signing up later.
Walmart's $4 Prescription Program offers a list of commonly prescribed generic drugs for as low as $4 for a 30-day supply (or $10 for 90 days), requiring no insurance or membership for the basic program, though some newer benefits and discounts integrate with Walmart+. It covers generics for conditions like cholesterol, blood pressure, and diabetes, but excludes antibiotics, antihistamines, and steroids, with some prices varying by state.
When you are 66 your prescription will be free again. If you get free prescriptions for another reason, you will keep on getting this. 60? If this happens people will still be asked to pay for the prescription.
Save money with a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) If you know you'll have to pay for a lot of NHS prescriptions, it may be cheaper to buy a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC). A PPC covers all your NHS prescriptions, including NHS dental prescriptions, no matter how many items you need.