The Medicare Prescription Drug Act
The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act (MMA) was passed in 2003. This legislation created Medicare Part D: Prescription Drug Coverage effective January 2006. Coverage is only available by private companies that have been approved by Medicare, not through the Medicare program directly.
You can obtain coverage by either directly purchasing Part D coverage through a plan sponsor or in combination with enrollment in a Medicare Advantage health plan offering drug coverage. These drug plans are standardized across providers but they are required to offer a minimum level of coverage.
You are no longer able to obtain drug coverage through Medicare supplement policies. Policies H, I and J previously offered some coverage. This coverage will only remain available for policyholders renewing an existing policy who chose not to obtain drug coverage elsewhere.
To assist you in the selection of a health benefit package complete with prescription drug coverage, please refer to Weiss Ratings’ Consumer Guide to Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage.
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