Employer Prescription Coverage: Does it work with Medicare?Medicare requires that every Medicare beneficiary be enrolled in a qualifying Prescription Drug Program. Those would be:

  • Medicare part D (PDP)
  • Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Program (MAPD)
  • A qualifying Employer or Union Prescription Drug Program.
A qualifying Employer or Union Prescription Drug Program must be as comprehensive in coverage as Medicare part D. If your employer, past employer or Union offer a qualifying Prescription Drug Plan, then you do not have to enroll in Medicare part D. You will not be assessed the late enrollment penalty so long as the plan is in place. You CANNOT go more than 63 days without a Prescription Drug Plan.

If you do you will be assessed the late enrollment penalty when you sign up for Medicare Part D. Once you qualify for Medicare part A you can sign up for Medicare part D during open enrollment periods, which are usually January 1 through February 15 of each year.