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.
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.