What does Medicare Part D primarily cover?

Medicare Part D is specifically designed to provide coverage for prescription drugs. This part of Medicare aims to help beneficiaries afford their medications by offering a range of plans that cover various prescription drugs. Each plan has its own formulary—an official list of covered drugs—which helps ensure patients can access necessary medications at manageable costs.

Unlike Medicare Part A, which covers inpatient hospital stays, or Medicare Part B, which deals with outpatient care, Part D focuses exclusively on pharmaceuticals. Vision care and long-term care services fall outside the scope of Medicare's drug coverage, which is why they are not included in Part D. By concentrating on prescription drug coverage, Medicare Part D plays a crucial role in the overall healthcare strategy for beneficiaries, ensuring they can receive essential medications without incurring prohibitive out-of-pocket expenses.