A beneficiary who keeps Original Medicare and wants Medicare prescription drug coverage should enroll in:
Select an option to reveal the answer and the full 3-part explanation — free, no signup.
Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
Why D is correct
For beneficiaries who remain in Original Medicare, Part D drug coverage is purchased through a stand-alone Prescription Drug Plan (PDP). Beneficiaries who instead join a Medicare Advantage plan typically receive drug coverage inside the MA plan, as MA-PD, which combines medical and prescription benefits. Medigap policies sold to new enrollees generally do not include drug coverage, and HICAP is a counseling program, not an insurance product. The choice is between a stand-alone PDP paired with Original Medicare and an MA plan that bundles medical and drug coverage as an MA-PD. Beneficiaries who prefer the flexibility of Original Medicare choose the PDP, while those who prefer managed care may select an MA-PD; Medigap is not part of the drug coverage equation.
Why the other options are wrong
- A) An MA plan without drug coverage would leave the Original Medicare beneficiary without Part D; a stand-alone PDP is the correct vehicle. An MA plan that excludes drug coverage does not deliver the prescription benefit the beneficiary wants, so it cannot satisfy the request.
- B) Medigap Plan A covers Medicare cost sharing and does not provide Part D drug coverage. Medigap plans do not cover outpatient prescription drugs; federal law prohibits Medigap from including drug coverage.
- C) HICAP provides free counseling about Medicare options; it does not enroll beneficiaries in coverage. HICAP is a free counseling and advocacy program, not a prescription drug coverage product. Counseling and enrollment are distinct functions.
Memory hook
Original Medicare + drugs = stand-alone PDP. MA plans bake drugs in as MA-PD.