What is Medicare Part D? Find at least two online sources of information describing the main objectives of the program and discussing the issues challenging the implementation of the program.

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What is Medicare Part D?

A federal program to subsidize the costs of prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries in the United States. It helps pay for outpatient prescription drug coverage through private health plans. Individuals are eligible for prescription drug coverage under a Part D plan if they are entitled to benefits under Medicare Part A and/or enrolled in Part B. Plans are required to provide a “standard” benefit or one that is actuarially equivalent, and may offer more generous benefits. Beneficiaries can obtain the Part D drug benefit through two types of private plans: they can join a Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) for drug coverage only or they can join a Medicare Advantage plan (MA) that covers both medical services and prescription drugs.
Source: Medicare: A Primer,” Kaiser Family Foundation, April 2010. http://www.kff.org/medicare/upload/7615-03.pdf …