No, you are not required to get a Medicare Part D plan. These Medicare plans for prescription coverage help pay for medications you need. It's optional and offered to everyone with Medicare.

However, even if you don’t take prescription medications now, you may want to consider getting Medicare prescription coverage. If you choose not to get it when you’re first eligible, and if you don’t have other prescription coverage (like from an employer or union), you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty if you join a plan later.

Yes. Since coverage can vary depending on your specific plan, you’ll need an account to discover everything your benefits have to offer. With an online account, all your pharmacy benefits will be right within reach.

By creating an Express Scripts account, you get access to proactive, personalized savings recommendations that take the guesswork out of your benefits. You can access your account online anytime or you can use our highly rated mobile app to manage your prescriptions.

It’s easy to set up your account. If you haven’t already, click the Register button at the top of the page to get started.

Read about your Medicare prescription coverage rights.

Medicare Drug Coverage and Your Rights

Members include those who have Express Scripts prescription benefits through their employer or health plan or directly through Medicare Part D.

Depending on your plan, you may have access to an Express Scripts prescription ID card. Or you may have one ID card for both your medical and prescription medication benefits.

You may have received a welcome email or letter telling you about your new prescription benefit services.

After we receive your prescription for a new order from your doctor, your medication usually arrives within 7 to 10 days. It may take longer if Express Scripts Pharmacy needs additional information from your doctor or if your medication is temporarily unavailable. We will keep you informed on your order status.

While you’re with your doctor and before they prescribe your medication, ask your doctor if they’re connected to Real-Time Prescription Benefit so they can check if your medication is covered. This could help avoid a coverage review (also known as prior authorization), which could cause a delay to get your medication. If your doctor does not use Real-Time Prescription Benefit, you can use your Express Scripts account online or through our mobile app to check for coverage.

Once a prescription is sent by your doctor, if there are delays to your order, we’ll notify you and let you know if any action is needed. You can also track the progress of your order online or through the Express Scripts® mobile app.

The first order of any prescription may take longer to process, but the following refills will be quicker. Standard shipping is free, but you can get it expedited for a fee.

Skip the trip to the pharmacy. You could save time and money by getting a 3-month supply of your medication delivered right to your door. Don’t wait in line once a month to get your prescriptions.

If your plan offers home delivery, getting started is easy. We just need your prescription.

For new prescriptions, you have three options:

• Ask your doctor to send a 3-month supply of your prescription electronically to Express Scripts® Pharmacy. (This is the fastest way to get your medication.)
• Log in to your Express Scripts account and click the “Request an Rx” button on the right side of the home page.
• Call the number on your prescription ID card and ask us to contact your doctor for you.

For current prescriptions:

After you register or log in to your account, you may see existing prescriptions in “My Medications” that are eligible for home delivery. We’ll also alert you if there are money-saving recommendations for your prescriptions, including switching to home delivery.

If you have refills available, simply click to add them to your cart and place your order. We’ll contact your doctor and take care of the rest. We suggest letting them know we’ll be reaching out, so they’re prepared with your information.

The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan helps to manage your costs, by spreading them over multiple months. However, it doesn’t lower your costs. If you have limited income and resources, find out if you’re eligible for one of these programs:

• Extra Help: A Medicare program that helps pay your Medicare drug costs. Visit ssa.gov/medicare/part-d-extra-help to find out if you qualify and apply. You can also apply with your State Medical Assistance (Medicaid) office. Visit Medicare.gov/ExtraHelp to learn more.
• Extra Help isn't available in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands or American Samoa. But there are other programs available in those areas that may help lower your costs. Call your State Medical Assistance (Medicaid) office to learn more.
• Medicare Savings Programs: State-run programs that might help pay some or all of your Medicare premiums, deductibles, copayments and coinsurance. Visit Medicare.gov/medicare-savings-programs to learn more.
• State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs): Programs that may include coverage for your Medicare drug plan premiums and/or cost sharing. SPAP contributions may count toward your Medicare drug coverage out-of-pocket limit. Visit go.medicare.gov/spap to learn more.
• Manufacturer’s Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (sometimes called Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs)): Programs from drug manufacturers to help lower drug costs for people with Medicare. Visit go.medicare.gov/pap to learn more.

Many people qualify for savings and don’t realize it. Visit Medicare.gov/basics/costs/help, or contact your local Social Security office to learn more. Find your local Social Security office at ssa.gov/locator/.