Is Part D worth it if I'm not on any prescriptions?

Usually it's worth having. Skip Part D or other creditable drug coverage for 63 straight days or longer and Medicare adds a penalty to your premium for as long as you have Part D. That penalty is 1% of the national base premium ($38.99 in 2026) times the number of months you went without. Some plans are priced low for people who take few or no prescriptions.

More detail

Here's how the math can catch people. Say you're healthy at 65 and skip drug coverage. Four years later your doctor prescribes something costly. Now you can join only during an enrollment period, usually October 15 to December 7, with coverage starting January 1. And the penalty for all those months without coverage is added to your premium for as long as you have Part D. It's recalculated each year, as the base premium ($38.99 in 2026) changes.

The mistake: thinking you can add coverage the day you need it.

Ways to avoid the penalty: • Keep other creditable drug coverage, like from a job, the VA or TRICARE, and save the yearly notice that says it's creditable • If you qualify for Extra Help, there's no late penalty

What to have ready: any notices about drug coverage you have now.

If you take few or no medicines, I'll help you look at plans with a low monthly premium so you're covered without overpaying.