Medical Expense✓ Verified · outline & fact-checked · Sep 2026Difficulty 1/5
Which statement about Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage is correct?
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Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
Why A is correct
Medicare Part D is a voluntary outpatient prescription drug benefit. To enroll, a person must have Medicare Part A and/or Part B. Coverage can be delivered through a stand-alone Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) or through a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage (MAPD). Beneficiaries who delay enrollment without creditable coverage face a monthly 1 percent lifetime late enrollment penalty, and the voluntary nature of Part D is a core exam point.
Why the other options are wrong
- B) Part D is voluntary; beneficiaries may decline it, though a late enrollment penalty may apply if they later enroll without creditable coverage.
- C) Part D is purchased through private plans (PDP or MAPD) or employer creditable coverage; employer retiree plans are just one of several sources.
- D) Part D enrollment is not automatic; beneficiaries must actively choose a plan during an enrollment period.
Memory hook
Part D = voluntary drugs on top of Part A/B, sold as a standalone PDP or inside a Medicare Advantage plan.