Effective January 1, 2006, the basic requirements for participation in the Medicare
Part D prescription drug program include:
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Entitlement to Medicare Part A or Medicare Part B (or both);
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Residence in the service area of the beneficiary’s Medicare prescription drug plan;
and
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Citizen of the United States or lawfully present in the United States.
An individual who is not a resident of the 50 States or the District of Columbia is
not eligible for Extra Help with Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. Additional
information about Medicare Part D Extra Help is found in HI 03001.005 through HI 03001.020.
Unlike Medicare Parts A and B, SSA does not process Part D enrollments. Medicare beneficiaries enroll in a Part D plan during
an enrollment period with a prescription drug provider. Participants in the Part D
program must meet deductible, premium, and copayment responsibilities.
SSA administers a program to help low-income beneficiaries with their prescription
drug coverage costs called Extra Help (also known as low-income subsidy, LIS, or subsidy).