Medicare Part D is Medicare’s prescription drug coverage. It’s offered through private insurance companies approved by Medicare, and you can get it in two ways: as a standalone Part D plan alongside Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), or built into many Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans.
Part D plans aren’t one-size-fits-all. Each plan has its own drug list (formulary), pharmacy network, tiers, copays, and rules like prior authorization or quantity limits. Costs can also change year to year, so a plan that worked great last year may not be the best fit now, especially if your medications change.
Below, you’ll find ToniSays.com articles and resources that break down Medicare Part D down into plain English, step-by-step, so you can compare plans confidently, understand your costs, and avoid common enrollment mistakes and penalties.
READ: What Is Medicare? 2026 Beginner’s Guide to Understanding Your Coverage Options
Toni: I am a retired Texas teacher and I am turning 65 this October. I am absolutely mortified by the TRS changes that I am hearing through the grapevine. My doctor is not accepting Humana Medicare Advantage and I am concerned about future health issues. I have...
[vifblike] Toni: Last year, my mother got into the “donut hole” in October. I can see from the Part D statement she receives that she is rapidly approaching the donut hole and it is only the beginning of May. None of her drugs have changed from 2016. She can afford...
Toni: For the past two years, my Medicare Part B premiums have gone up. I am over 70 and began taking my RMDs (required minimum distributions) from my 401K. Could this have had an impact on my Medicare Part B premium increase? This year my Part B and Part D...
Toni:This year, I got into the “donut hole” in September. It has financially devastated and I almost stopped taking my prescriptions. I can afford my monthly $80 co pays but on my statement, it says the actual prescription drugs cost is $950.00 per month. How can I...
2017 Medicare & You Handbook DOES NOT… Include Part D Deductibles and Co Pays!! Toni: Just received my new 2017 Medicare and You handbook and I cannot find what the 2017 Part D deductibles and “Donut Hole” costs are. I need help because I...
Medicare Part D Donut Hole Will the EpiPen Controversy Put You Into the Medicare Part D Donut Hole? Toni: In the newspaper both TV and online that the cost of an EpiPen has gone up astronomically to over $600. I am leaving my company benefits and going to...
Reader Alert: Many company benefit plans terminate the day you are no longer working full-time. Explore you or your spouse’s group medical plan rules and options with Medicare if you are 65 or older. Morning Toni: My wife and I desperately need...
Medicare Coverage of Allergy Shots Toni: I am turning 65 this October and currently am enrolled in a Blue Cross/Blue Shield $4,000 deductible individual health insurance plan. My biggest medical expense is from shots that I receive from 2 doctors. One is allergy...
Over 700,000 Are Receiving Medicare Penalties Toni: I desperately need your help! I have just discovered that my mother, who is 67, has never enrolled in Medicare Part B or D. She was under the impression that if she didn’t go to the doctor, she didn’t need to pay the...
Life Changing Events That Can Lower Your Part B and Part D Premiums Dear Toni: I lost my job in December when the oil prices began to tank. I was an engineer and my 2014 income, which Medicare used to determine my Part B premium, was over $300,000. Today I received a...
