Medicare: Enrollment in Medicare Drug Plans

The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) established a new voluntary prescription drug benefit under a new Medicare Part D. The new benefit was effective January 1, 2006.Prescription drug coverage is provided through private prescription drug plans (PDPs) or Medicare Advantage prescription drug (MA-PD) plans.At a minimum, these plans offer "standard coverage" or alternative coverage with actuarially equivalent benefits.Beneficiaries are required to enroll in one of these private plans in order to obtain coverage.