Do I need Medicare Part D if I don't take any drugs?

How the late enrollment penalty works

Medicare.gov's rule is simple: if you don't join a Medicare drug plan when you first get Medicare, and you go 63 days or more in a row without creditable drug coverage, you'll pay an extra 1% for each month you went without (12% for each year). The plan tells you the penalty when you join.

• The penalty is based on the national base beneficiary premium, which CMS sets at $41.33 for 2027.
• Medicare.gov's example: if you waited 14 months, you'd pay 14% of the base premium on top of your plan's premium, every month.
• It usually lasts as long as you have Part D, even if you switch plans.
• You can ask Medicare for a reconsideration if you think the penalty is wrong, for example because you had creditable coverage.

Estimate yours with the late penalty calculator.

When you don't need Part D: creditable coverage

"Creditable" means other drug coverage expected to pay at least as much as standard Part D. Your plan must send you a yearly notice saying whether it is. In Ohio, common examples are:

• Coverage from a current employer or union, yours or your spouse's.
• Retiree drug coverage, including coverage through Ohio's public retirement systems. Check the system's own rules first: some require or include Medicare drug coverage. See Ohio public retirement systems and Medicare.
• VA health care and TRICARE For Life. See veterans and military retirees.
• Federal employee coverage under FEHB. See FEHB and Medicare.

Discount cards and coupon programs are not creditable coverage, and Ohio's Golden Buckeye card isn't drug coverage at all.

If you take no drugs today

1. Check whether you already have creditable coverage. If you do, keep its notice in case Medicare asks.
2. If you don't, join a plan in your Initial Enrollment Period, the 7 months around your 65th birthday month, to avoid the penalty entirely.
3. Compare plans by premium and pharmacy, since you have no drugs to look up yet. Ohio has 9 standalone Part D plans for 2027, and Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage are another option. Compare on PlanMatch.
4. Re-check each fall. If you start a new drug, use Open Enrollment to move to a plan that covers it.

Want a second opinion? You can request a call from a licensed insurance agent. If your income is limited, apply for Extra Help, which lowers Part D costs and generally removes the penalty.

Related questions

Sources

• Medicare.gov — Avoid late enrollment penalties
• CMS — Part D 2027 national average monthly bid amount and base beneficiary premium (July 28, 2026)
• Medicare.gov — How much does Medicare drug coverage cost?
• eCFR — 42 CFR 423.46 (late enrollment penalty)

More questions in this guide

• Does Ohio have a prescription drug assistance program for seniors?
• How many Part D plans are available in Ohio for 2027?
• Is there still a donut hole in Medicare Part D?
• What is the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan?
• What is the Medicare Part D out-of-pocket cap for 2027?
• Which drugs have Medicare negotiated prices for 2027?

Part of the guide: Medicare Part D in Ohio · All questions

Frequently asked questions

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