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If you get your drugs from retail pharmacies, you must go to one that is part of your Part D plan’s pharmacy network in order to have coverage from the plan. Some plans, but not all, offer national coverage, which means that you can go to their in-network pharmacies in other parts of the United States.
If you use the Medicare plan finder tool to choose a Part D plan, you’ll see a blue “N” icon flagging plans that offer national coverage. If you’re already enrolled in a plan, call its customer-service number for this information. If you’re traveling to a rural area, check with the plan to find where its nearest in-network pharmacy is located.
Most Part D plans also offer mail-order services that provide 90-day supplies of drugs at a time, which can be convenient to some travelers and sunbirds or snowbirds who spend several months of the year in a different part of the country.
You should also check with your plan if you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan that provides Part D drug coverage. These plans often have limited geographical service areas and may cover only emergency care outside their own provider networks.
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