Medicare Premiums

If you get help from SoonerCare Medicaid to pay your Medicare premiums, you get Extra Help for your drug costs through Medicare Part D.

It's easy to enroll.

Each person in Medicare has the chance to sign up for a new Medicare prescription drug plan during open enrollment each year.  Your benefits start on January 1.  If you become eligible during the year, your benefits  start the first day of the month following your enrollment (For example, if you sign up on February 15, your benefits will start on March 1.)

You decide which program is right for you.

No one has to sign up for Medicare Part D. If you have no coverage for your medicines now and do not sign up during the initial enrollment period, you may have to pay higher premiums if you enroll later. If you have drug coverage through a retiree plan, your spouse’s work, a union, or other program, you may keep that coverage if you wish.

If you want to keep the plan you have now, it is VERY IMPORTANT that you make sure your drug plan covers as much or more than a Medicare drug plan. If it does not, and you decide later to sign up for a Medicare drug plan, you may have to pay higher premiums. You will get a notice from your employer or union that tells you if your current drug plan covers as much or more than a Medicare drug plan.

You also may call the Senior Health Insurance Counseling Program at 800-463-2828, or

Medicare at 800-633-4227 (800-MEDICARE). The phone lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also go to the Medicare Web site.