Can I opt out of Social Security Medicare Part D premium if I already have prescription coverage?

You might be confused about what coverage you actually have. Medicare Supplement plans (Medigap) don't typically include prescription coverage - that's what Part D is for. What you probably have is a Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription coverage, which is different from a Supplement plan. If that's the case, you definitely don't need both and should opt out of one.

i had the same exact thing happen!! ended up calling SSA for like 3 days straight before getting someone on the phone. turns out you need to fill out a form to decline part D if you have "creditable coverage" already. the premium is just the standard amount for 2025 btw

This is a common misunderstanding. Let me clarify a few things: 1. What you likely have is either a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) that includes prescription coverage OR a Medigap policy plus a separate Part D plan. 2. True Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies do NOT include prescription coverage - that's what Part D is for. 3. If you do have duplicate coverage, you should contact the Social Security Administration directly to disenroll from the Part D plan. You'll need to complete form CMS-1763 (Request for Termination of Premium Hospital and/or Supplementary Medical Insurance). 4. IMPORTANT: Make absolutely certain your other coverage is considered "creditable coverage" by Medicare standards before canceling Part D, or you may face significant penalties if you need to re-enroll later. I'd recommend calling your BCBS plan first to confirm exactly what type of plan you have and if it meets Medicare's "creditable coverage" standard for prescriptions.

OMG the Medicare system is SO CONFUSING!! I've been on it for 3 years and still don't understand all the parts and letters and what covers what. I thought I was saving money by NOT signing up for Part D since my former employer gave me retiree prescription coverage but then they dropped it and now I'm paying a PENALTY every month on top of my Part D premium!!! The system is designed to confuse seniors I swear.

I had a similar issue and spent WEEKS trying to reach someone at Social Security. After getting disconnected multiple times, I discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual person at SSA in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Once I actually spoke with someone, they explained I needed to provide proof that my other coverage was "creditable" (meaning it's at least as good as Medicare's standard coverage). My insurance provider had to send me a "Certificate of Creditable Coverage" letter that I submitted to Social Security. It took about 3-4 weeks to process, but they did stop the Part D premium deductions.

Just want to add that the $13.80 is actually the base Part D premium for 2025, but depending on your income from 2 years ago, you might have an additional Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) added. If your income has gone down since then, you can file for a reconsideration of the IRMAA using Form SSA-44.

anyone else think its weird they just automatically sign u up for this?? like they don't even ask if u want it or already have something else? social security just decides for u and starts taking ur money

You should check your Medicare paperwork very carefully. When you first signed up for Medicare, you had choices to make about Part D coverage. If you didn't specifically decline Part D, you might have been automatically enrolled in a plan. My advice is to call the number on your Medicare card and ask for clarification about what plans you're currently enrolled in before making any changes.