I am 68 yrs. old and on medicare and have a supplement. However, part D is not included. Can I buy only part D from somewhere? Prescriptions are quite costly and I couldn't get my last one because it was $300. I need help please!

Mary: Think of Medicare like a chessboard-all the pieces LOOK the same all of the time, but their VALUE changes according to their position and all of the other pieces remaining on the board. That said, if you've missed an RX, there may be free or nearly free supplements available. Ask your Dr. for samples-never skip something you need. Part D is available for purchase, but it's late in the year. All the rules change on the 1st of 2019-you may qualify for free or nearly free coverage under the new rules even if you were excluded before. Visit your SS office or look at "Medicare and you" on-line to get a better sense of this, but do this by December. 15. That's the cut-off date for picking a plan for 2019.

I'll have to find out