Only 3.6 million sign up for stand-alone Part D plans

Although 24 million Medicare beneficiaries now have Part D coverage, only 3.6 million of them have signed up for a stand-alone Rx plan. According to CMS, there are another 6.2 million Medicaid beneficiaries who switched to Medicare Rx coverage; 4.5 million beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans; 6.4 million people are enrolled in the Medicare retiree subsidy; about one million retirees have employer coverage that incorporates or supplements Medicare coverage; about 500,000 retirees have employer coverage that is as good as Medicare's; and 3.1 million beneficiaries are covered through military or federal health programs.