Medicare prescription drug coverage is an optional benefit offered to everyone with Medicare. Even if you don’t use prescription drugs now, you should consider joining a Medicare drug plan. If you decide not to join a Medicare drug plan when you’re first eligible, and you don’t have other creditable prescription drug coverage or get Extra Help, you’ll likely pay a late enrollment penalty if you join a plan later. Generally, you’ll pay this penalty for as long as you have Medicare prescription drug coverage. There are two ways to get Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage: