Why You Now Enroll in Part D Plans Yourself (And How I Still Help)

If you've worked with me before on Medicare Advantage or a Medicare Supplement, you're used to me handling the enrollment paperwork from start to finish. Part D standalone drug plans (PDPs) now work differently, and I want to be upfront about exactly how.

Quick facts

• Most insurance companies in Minnesota will no longer let agents enroll clients into standalone Part D plans.

• I can still compare every standalone Part D plan available to you, match plan formularies against your actual prescriptions, and estimate your monthly and annual costs.

• You (or a family member) complete the actual enrollment — either through PlanEnroll or directly at Medicare.gov.

• I'll keep providing this comparison service for as long as my tools let me review PDP plans and match them to your prescriptions — that hasn't changed.

What's changed

For years, if you wanted to enroll in or switch a standalone Part D plan, I could take care of the whole thing — review your options, pick the plan, and submit the enrollment for you, the same way I do for Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage.

That's no longer possible. Most insurance companies in Minnesota will no longer let agents submit a PDP enrollment. So the enrollment step now has to come from you.

What I still do for you

This doesn't change the part of the job that actually takes the work: figuring out which plan is right for you in the first place.

I'll still:

• Pull every standalone Part D plan available in your area

• Check each plan's formulary against your actual prescriptions — not just whether a drug is covered, but what tier it's on and what that means for your copay

• Estimate your realistic monthly and annual cost for each plan, not just the premium

• Walk you through the comparison and answer questions before you commit to anything

What changes is the last step. Instead of me submitting the enrollment, I'll hand you the specific plan I recommend, and you'll complete the enrollment yourself.

How to actually enroll once we've picked a plan

You have three ways to do this:

PlanEnroll. Compare and enroll in Part D plans through PlanEnroll — the same tool linked on my Part D page. Once we've identified the plan that fits your prescriptions and budget, you can complete the enrollment there directly.

Medicare.gov. You can also compare and enroll directly through Medicare's Plan Finder tool using your ZIP code and medication list, or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24/7.

The insurance company's own website. You can also go directly to the carrier's website and enroll there. If you do this, be very careful to select "Prescription Drug Plan" (PDP) specifically — carrier websites also sell Medicare Advantage plans, dental, vision, and other products on the same site, and it's easy to land on the wrong enrollment page if you're not paying close attention.

Either way, I'll have already done the comparison work — you're just completing the paperwork on the plan we've already settled on.

Keep your medication list current

The formulary review and cost estimate I give you is only as accurate as the medication list I'm working from. If your prescriptions or dosages change, tell me directly, and also update your medication list on whichever platform you used to enroll — your PlanEnroll profile or your Medicare.gov account. An outdated medication list is the most common reason a "best plan" recommendation turns out to be wrong once you're actually at the pharmacy counter.

Why I'm still doing this

Helping you find the right Part D plan is a value-added service I provide to my clients. You shouldn't have to navigate formularies and tier structures on your own, and I'm in a position to make that easier. I'll keep doing this for as long as my tools let me pull accurate plan data and check it against your prescriptions. If that ever changes, I'll tell you directly rather than quietly stop offering it.

Have questions? Call Fred directly.

If you need help sorting out which Part D plan actually fits your medications and budget, I'm still the person to call — I just won't be the one clicking submit. No call center, no pressure.

Call Fred: 763.292.9837

Part D market details reflect the 2026 plan year and may change for 2027. Verify current plan availability at Medicare.gov or by calling Fred.