Which part of Medicare must a beneficiary be enrolled in to access coverage through Medicare prescription drug plans?

To access coverage through Medicare prescription drug plans, a beneficiary must be enrolled in either Part A or Part B of Medicare. This includes enrollment in Medicare hospital insurance (Part A) or medical insurance (Part B), both of which provide a baseline level of eligibility for the beneficiary to enroll in a standalone Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage.

Enrollment in just one of these parts—either Part A or Part B—ensures that the beneficiary can acquire the necessary prescription drug coverage. This flexibility is critical because it allows individuals who may only need hospital services (Part A) or medical services (Part B) to also benefit from prescription drug coverage without needing to enroll in both.

While enrollment in both parts provides comprehensive coverage and may offer additional benefits, it is not a requirement to access Part D coverage. Other answer choices imply stricter enrollment requirements that do not align with the actual eligibility criteria for Medicare prescription drug plans.