So the drug company Glaxo Smith Klein or Pfizer (or both?) has been pushing

[Ms. Toad]

9. So part D is where Medicare covers the RSV vaccine.

(Some vaccines are covered by part B, others are covered by Part D.)

I'd suggest biting the bullet and looking into buying a part D plan. Since you apparently didn't buy one when you were first eligible, you'll have a lifelong penalty. Depending on how late your purchase is, it might still be worth it. The monthly penalty for 2023 is $ .3274 x the number of months you were late enrolling.

As long as we're stuck with an insurance model I agree, in principle, with a penalty for failing to enroll because at the time you don't need prescription coverage. If only sick people buy insurance, the cost of insurance will be priced out of range for everyone.

That said, this penalty is exorbitant. If my parents had enrolled late, and just now wanted to enroll (at age 91+) they would have to pay a monthly penalty of about $102/month - on top of the cost of the plan. My plan costs about $8 this year. If I stick with the same plan next year it is free. And messaging about the penalty is really bad. I know some very smart people who are paying a lifetime penalty because they didn't understand the rules.

But even more than making the penalty reasonable, we need to ditch the insurance model for health care.