A: You will be dropped from your Part D plan if you have not paid your premium within their grace period. Plans can set their own grace period, but it must be at least two months long. You can check out your plan’s grace period in the “Annual Notice of Change” letter and “Evidence of Coverage” that you receive from them in the fall.

Don’t forget about any Late Enrollment Penalty (LEP) or Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) you may owe. Failure to pay either one of those will get you the same result.

You are allowed to rejoin the plan if you make good on your outstanding premiums after the grace period ends, but not until the next enrollment period which means you’ll likely have some months without drug coverage.