Unpacking Medicare: What do I need to know about prescription drug coverage?

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Forty one percent of those over 65 take five or more medications a day.1 It’s a staggering number, but it underscores the necessity of prescription drug insurance coverage. That’s why almost 77 percent of people who are on Medicare — or more than 47 million people2 — are enrolled in a plan with prescription drug coverage.

As you figure out the best plan for your needs, here’s what you need to know about prescription drug coverage.

What does Medicare Part D cover?

Medicare Part D, also known as a prescription drug plan, helps you pay for most of your prescribed medicine. Generally, Original Medicare does not include prescription drug coverage. Learn more here about the different parts of Medicare.

How do I get Medicare prescription drug coverage?

There are two ways to get prescription drug coverage.

• You can enroll in a stand-alone Medicare Part D plan. This coverage will be in addition to Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and/or a Medicare Supplement plan.
• You can enroll in a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan that includes prescription drug coverage. This coverage will combine your medical and prescription drug coverage.

Tip: If you don’t enroll in prescription drug coverage when you’re first eligible to enroll in Medicare, you may face penalties. Find out how to avoid penalties.

Can I switch Part D plans if my prescription needs change?

Each year everyone can change their Medicare plan during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7). Read about enrollment periods.

There might be exceptions to these timelines if you qualify for extra help paying for prescription drug coverage. Learn about your options for assistance with Medicare costs.

What prescription drugs are covered by Medicare Part D?

Every Medicare plan with prescription drug coverage has a list of drugs — also known as a formulary — that it agrees to cover. When you research a plan, check your list of medications against the prescription drugs on your plan’s list. You’ll also be able to see which “tier” it’s been placed into. Generally, the lower the tier, the less you pay. For example, you will often pay less for a drug on Tier 1 than you would on Tier 4. The Medicare Plan Finder is a useful comparison tool you can use to plug in the names of prescription drugs and find plans in your area that will cover them. View the Medicare Plan Finder.

Your plan drug list will include both brand and generic drugs.  Generic drugs have been deemed as safe and effective as brand-name medications by the Food and Drug Administration. Check with your doctor to see if a generic prescription drug is right for you.

Your plan may make limited changes to the drug list during the plan year. Plans typically don’t remove drugs from the covered drug list or move them to a higher tier during the plan year. Sometimes changes are necessary, like when a drug is found to be unsafe or is no longer available. You will be notified if this happens with one of your medicines.

How do I read a drug list (formulary)?

Your drug list (formulary) will give you the information you need to know about your drug, such as name, drug tier and requirements or limits.

What happens if my prescription drug isn’t covered?

Medicare mandates that there be at least two drugs from every therapeutic class in a formulary. But in some instances, you may need a drug that just doesn’t make the list. If that happens, your doctor can contact the insurance company to request what’s called a “formulary exception.” Your plan will review the request to see if they’ll cover it. Typically, if the drug is approved, it will be provided to you at the cost found in one of the top tiers, such as tier 4 or 5, which means you will usually be responsible for a higher percentage of the cost than if the medicine was included on a lower tier.

How much will my prescription drugs cost?

Several factors determine how much you will pay for your prescriptions.

• The plan you choose. Each plan sets its own cost-sharing by tier. Check with your plan about incentives, such as discounted pricing on 90- or 100-day supplies.
• Whether your pharmacy is inside your plan’s network. Generally, you need to use a pharmacy in your plan’s network for the medication to be covered. Some plans have preferred pharmacies where you could save even more.
• Whether the drug you take is on the covered drug list (formulary). Generally, plans will only cover medications if the drug is on their covered drug list (formulary). Medicare drug plans have negotiated to get lower prices for the drugs on their drug lists, so using those drugs will generally save you money. Medicare drug plans have negotiated to get lower prices for the drugs on their drug lists, so using those drugs will generally save you money.
• What tier your medication is on. Plans place their drugs on different tiers which determine costs. Generally, the lower the tier, the less you pay.
• Whether your plan has a deductible. With a deductible, you pay for the full cost of your medication until you’ve met the deductible amount.
• Whether you qualify for extra subsidies. There are programs available to help people with limited incomes pay prescription drug costs. Learn how you may be able to qualify to get help.

Your payments may vary throughout the year, depending on how much you have already spent on prescription drugs. Your cost-sharing will depend upon the benefit phase you have reached in your coverage. Drugs filled in a non-retail setting, such as long-term care or specialty mail, may cost more than the price listed on Medicare Plan Finder. Members can call the number on their ID card to obtain non-retail pricing.

What is the “donut hole”?

Medicare prescription drug plans have a phase called the coverage gap or “donut hole.” When you reach this phase your cost-share may change based upon the type of drug(s) you are taking.

Here’s an example of how it works:

Are there special rules I need to consider?

Some prescription drugs require that you adhere to special rules before your insurer will cover them. For example:

• Step therapy: If this is the first time you’re taking a drug, you may be required to start with a more cost-efficient version before you can move onto a more expensive medication.
• Prior authorization: Your doctor will need to get approval before the plan will pay for a drug.
• Quantity limits: Certain drugs, such as opioids, will have limits on the number of doses and/or refills that your insurer will cover.

Your plan’s drug list (formulary) will tell you which drugs require step therapy, prior authorization and quantity limits. If your medication falls into any of these categories, you may need to take action before the plan will cover the drug. Check with your doctor about your options.

How can I maximize my prescription drug benefits?

If you want to get the most out of your prescription drug benefits, check with your plan to see what extras it offers.

• Use in-network pharmacies. Find out which pharmacies are in your plan’s network and if using a preferred pharmacy can save you money.
• Use preferred pharmacies. Many plans offer preferred pharmacies where members typically save even more.
• Order 90- or 100-day supplies. Some plans will offer a lower cost-share on 90- or 100-day supply of medicine. Even if the price is the same, it’ll mean fewer trips to the pharmacy and less chance you’ll miss a refill.
• Opt for delivery. Your plan may offer a delivery option for prescription drugs. Check to see if there’s a lower cost when you order medication through the mail. For example, some Aetna Medicare plans offer lower costs on mail-order prescriptions.

1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Table 39. Prescription drug use in the past 30 days, by sex, race and Hispanic origin, and age: United States, selected years 1988–1994 through 2015–2018. 2019. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/2019/039-508.pdf. Accessed May 10, 2022.

2Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare Part D Enrollment. February 3, 2022. Available at: https://data.cms.gov/summary-statistics-on-beneficiary-enrollment/medicare-and-medicaid-reports/medicare-part-d-enrollment. Accessed May 10, 2022.

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