Each Medicare drug plan has a list of prescription drugs that it covers.
Plans may cover both generic and brand-name prescription drugs.
There are certain drugs that Medicare drug plans aren’t required to cover, such as benzodiazepines, barbiturates, drugs for weight loss or gain, and drugs for erectile dysfunction. Some plans may choose to cover these drugs as an added benefit. In addition, drug plans generally aren’t allowed to cover over-the-counter drugs. Some states may cover these drugs if you have Medicaid.The drug lists for each plan must include a range of drugs in each prescribed category. This makes sure that people with different medical conditions can get the treatment they need. All Medicare drug plans must generally cover at least two drugs in each category of drugs, but plans can choose which specific drugs are covered in each category. Plans are required to cover almost all drugs in six classes: anti-psychotics, anti-depressants, anti-convulsants, immunosuppressants, cancer, and HIV/AIDS drugs.
All Medicare drug plans have negotiated to get lower prices for the drugs they cover. This means using drugs on your plan’s list will generally save you money. Using generics instead of brand-name drugs can also save you money.
