Tips to help save on medication
Prescription drug costs continue to be a concern for many people — in fact, the vast majority of Americans believe the cost of prescription drugs is unreasonable.1 With Medicare Annual Enrollment underway, understanding what prescription coverage you might need is important — especially given Original Medicare generally doesn’t cover medications.
Instead, you can get prescription drug coverage in two ways:
- Through a separate standalone Part D plan, which works with Original Medicare and can also be paired with a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan.
Or
- A Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage, for an “all-in-one” package that may be a great way to help keep your prescription costs in check.
To help you get the most out of your prescription coverage, here are three simple tips:
1. Consider generics or preferred formulary alternatives
Prescription drugs are typically sorted into several tiers on the health plan’s list of covered drugs, known as a formulary, with generic or lower-tier drugs typically costing less than drugs on higher tiers. You also have the power to ask your prescribing provider whether more affordable alternatives are available, such as a generic or a drug on a lower tier of your plan’s formulary.
- What else? Good news for UnitedHealthcare members: UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage formulary will continue to cover hundreds of the most-used prescriptions on tier 1 or tier 2, often for a $0 deductible.2
2. Consider home delivery
Check to see if your plan has mail-order pharmacy benefits. If it does, this may be a great way to save money and a trip to the pharmacy. Through ordering a three-month refill on medications, you may save money on your prescriptions and the added convenience of having your drugs come to you. For example, in 2027, UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage members can fill drugs on Tiers 1, 2 and 3 in 100-day supplies at the cost of a 90-day supply.
- What else? Access to medication in the home can be a smart choice. In 2027, the majority of standard UnitedHealthcare® Medicare Advantage plans have access to $0 copays for Tier 1 and Tier 2 prescriptions ordered through Optum® Home Delivery Pharmacy.
3. Check to see if your plan offers other savings opportunities
It’s never a bad idea to simply call your health plan, or your insurance agent, to see if there are other ways to save that might not be on your radar. For example, if you like visiting the pharmacy rather than using a mail-order service, you should check to see if your plan has a preferred pharmacy network, which means you may get your drugs at a lower copay when you visit a preferred pharmacy.
- What else? UnitedHealthcare standard Medicare Advantage plans offer a month’s supply of covered insulin for a maximum of $35, while those members enrolled in Chronic Special Needs plans (C-SNP) will pay an average of $25 or less for a one-month supply of covered insulin, and have coverage for diabetic supplies on a lower drug tier than UnitedHealthcare standard Medicare Advantage plans. This includes $0 diabetic supplies from in-network retail or mail order pharmacy.
The prescription drug landscape can seem complex. But there is help available. If you are a UnitedHealthcare member, there is a tool within the member portal called the Savings Center where you can see yearly spending for drugs, and see drug by drug how much insurance paid versus how much you paid. You can also call the number on the back of your member ID card and ask about your plan’s coverage.
For more information on UnitedHealthcare Medicare plans, visit UHCMedicareHealthPlans.com.
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