Tips to help you save on prescription drugs, plus assessing coverage options
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 Medicare Open Enrollment is upon us, and 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 stand-alone Part D plan, which works with Original Medicare and Medicare Supplement, or Medigap, insurance plans.
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.
Three simple tips to help you get the most out of your coverage
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, often for a $0 copay.2
2. Consider home delivery
Check to see if your plan has mail-order pharmacy benefits – if it does, this can be a great way to save money and a trip to the pharmacy. Through ordering a three-month refill on medications, you may get a discount on your prescriptions and the added convenience of having your drugs come to you.
- What else? Access to medication in the home can be a smart choice. In 2024 and 2025, all standard UnitedHealthcare® Medicare Advantage plans offer $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 can 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 insulin for only $35, while those members enrolled in Chronic Special Needs plans (C-SNP) will pay $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 MA plans. This includes $0 diabetic supplies from Optum Home Delivery Pharmacy.
The prescription drug landscape can seem complex, and there have been many changes recently that are worth investigating, particularly in regards to the Inflation Reduction Act. But there is help available. Call the number on the back of your member ID card and ask about your plan’s coverage. If you are a UnitedHealthcare member, there is a tool within the member portal – an Rx Online Marketplace – where you can find helpful, personalized prescription drug information. Sign in and view drug pricing, refill information, savings opportunities and more.
For more information on UnitedHealthcare Medicare plans, visit UHCMedicareHealthPlans.com.
