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Everything you need to know about prescription drug coverage

When it comes to prescription drugs and medication, Tom Leix, sales director for UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement-Indiana joined us today with what you need to know. Here’s more from him:

Prescription drug costs continue to be a concern for many people – what do people enrolled in Medicare need to know about prescription drug coverage?

Original Medicare doesn’t cover the cost of prescription drugs, which is why we recommend finding a prescription drug plan – known as Medicare Part D – to help cover the costs of prescription drugs, which often carry a steep price tag.

You can get drug coverage in two ways:

Through a separate stand-alone Part D plan, which works with Original Medicare or a Medicare supplement plan or through a Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage

A Medicare Advantage or MA plan is often bundled with a prescription drug plan, which provides an “all-in-one” package, and is a great way to help keep prescription costs in check.

UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare Advantage plans include $0 co-pays on hundreds of Rx drugs, helping seniors manage costly medications.

Increasingly, people want convenient options to access health care from everywhere, including in the comfort of their homes. Can you share some tips for how people can more easily access and, ultimately, afford their prescription medications?

I’d offer three simple tips to help people get the most from their prescription drug coverage.

First, consider home delivery.

Many of our UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage members already reap the benefits of home delivery of prescription medications. And since the onset of the pandemic, we’re seeing a significant rise in those opting for the home-delivery option – which allows for 3-month refills on many medications.

Next, 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.

Often, there are clinical alternatives available on lower tiers, and your doctor can help determine what might be an appropriate option for you. Finally, check to see if your plan offers other savings opportunities

If you like visiting the pharmacy rather than using a mail-order service, you should check to see if your plan has cost-saving programs or a preferred pharmacy network.

The prescription drug landscape is complex. Are there resources you would recommend to help in understanding prescription drug coverage?

It can be overwhelming with so many options, but your health plan is here to help. You can always call the number on the back of your ID card and ask to speak with someone about your plan’s coverage.

Ask if there are resources available to make it easier to manage your drugs.

For example, UnitedHealthcare has a new tool within our member portal – an Rx Online Marketplace – that enables members to compare drug prices, manage refills and have orders delivered by or picked up at a convenient pharmacy.

How do I know what my plan offers/where can I find the information?

To save money on your prescriptions, it’s important to get to know your health plan and all its benefits, so you can take advantage of all it has to offer:

To find out more about UnitedHealthcare plans visit, UHCMedicareHealthPlans.com or Call: Call 800-274-0344 (TTY: 711).

THIS SEGMENT IS SPONSORED BY UNITEDHEALTHCARE.