Pharmacy 101: Top 3 money-saving tips on prescription drugs

Save big at the pharmacy for Medicare Advantage members

If you are in an individual and family plan: Check out the top 3 money-saving tips here.

Formulary is the official name for the list of medications covered by your Bright HealthCare plan. It is sometimes called a “Drug List.” After you’ve read about how to use the formulary, this page helps you save money.

Need to learn to read the Formulary and find out about drug tiers so you can use the information on this page?

Pharmacy 101: Prescription costs and coverage for Medicare Advantage

Want to go straight to the Formulary?

Formulary - Medicare Advantage

How can I spend less on my medications?

There are several ways to save money on your prescription drugs.

Step 1

100-day supplies:

Many drugs can be filled for a 100-day supply. Save by using Mail Order where you can get 100 days of your drug for the same cost as two-month copay.

Step 2

Lower tier options:

Picking a similar drug to treat your condition on a lower tier will help save you money. We recommend you bring the formulary with you when visiting your doctor to assist in choosing a lower cost drug.

Step 3

Generic drugs:

Generic drugs will typically cost you less. Generic drugs are identified on the formulary in italicized.

Condition-specific examples

Check your summary of benefits to determine the cost you will pay for each tier. For example, a plan may have the following copays:

  • Tier 1: $0
  • Tier 2: $12
  • Tier 3: $47
  • Tier 4: $100
  • Tier 5: 33% coinsurance
  • Tier 6: $0

 

Glaucoma

   

Example scenario: Your provider is considering prescribing Rocklatan to treat your glaucoma. You look at the formulary and find that Rocklatan is on Tier 3, which will cost $47 per month based on the example copays above.

You and your provider see there is another eye drop in the same class on a lower tier:

Latanoprost is on Tier 1. Based on the example copays, it will cost you $0 per month.

This would be a savings of $47 per month or $564 per year.

Check your summary of benefits to determine the cost you will pay for each tier. For example, a plan may have the following copays:

  • Tier 1: $0
  • Tier 2: $12
  • Tier 3: $47
  • Tier 4: $100
  • Tier 5: 33% coinsurance
  • Tier 6: $0

 

Asthma

   

Example scenario: Your provider is considering prescribing Breo Ellipta to treat your asthma. You look at the formulary and find that Breo Ellipta is on Tier 3, which will cost $47 per month based on the example copays above.

You and your provider see there is another drug in the same class on Tier 2: Advair Diskus. Based on the example copays, it will cost you $12 per month.

This would be a savings of $35 per month or $420 per year.

Check your summary of benefits to determine the cost you will pay for each tier. For example, a plan may have the following copays:

  • Tier 1: $0
  • Tier 2: $12
  • Tier 3: $47
  • Tier 4: $100
  • Tier 5: 33% coinsurance
  • Tier 6: $0

 

High Blood Pressure

 

Example scenario: Your provider is considering prescribing captopril to treat your blood pressure. You look at the formulary and find that captopril is on Tier 2, which will cost $12 per month based on the example copays above.

You and your provider also see there is another drug in the same class on a lower tier:

Benazepril on Tier 6. Based on the example copays, it will cost you $0 per month.

This would be a savings of $12 per month or $144 per year.