Frequently Asked Questions about Understanding your Formulary

May, 24 2024 — Utilization management restrictions (or "usage management" or "drug restrictions") are controls that your Medicare Part D (PDP) or Medicare Advantage plan (MAPD) can place on your prescription drugs a . . .

Jul, 13 2024 — Yes.  Some Medicare Part D prescription drug plans cover, not only brand-name and generic prescription drugs, but also so-called "Bonus Drugs" not usually covered by the Medicare Part D program, . . .

Oct, 17 2024 — Step Therapy is a utilization management restriction that your Medicare Part D prescription drug plan can add to a formulary medication. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) "St . . .

Apr, 05 2025 — Although Ambien, was covered by many Medicare Part D carriers in prior years, it is not currently covered by any Medicare Advantage plans (MAPD) or stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDP). This . . .

Jan, 06 2025 — Some medications are carefully monitored by Medicare Part D plans to ensure your safety and your plan may require that you receive prior approval or "prior authorization" before your prescription will . . .

Oct, 23 2024 — Drug Tiers are an attempt to "logically" group drugs (such as generics, preferred-generics, brand drugs, and specialty drugs) within a list (drug formulary). All of your Medicare Part D prescriptio . . .

Jun, 25 2024 — Quantity Limits (QL) are a Medicare Part D plan drug "utilization management restriction" which limits the amount of a particular formulary drug that the Medicare Part D plan will cover during a spec . . .

Oct, 23 2024 — A National Drug Code (NDC) is a number that uniquely identifies your prescription medication, the drug manufacturer, the medication strength, and the packaging of your medication. An NDC can be up . . .

May, 31 2023 — Some abbreviations on your Medicare Part D plan's formulary are for Usage Management Restrictions or to further clarify the coverage details under your particular Medicare Part D prescription drug pla . . .

Dec, 04 2024 — On Q1Medicare.com, we include the number of medications covered by all Medicare Part D prescription drug plan formularies in our stand-alone Medicare Part D Plan Finder (PDP-Finder.com) and our Medica . . .

Oct, 29 2023 — If your pharmacist tells you that one of your Medicare Part D prescription drugs requires prior authorization (PA), you should contact your Medicare Part D plan to find out about the PA requirement an . . .

Feb, 03 2025 — Medicare Part D prescription drug plans can change their plan formulary or drug list throughout the plan year - and you may find that new Part D drugs are added - or dropped - or formulary drugs may h . . .

Oct, 23 2024 — Yes.  We have our Formulary Browser online that includes every Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) and Medicare Advantage plan (MAPD) formulary or drug list - and all plan formularies ar . . .

Sep, 01 2022 — This is known as a quantity limit restriction (such as 30/30 days or 30 pills for 30 days).  You can review your Medicare Part D plan's formulary for any Usage Management Restrictions or to furt . . .

Apr, 20 2024 — If you have a prescription for a drug that isn't on your plan's formulary, you should ask your doctor if there is another drug you can take that is on your plan's formulary.  If your doctor can't . . .

Dec, 01 2019 — A Coverage Determination is any decision made by a Medicare Part D plan regarding payment or coverage benefits to which a Medicare plan enrollee believes he or she is entitled. More specifically, . . .

May, 24 2024 — The prior notification of mid-year formulary changes will depend on the type of formulary change

Jul, 28 2023 — Medicare Part D plans can change formulary or drug list designs each year and your Medicare prescription drug plan may have implemented utilization management (or drug usage management) restrictions i . . .

May, 04 2023 — Indication-based utilization management (or indication limitations) is a type of utilization management that a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan can implement along with the plan's prior authoriz . . .

Jul, 09 2023 — Multi-source drug is a term used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS or Medicare) distinguish between: Generic / Preferred Multi-Source Drug and Other Drugs . . .

Apr, 05 2025 — Although Ambien, was covered by many Medicare Part D carriers in prior years, it is not currently covered by any Medicare Advantage plans (MAPD) or stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDP). This . . .

Feb, 03 2025 — Medicare Part D prescription drug plans can change their plan formulary or drug list throughout the plan year - and you may find that new Part D drugs are added - or dropped - or formulary drugs may h . . .

Jan, 06 2025 — Some medications are carefully monitored by Medicare Part D plans to ensure your safety and your plan may require that you receive prior approval or "prior authorization" before your prescription will . . .

Dec, 08 2024 — Some Medicare drug plans will mail printed abridged or shortened versions of the plan's complete drug list showing only a portion of the plan's covered prescriptions. Our Q1Medicare Formulary Browser will show all drugs covered by the plan along with additional coverage info.

Dec, 04 2024 — On Q1Medicare.com, we include the number of medications covered by all Medicare Part D prescription drug plan formularies in our stand-alone Medicare Part D Plan Finder (PDP-Finder.com) and our Medica . . .

Oct, 23 2024 — A National Drug Code (NDC) is a number that uniquely identifies your prescription medication, the drug manufacturer, the medication strength, and the packaging of your medication. An NDC can be up . . .

Oct, 23 2024 — Yes.  We have our Formulary Browser online that includes every Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) and Medicare Advantage plan (MAPD) formulary or drug list - and all plan formularies ar . . .

Oct, 23 2024 — Drug Tiers are an attempt to "logically" group drugs (such as generics, preferred-generics, brand drugs, and specialty drugs) within a list (drug formulary). All of your Medicare Part D prescriptio . . .

Oct, 17 2024 — Step Therapy is a utilization management restriction that your Medicare Part D prescription drug plan can add to a formulary medication. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) "St . . .

Jul, 13 2024 — Yes.  Some Medicare Part D prescription drug plans cover, not only brand-name and generic prescription drugs, but also so-called "Bonus Drugs" not usually covered by the Medicare Part D program, . . .

Jun, 25 2024 — Quantity Limits (QL) are a Medicare Part D plan drug "utilization management restriction" which limits the amount of a particular formulary drug that the Medicare Part D plan will cover during a spec . . .

Jun, 09 2024 — You and/or your prescriber can use our online Formulary Browser (FormularyBrowser.com) to check your Medicare Part D (PDP) or Medicare Advantage (MAPD) plan's drug list (formulary) for lower-costing d . . .

May, 24 2024 — Utilization management restrictions (or "usage management" or "drug restrictions") are controls that your Medicare Part D (PDP) or Medicare Advantage plan (MAPD) can place on your prescription drugs a . . .

May, 24 2024 — The prior notification of mid-year formulary changes will depend on the type of formulary change

Apr, 20 2024 — If you have a prescription for a drug that isn't on your plan's formulary, you should ask your doctor if there is another drug you can take that is on your plan's formulary.  If your doctor can't . . .

Apr, 20 2024 — Yes, but the change may not affect you this year.  As you may know, your Medicare Part D plan’s formulary can change in a number of ways throughout the plan-year, including the addition of . . .

Oct, 29 2023 — If your pharmacist tells you that one of your Medicare Part D prescription drugs requires prior authorization (PA), you should contact your Medicare Part D plan to find out about the PA requirement an . . .

Jul, 28 2023 — Medicare Part D plans can change formulary or drug list designs each year and your Medicare prescription drug plan may have implemented utilization management (or drug usage management) restrictions i . . .

Jul, 09 2023 — Multi-source drug is a term used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS or Medicare) distinguish between: Generic / Preferred Multi-Source Drug and Other Drugs . . .

May, 31 2023 — Some abbreviations on your Medicare Part D plan's formulary are for Usage Management Restrictions or to further clarify the coverage details under your particular Medicare Part D prescription drug pla . . .