As a note: The size of a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan formulary is measured in NDCs or National Drug Codes. These 11-digit codes are used by doctors and pharmacies to uniquely identify a medication, the strength, and the packaging. The NDC for your medication appears on the label of your prescription bottle. (Throughout this article, we use the terms drugs, medications, and NDCs interchangeably.)
The largest increase in stand-alone prescription drug plan formulary size is the Blue MedicareRx Essential plan in Arizona with the addition of 445 NDCs bring their formulary size up to 3,115 from 3,560 in 2020.
However, over 2 million members of stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans will see a reduction of at least 100 medications from their current plan formulary. For example, the AR Blue Cross - Medi-Pak Rx Basic (PDP) will lose 715 NDCs from their formulary.
Changes in the largest 2020 Medicare Part D formularies for 2021
Here are several examples of 2020 stand-alone Medicare Part D plans with the largest formularies and how their formularies are changing in 2021. (Again, the formulary size in the chart below is measured in NDCs or National Drug Codes -- used by pharmacies to uniquely identify a medication, the strength, and the packaging).
| 2020 Medicare Part D Plans with the Largest Formularies and Change for 2021 |
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| Plan Name | 2021 Formulary Size |
2020 Formulary Size | Change in Size |
Members Affected |
| Blue Rx PDP Complete (PDP) and Blue Rx PDP Plus (PDP) | 4,161 | 4,314 | -153 | 24,953 |
| AR Blue Cross - Medi-Pak Rx Premier (PDP), Florida BlueMedicare Complete Rx (PDP), and AL TN BlueRx Enhanced Plus (PDP) | 4,319 | 4,253 | 66 | 32,826 |
| ID UT Regence Medicare Script Enhanced (PDP) and OR WA Asuris Medicare Script Enhanced (PDP) | 3,424 | 3,651 | -227 | 2,630 |
| Blue Cross MedicareRx Value (PDP) and Blue Cross MedicareRx Plus (PDP) | 3,450 | 3,566 | -116 | 169,593 |
| AARP MedicareRx Preferred (PDP) | 3,518 | 3,555 | -39 | 2,000,406 |
| SC Blue Cross MedicareRx Plus (PDP) and SC Blue Cross MedicareRx Value (PDP) | 3,341 | 3,508 | -167 | 17,851 |
| AL TN Farm Bureau Essential Rx (PDP) and AL TN Farm Bureau Select Rx (PDP) | 3,341 | 3,508 | -167 | 4,426 |
| WellCare Medicare Rx Select (PDP) | 3,463 | 3,474 | -11 | 680,779 |
| WellCare Medicare Rx Value Plus (PDP) | 3,473 | 3,474 | -1 | 430,365 |
| 2021 Medicare Part D Plans with the Smallest Formularies |
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| Plan Name | 2021 Formulary Size |
2020 Formulary Size | Change in Size |
Members Affected |
| AR BlueMedicare Value Rx (PDP) | 2,669 | 3,384 | -715 | 19,920 |
| NC Blue Medicare Rx Standard (PDP) |
2,669 | 2,741 | -72 | 7,702 |
| OR WA Asuris Medicare Script Basic (PDP), AL TN BlueRx Essential (PDP), FL BlueMedicare Premier Rx (PDP), ID UT Regence Medicare Script Basic (PDP) and PA WV SecureRx - Option 3 (PDP), |
2,744 | 2,741 | 3 | 83,699 |
| Blue Cross MedicareRx Basic (PDP) | 2,788 | 2,803 | -15 | 79,185 |
Please remember: A “larger” or “smaller” formulary does not necessarily reflect on the quality of the Medicare plan. Your goal is to find a Medicare plan that offers the most affordable coverage for your 2021 health and prescription needs. Browsing any Medicare plan’s formulary
Our Formulary Browser for both stand-alone Medicare Part D plans and Medicare Advantage plans (MAPDs) can be found at Formulary-Browser.com/2021. Using the Formulary Browser, you can browse by letter though each plan’s entire formulary to review cost-sharing and the details of the drug’s utilization management restrictions such as quantity limits, prior authorization, and step therapy. Quantity limits are displayed as Q:30/90days meaning that this drug has a quantity limit of 30 units (such as “tablets”) for a 90 day period.
Comparing drug costs across Medicare plans
Our Drug Finder is available at on this site. Similar to our Formulary Browser, our Drug Finder displays the cost-sharing and details of the utilization management restrictions, but in the Drug Finder, this information is shown for a particular drug across all plans in your chosen service area. As an example, click here to see the 36 Medicare Advantage plans available in Allegheny County, PA (ZIP: 15228) that cover Advair Diskus MIS 250/50. Once you are on the Drug Finder page, you can change the ZIP code to your ZIP and change the drug to your medication.
For a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan example, click here to review the 28 Medicare Part D drug plans available in Pennsylvania that cover Advair Diskus MIS 250/50. Again, change the state to your state once you are on the Drug Finder page.
Need help finding the Medicare plan with the most affordable coverage?
Medicare beneficiaries can telephone Medicare at 1-800-633-4227, speak with a Medicare representative, and learn more about 2021 Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans that most affordably meet their health and prescription needs.