As you may know, Medicare Part D prescription drug plans update their plan formularies (drug lists) throughout the plan year and the April 2020 Medicare Part D formulary updates included 65 new drugs, 34 of which are new generic drugs - with a total of 60 new generic equivalents (variations of manufacturer, drug-strength, and packaging).
Below is a full list of the new generics added to
the 2020 Medicare Part D (PDP) and Medicare Advantage plan (MAPD) formularies:
|
|
Number of |
Number of |
| ADAPALENE 0.1% SOLUTION [Plixda] | 2 | 32 |
| ALENDRONATE SODIUM 10 MG TABLET [Fosamax] | 65 | 388 |
| AMLODIPINE-VALSARTAN 10-160 MG TABLET [Exforge] | 60 | 362 |
| AMLODIPINE-VALSARTAN 10-320 MG TABLET [Exforge] | 60 | 364 |
| AMLODIPINE-VALSARTAN 5-160 MG TABLET [Exforge] | 60 | 364 |
| AMLODIPINE-VALSARTAN 5-320 MG TABLET [Exforge] | 60 | 362 |
| AMPHETAMINE ER 1.25 MG/ML SUSP BP 24H [Adzenys] | 0 | 10 |
| BUDESONIDE-FORMOTEROL 160-4.5 HFA AER AD [Symbicort] | 2 | 31 |
| BUDESONIDE-FORMOTEROL 80-4.5 HFA AER AD [Symbicort] | 2 | 31 |
| CALCIPOTRIENE-BETAMETH DP SUSPENSION [Taclonex Scalp] | 5 | 76 |
| DAPSONE 7.5% GEL W/PUMP [Aczone] | 2 | 35 |
| DEXTROAMPHETAMINE 5 MG/5 ML SOLUTION [ProCentra] | 7 | 114 |
| DIAZEPAM 10 MG RECTAL GEL SYST KIT [Diastat] | 64 | 381 |
| DIAZEPAM 2.5 MG RECTAL GEL SYST KIT [Diastat] | 65 | 382 |
| DIAZEPAM 20 MG RECTAL GEL SYST KIT [Diastat] | 64 | 381 |
| DOXEPIN HCL 3 MG TABLET [Silenor] | 31 | 184 |
| DOXEPIN HCL 6 MG TABLET [Silenor] | 31 | 184 |
| ELURYNG VAGINAL RING [NuvaRing] | 27 | 284 |
| ETONOGESTREL-EE VAGINAL RING [NuvaRing] | 27 | 287 |
| EUTHYROX 100 MCG TABLET | 49 | 267 |
| EUTHYROX 112 MCG TABLET | 49 | 267 |
| EUTHYROX 125 MCG TABLET | 49 | 267 |
| EUTHYROX 137 MCG TABLET | 49 | 267 |
| EUTHYROX 150 MCG TABLET | 49 | 267 |
| EUTHYROX 175 MCG TABLET | 49 | 267 |
| EUTHYROX 200 MCG TABLET | 49 | 267 |
| EUTHYROX 25 MCG TABLET | 49 | 267 |
| EUTHYROX 50 MCG TABLET | 49 | 267 |
| EUTHYROX 75 MCG TABLET | 49 | 267 |
| EUTHYROX 88 MCG TABLET | 49 | 267 |
| EVEROLIMUS 2.5 MG TABLET [Afinitor] | 60 | 337 |
| EVEROLIMUS 5 MG TABLET [Afinitor] | 60 | 337 |
| EVEROLIMUS 7.5 MG TABLET [Afinitor] | 60 | 337 |
| HYDROCODONE ER 10 MG CAPSULE 12H [Zohydro] | 9 | 65 |
| HYDROCODONE ER 15 MG CAPSULE 12H [Zohydro] | 9 | 65 |
| HYDROCODONE ER 20 MG CAPSULE 12H [Zohydro] | 9 | 67 |
| HYDROCODONE ER 30 MG CAPSULE 12H [Zohydro] | 9 | 65 |
| HYDROCODONE ER 40 MG CAPSULE 12H [Zohydro] | 9 | 65 |
| HYDROCODONE ER 50 MG CAPSULE 12H [Zohydro] | 9 | 65 |
| INSULIN ASPART 100 UNIT/ML CARTRIDGE | 0 | 64 |
| INSULIN ASPART 100 UNIT/ML INSULIN PEN [NovoLog PenFill] | 0 | 64 |
| INSULIN ASPART 100 UNIT/ML VIAL [NovoLog PenFill] | 0 | 62 |
| INSULIN ASPART PROT-INSULN ASP INSULIN PEN [NovoLog Mix 70/30] | 0 | 65 |
| INSULIN ASPART PROT-INSULN ASP VIAL [NovoLog Mix 70/30] | 0 | 65 |
| ISOSORBIDE DINITRATE 40 MG TABLET [Sorbitrate] | 18 | 125 |
| LEVOBUNOLOL 0.5% EYE DROPS [Betagan] | 58 | 378 |
| MESALAMINE ER 0.375 GRAM CAPSULE 24H [Apriso] | 40 | 266 |
| METHSCOPOLAMINE BROM 2.5 MG TABLET [Pamine] | 20 | 221 |
| METHSCOPOLAMINE BROM 5 MG TABLET [Pamine Forte] | 20 | 219 |
| METOPROLOL SUCC ER 100 MG TABLET ER 24H [Toprol XL] | 65 | 388 |
| NIKKI 3 MG-0.02 MG TABLET [Yaz] | 58 | 350 |
| PENICILLAMINE 250 MG TABLET [Depen] | 62 | 367 |
| PENTAMIDINE 300 MG INHAL POWDER VIAL-NEB [NebuPent] | 63 | 378 |
| PENTAMIDINE 300 MG VIAL [Pentam] | 65 | 375 |
| SODIUM CHLORIDE 3% IV SOLUTION | 45 | 310 |
| SUCRALFATE 1 GM/10 ML ORAL SUSPENSION [Carafate] | 22 | 225 |
| TRAMADOL HCL 100 MG TABLET | 14 | 108 |
| TRAVOPROST 0.004% EYE DROPS [Travatan] | 52 | 339 |
| TRIAMCINOLONE 0.05% OINTMENT [Trianex] | 12 | 111 |
| VERAPAMIL 120 MG TABLET [Calan] | 65 | 388 |
*The number of formularies counts the unique formularies that offer this
medication. As a note, the same formulary can be used by one or many
different Medicare Part D plans. The same formulary can be used by both
PDP and MAPD plans.
What Could the Addition of New Generic Drugs Mean to You?
- You may be able to save money by switching
from the brand-name drug to its generic equivalent – with your prescriber’s
approval and a new prescription. Please note, you will need to look
carefully at coverage costs as we have found that many 2020 generics are being
offered on the same tier as their brand-name equivalent or the generics do not
have a significantly lower retail price.
- Your brand-name drug may no longer be
available if a generic is now available. Based on past
experience, you may find that many Medicare Part D plans discontinue
coverage for the brand-name drug in the months following the
introduction of the generic equivalent - or your plan may immediately drop the brand-name drug now that the generic is being introduced
.
If you have received notice from your Medicare Part D plan that your brand-name medication will be dropped, you should speak with your prescriber to determine if you can take the generic equivalent or if you must continue taking the brand-name drug, you will need to ask your plan for a formulary exception to continue coverage for your brand-name drug.
You can click for a chart showing the trends in formulary coverage for some of the more popular Medicare drugs and their generic equivalents.
Additional Formulary Drug Change Articles:
Medicare Part D Plan Formulary (Drug Lists) Updates:
June 2026, May 2026, March-April 2026, February 2026, 2026 Rx: November 2025, August 2025, July 2025, June 2025, April 2025, March 2025, June 2024, May 2024, April 2024, September 2023, August 2023, June 2023, May 2023, April 2023, March 2023, February 2023, August 2022, June 2022, May 2022, April 2022, March 2022, February 2022, August 2021, June 2021, May 2021, April 2021, September 2020, August 2020, June 2020, May 2020, April 2020, March 2020, September 2019, July 2019, June 2019, May 2019, April 2019, March 2019, August 2018, July 2018, June 2018, May 2018, April 2018, August 2017, July 2017, May 2017, April 2017, August 2016, July 2016, June 2016, April 2016, March 2016, October 2015, August 2015, July 2015, May 2015, April 2015, August 2014, May 2014, August 2013, June 2013, May 2013, April 2013, August 2012, July 2012, June 2012
New Generic Equivalents Added to Formularies:
2026 Gnrcs: November 2025 May 2024, June 2023, February 2023, August 2021, June 2021, May 2021, April 2021, September 2020, August 2020, June 2020, May 2020, April 2020, March 2020, September 2019, July 2019, June 2019, May 2019, April 2019, March 2019, August 2018, July 2018, April 2018, August 2017, July 2017, April 2017, March & April 2016, April & May 2015, August 2014, May 2014
Medicare Part D Plan Formulary (Drug Lists) Updates:
June 2026, May 2026, March-April 2026, February 2026, 2026 Rx: November 2025, August 2025, July 2025, June 2025, April 2025, March 2025, June 2024, May 2024, April 2024, September 2023, August 2023, June 2023, May 2023, April 2023, March 2023, February 2023, August 2022, June 2022, May 2022, April 2022, March 2022, February 2022, August 2021, June 2021, May 2021, April 2021, September 2020, August 2020, June 2020, May 2020, April 2020, March 2020, September 2019, July 2019, June 2019, May 2019, April 2019, March 2019, August 2018, July 2018, June 2018, May 2018, April 2018, August 2017, July 2017, May 2017, April 2017, August 2016, July 2016, June 2016, April 2016, March 2016, October 2015, August 2015, July 2015, May 2015, April 2015, August 2014, May 2014, August 2013, June 2013, May 2013, April 2013, August 2012, July 2012, June 2012
New Generic Equivalents Added to Formularies:
2026 Gnrcs: November 2025 May 2024, June 2023, February 2023, August 2021, June 2021, May 2021, April 2021, September 2020, August 2020, June 2020, May 2020, April 2020, March 2020, September 2019, July 2019, June 2019, May 2019, April 2019, March 2019, August 2018, July 2018, April 2018, August 2017, July 2017, April 2017, March & April 2016, April & May 2015, August 2014, May 2014
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