As you may know, Medicare Part D prescription drug plans update their plan formularies (drug lists) throughout the plan year and the July 2019 Medicare Part D formulary updates included 33 new drugs, 14 of which are new generic drugs - with a total of 31 new generic equivalents (variations of manufacturer, drug-strength, and packaging).
Below is a full list of the new generics added to
the 2019 Medicare Part D (PDP) and Medicare Advantage plan (MAPD) formularies:
|
|
Number of |
Number of |
| ALBUTEROL HFA 90 MCG INHALER HFA AER AD [Ventolin HFA] | 18 | 189 |
| ALBUTEROL HFA 90 MCG INHALER HFA AER AD [Ventolin HFA] | 4 | 90 |
| AMBRISENTAN 10 MG TABLET [LETAIRIS] | 58 | 336 |
| AMBRISENTAN 5 MG TABLET [LETAIRIS] | 58 | 336 |
| AZITHROMYCIN 500 MG TABLET [Zithromax Tri-Pak] | 62 | 354 |
| BROMFENAC SODIUM 0.09% EYE DROPS [Xibrom] | 23 | 246 |
| DEFERASIROX 125 MG TABLET DISPER [Exjade] | 35 | 254 |
| DEFERASIROX 250 MG TABLET DISPER [Exjade] | 35 | 254 |
| DEFERASIROX 500 MG TABLET DISPER [Exjade] | 35 | 254 |
| ERYTHROMYCIN 400 MG/5 ML SUSP Oral Suspension [EryPed] | 23 | 191 |
| EZETIMIBE 10 MG TABLET [Zetia] | 62 | 354 |
| FENOFIBRIC ACID DR 45 MG CAPSULE DR [Trilipix] | 30 | 229 |
| FLURBIPROFEN 0.03% EYE DROPS [Ocufen] | 60 | 351 |
| FLUVASTATIN ER 80 MG TABLET ER 24H [Lescol XL] | 11 | 159 |
| LAMOTRIGINE ODT 100 MG TABLET RAPDIS [Lamictal ODT] | 14 | 203 |
| LAMOTRIGINE ODT 200 MG TABLET RAPDIS [Lamictal ODT] | 14 | 202 |
| LAMOTRIGINE ODT 50 MG TABLET RAPDIS [Lamictal ODT] | 14 | 198 |
| LOPREEZA 1 MG-0.5 MG TABLET [Mimvey ] | 21 | 124 |
| METFORMIN HCL ER 750 MG TABLET ER 24H [Glucophage XR] | 62 | 354 |
| MIRTAZAPINE 15 MG TABLET [Remeron] | 62 | 354 |
| MIRTAZAPINE 30 MG TABLET [Remeron] | 62 | 354 |
| OLMESARTAN-HCTZ 40-12.5 MG TABLET [Benicar HCT] | 56 | 321 |
| PREDNISONE 10 MG TABLET [Sterapred DS] | 62 | 354 |
| QUETIAPINE ER 150 MG TABLET ER 24H [Seroquel XR] | 49 | 297 |
| QUETIAPINE ER 200 MG TABLET ER 24H [Seroquel XR] | 49 | 297 |
| QUETIAPINE ER 300 MG TABLET ER 24H [Seroquel XR] | 49 | 297 |
| QUETIAPINE ER 50 MG TABLET ER 24H [Seroquel XR] | 49 | 297 |
| SEVELAMER HCL 400 MG TABLET [RenaGel] | 8 | 135 |
| SOLIFENACIN 10 MG TABLET [VESIcare] | 31 | 205 |
| SOLIFENACIN 5 MG TABLET [VESIcare] | 31 | 205 |
| TADALAFIL 20 MG TABLET [ALYQ] | 35 | 232 |
*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 2019 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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