May 2021 Drug List Updates: Fifteen (15) new generic drugs added to many Medicare Part D plan formularies.

As you may know, Medicare Part D prescription drug plans update their plan formularies (drug lists) throughout the plan year and the May 2021 Medicare Part D formulary updates included 28 new drugs, 15 of which are new generic drugs - with a total of 25 new generic equivalents (variations of manufacturer, drug-strength, and packaging).

Below is a full list of the new generics added to the 2021 Medicare Part D (PDP) and Medicare Advantage plan (MAPD) formularies:

Generic Drug Equivalent [Brand-Name Drug]	Number of PDP Formularies*	Number of MAPD Formularies*
DISULFIRAM 500 MG TABLET [Antabuse]	64	365
EMTRICITABINE-TENOFV 100-150MG TABLET [Truvada]	68	395
EMTRICITABINE-TENOFV 133-200MG TABLET [Truvada]	68	395
EMTRICITABINE-TENOFV 167-250MG TABLET [Truvada]	68	395
EMTRICITABINE-TENOFV 200-300MG TABLET [Truvada]	68	395
FLUTAMIDE 125 MG CAPSULE [Eulexin]	68	398
LOTEPREDNOL 0.5% OPHTHALMC GEL DROPS [Lotemax]	9	190
LUBIPROSTONE 24 MCG CAPSULE [Amitiza]	18	166
LUBIPROSTONE 8 MCG CAPSULE [Amitiza]	18	166
LYLLANA 0.025 MG PATCH TDSW [Vivelle-Dot]	39	305
LYLLANA 0.0375 MG PATCH TDSW [Vivelle-Dot]	39	305
LYLLANA 0.05 MG PATCH TDSW [Vivelle-Dot]	39	305
LYLLANA 0.075 MG PATCH TDSW [Vivelle-Dot]	39	305
LYLLANA 0.1 MG PATCH TDSW [Vivelle-Dot]	39	305
MELOXICAM 10 MG CAPSULE [Vivlodex]	0	8
MELOXICAM 5 MG CAPSULE [Vivlodex]	0	8
METOPROLOL SUCC ER 50 MG TABLET ER 24H [Toprol XL]	68	398
MORPHINE SULFATE IR 15 MG TABLET [MSIR]	68	398
MORPHINE SULFATE IR 30 MG TABLET [MSIR]	68	398
NYMYO 0.25-0.035 MG (28) TABLET [VyLibra]	51	323
PERIOGARD 0.12% ORAL RINSE MOUTHWASH [Perisol]	62	377
PROCTO-MED HC 2.5% CREAM CRM/PE APP [Proctozone-HC]	65	384
TRAZODONE 100 MG TABLET [Desyrel]	68	398
TRI-NYMYO 28 TABLET [Trinessa]	60	339
TYDEMY 3-0.03-0.451 MG TABLET [Tydemy]	20	135

*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 2021 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
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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.

As a note, both our Formulary Browser (you can view all the drugs covered by a single Medicare prescription drug plan) and our the drug finder Drug Finder (you can view all the Medicare drug plans covering a single drug) have been updated with the May 2021 Medicare Part D formulary data.