Part D / Prescription Drug Benefits

Introduction to Medicare Part D

This section constitutes an introduction to Part D. For more detailed information on any of the topics in this section, please click on the links within the topics. There, you will also find relevant legislative, statutory and CFR citation.

Prior to 2006, Medicare paid for some drugs administered during a hospital admission (under Medicare Part A), or a doctor’s office (under Medicare Part B). Medicare did not cover outpatient prescription drugs until January 1, 2006, when it implemented the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit, authorized by Congress under the “Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003.” This Act is generally known as the “MMA.”

The Part D drug benefit (also known as “Medicare Rx”) is a voluntary program that  helps Medicare beneficiaries pay for outpatient prescription drugs purchased at retail, mail order, home infusion, and long-term care pharmacies.

Unlike Parts A and B, which are administered by Medicare itself, Part D is provided through private plans. That is, Medicare contracts with private companies that are authorized to sell Part D insurance coverage. These companies are both regulated and subsidized by Medicare, pursuant to one-year, annually renewable contracts. In order to have Part D coverage, beneficiaries must purchase a policy (i.e., enroll in a plan) offered by one of these companies.

The costs associated with Medicare Part D include a monthly premium, an annual deductible (sometimes waived by the plans), co-payments and co-insurance for specific drugs, a coverage gap phase (when beneficiaries pay 25% of covered drug costs) and catastrophic coverage once a threshold amount has been met.

Individuals with incomes up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level can receive help with their Part D costs for premiums, deductibles and co-payments through the Part D Low Income Subsidy (known as “LIS” or “Extra Help”), which is administered by the Social Security Administration.

Within parameters established in law, plans are free to establish their own formularies (list of drugs the plan will cover or pay). There is an appeal process for members who need drugs that are not on their plan’s formularies.

Plans revise their formularies every year, adding new drugs, eliminating others, and generally charging higher co-pays and co-insurance for drugs. Beneficiaries need to re-evaluate their plan options every year to be sure their chosen plan will continue to meet their financial and medical needs.

Many Part D plan sponsors offer multiple plans that may be viewed as analogous to commercial “good, better and best” options. Buyers need to evaluate these choices carefully as it is sometimes the case that the “best” (and most expensive) plans may offer little or no extra value for their higher prices. In addition, the lowest premium plan may not be the least expensive for a beneficiary, when taking into consideration other out-of-pocket costs, such as deductible, copayments and co-insurance for the individual’s drugs.

Following regulations published in 2010, Medicare required plans to eliminate their low enrollment plans and to consolidate duplicative plans. This lowered the overall number of plans available to beneficiaries, but there are still many plans to choose from and their differences are now more transparent to consumers. In 2023, there were 801 prescription drug plans offered in the 24 PDP regions nationwide, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Eligibility for Part D

Anyone with Medicare is eligible to voluntarily enroll in a Part D plan. To enroll in a standalone prescription drug plan (PDP), the individual must have Part A OR Part B. To enroll in a Medicare Advantage – Prescription Drug Plan (MA-PD), the individual must have Part A AND Part B.

Enrollees must live in (have a permanent residence in) the geographic region that is in their plan’s service area. In the case of homeless persons, the following may be used as a permanent residence: a Post Office box, the address of a shelter or clinic, or the address where the person receives mail such as Social Security checks.

PDPs are usually national plans, but MA-PDs have delineated regions, sometimes by state, sometimes by counties within states (42 U.S.C. § 1395w-111(a)). For this reason, MA-PDs may not be appropriate for those who travel a great deal or who maintain summer and winter residences in different areas of the country. NOTE: Some MA-PDs do offer “passport” plans that allow members to obtain benefits outside their normal service areas.

Individuals who reside outside the United States* are not eligible to enroll, but may do so upon their return to the country. Incarcerated individuals may not enroll in Part D, but they may enroll upon release from prison. Prior to 2021, people with end-stage-renal-disease (ESRD) could not enroll in an MA-PD. (But they would not be disenrolled if they develop ESRD while a member of the plan.) However, starting in 2021, people with ESRD can now enroll in Medicare Advantage plans (including MA-PDs) during the annual Open Enrollment Period.

There are no other eligibility restrictions or requirements for Part D.*The United States is defined as the fifty federated states, plus the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico.

Choice of Drug Plans

As previously noted, Medicare doesn’t administer Part D directly. It contracts with private companies that are approved to sell Part D insurance coverage. There are two main sources of Part D coverage:

• PDPs (Prescription Drug Plans) – these are stand-alone companies that sell prescription drug coverage only. They do not offer hospital or medical coverage. CMS has established 34 PDP regions, several of which include more than one state. Each PDP must offer coverage to all beneficiaries in the region that is serves. A PDP may also offer a plan that serves more than one region ort that is national in scope.
  
  PDP plan sponsors have a four-digit identifier that begins with the letter “S.” The different plan options offered by the sponsor each have a unique three-digit suffix identifier. For example, in 2023, United HealthCare sponsored the AARP Preferred Plan (S5820-004).
  
• MA-PDs (Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans) – these plans offer hospital, medical and prescription drug coverage under a single policy. Medicare Advantage plans are sometimes called “Part C” of Medicare. There are different types of MA-PDs, e.g., including HMOs, PPOs, PFFS plans, and SNPs, as explained below.). Plans need to identify their plan type in their plan names. People who wish to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan must take their prescription drug coverage from the same plan, unless they are enrolled in a PFFS that does not offer prescription drug coverage.
  
  MA-PD plan sponsors have a four-digit identifier that begins with the letter “H.“ The various plan options offered by the plan sponsor each have a unique three-digit suffix. For example, in 2023, United HealthCare sponsored by AARP Medicare Advantage Choice (H2228-101-0) (H5854-008).

NOTE: Not all Medicare Advantage plans offer prescription drug coverage. Some offer only hospital and medical coverage, with no prescription drug coverage. These are “MA” plans (as opposed to “MA-PD” plans). Members of these MA plans may NOT enroll in a PDP for their prescription drug coverage. MA plans are only appropriate for people who have prescription drug coverage from some other source, such as the Veteran’s Administration (VA). Aside from PDPs, MA-PDs, and SNPs, there is no another source of Part D coverage.

Employer or Union Sponsored Part D Retiree Plans – Employers and unions may offer Part D coverage to their Medicare-eligible employees and retirees through their own MA-PD plans. These plans are only available to eligible employees and retirees and are not open to the public. These plans may have a four-digit identifier that begins with the letter “E” or a three-digit suffix “800 – series” number. Employer sponsored Part D plans must follow all of the same rules as commercial Part D plans. Likewise, members of these plans have the same rights as members of commercial plans.

Employers and unions that offer their retirees prescription drug coverage that is actuarially equivalent to (as good as or better than) Part D may qualify for a federal Retiree Drug Subsidy (RSD). The RDS became available in 2006, with the advent of Part D, to encourage employers and unions to continue to offer high quality prescription drug coverage to their Medicare eligible retirees. The 28% federal subsidy helps to defray the employer’s/union’s cost in providing coverage. Beneficiaries enrolled in employer or union plan that receives an RDS cannot enroll in Part D

Part D Covered Drugs

Medicare law defines the drugs that are covered under Part D in relation to their coverage under the federal Medicaid program and other parts of Medicare. Drugs that are mandatory under Medicaid may be covered under Part D; drugs that are optional under Medicaid are excluded under Part D. In addition, Part D drugs must be:

• Approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for sale in the US;
• Available only by prescription;
• Medically necessary and for a “medically accepted indication.”

A drug that is for a “medically accepted indication” is one that is prescribed to treat a disease or condition (indication) approved by the FDA. A drug that is prescribed for a condition that is not approved by the FDA is considered to be prescribed “off label.” Off label drugs may be covered only when support is found as safe and effective in an officially recognized drug compendia or, in the case of anti-cancer chemotherapeutic drugs, in peer reviewed journals.

(additional information: https://www.medicareadvocacy.org/cma-report-medicare-coverage-for-off-label-drug-use/)

• Part D also covers biological drugs, insulin and insulin syringes and smoking cessation drugs. Beginning 2024, Part D plans must not apply the deductible to any Part D covered insulin and must charge no more than $35 per month’s supply in the initial coverage phase and the coverage gap phase.

Plans must provide coverage to Medicare-eligible individuals who reside in long-term care facilities and must offer dosages and forms of drugs that are common in these settings. Drugs used to treat opioid dependence may be covered when medically necessary. To treat opioid dependence, CMS published a final rule in 2018 which establishes drug utilization through a limitation on the number of prescribers and pharmacies from which such drugs are obtained. LTE-DESI (Less than Effective Drug Efficacy Study) drugs are not covered.

Except for those covered by Part B, most commercially available vaccinations, including the shingles vaccine, have been covered by Part D since 2008. The amount paid for the vaccination includes a fee for administration of the injection. As a result of a provision in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, beginning January 2023, all Medicare covered vaccines should be free to beneficiaries. Plans must not apply the deductible or cost-sharing for adult vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Commercially available combination prescriptions that contain at least one Part D drug component are considered Part D drugs. In extemporaneous compounds, only the component(s) that meet the condition of a Part D drug may be covered.

Drug manufacturers are required to enter into an agreement with CMS to provide a discount on brand name drugs purchased during the coverage gap phase. Drugs produced by manufacturers that do not sign such agreements will not be covered under Part D, even if they otherwise meet the definition of a Part D drug.

Formularies

Part D plans are not required to cover all Part D drugs. They may establish their own list of covered drugs, called formularies, which must include categories and classes of drugs that cover all disease states. Formularies may not be discriminatory, i.e., designed to discourage the enrollment of certain beneficiaries. A formulary is not considered discriminatory if it:

• Follows the model formulary in the US Pharmacopeia;
• Includes at least two drugs in 148* categories of drugs;

Drug plans must include in their formularies all or “substantially all” drugs in the following protected classes of drugs: anti-cancer; anti-psychotic; anti-convulsant, anti-depressants, immuno-suppressant, and anti-retroviral drugs.

CMS monitors the sufficiency of plan formularies, including the placement of drugs in tiers and the application of utilization management restrictions in relation to industry best practices.

People are limited to the drugs on their plan’s formulary, but may request an exception to have a non-formulary drug covered. If a plan approves a non-formulary drug through the exceptions or appeal process, the plan may charge a higher price for the drug by placing it at a higher tier. Medicare regulations do not specify a specific cost-sharing tier that must apply for a non-formulary drug approved through an exception appeal.  Each plan has flexibility to choose which tier they want to put these exceptions into, so naturally they usually choose the tier with the highest cost sharing.  The beneficiary should consult their Part D policy for info on which tier their plan has selected. Non-formulary drugs also do not count toward the “true out-of-pocket” (“TrOOP”) amount required to get out of the coverage gap phase, unless approved by exception or appeal. The obstacles to obtaining non-formulary drugs emphasize the importance of choosing a plan with a formulary compatible with the individual’s needs.

        * Previously, plans were required to cover at least 2 drugs in 146 categories of drugs.  Effective January 1, 2013, two new classes of drugs are covered under Part D. These are the previously excluded classes of barbiturates and benzodiazepines.  NOTE that in 2013, barbiturates were only covered when used to treat cancer, epilepsy, or chronic mental health conditions. Starting in 2014, barbiturates will be covered for all other medically appropriate diagnoses.

Excluded Drugs

Certain drugs are not coverable (excluded) under Part D. Excluded drugs include:

• Over-the-counter drugs (even if they are prescribed by a physician);
• Drugs for weight loss or gain, even if used for non-cosmetic purposes, such as to treat morbid obesity. Note that drugs to treat AIDS wasting and cachexia due to other disease are not considered to be for cosmetic purposes and are therefore NOT excluded.
• Cough and cold preparations, when prescribed for symptomatic relief only, without underlying medical indication;
• Fertility drugs;
• Erectile dysfunction drugs, except as medically necessary and approved by the FDA to treat conditions other than sexual or erectile dysfunction;
• Cosmetic and hair growth drugs. Note that drugs to treat acne, psoriasis, rosacea and vitiligo are not considered cosmetic;
• Drugs purchased in another country;
• Vitamins and minerals, except niacin products, Vitamin D analogs (when used for a medically accepted indication), prenatal vitamins and fluoride preparations;
• Drugs that may be covered under Part A or Part B of Medicare, even if coverage is not actually available (e.g., because the individual has a Part A or B deductible, or does not yet have Part B.).

Note the important distinction between non-formulary and excluded drugs. Non-formulary drugs are coverable under Part D but are not on a particular plan’s formulary. For example, Plan A may only cover the prescription forms of Prevacid and Nexium (or their generics) to treat acid reflux, when Plan B may only cover the prescription forms of Protonix and Zantac (or their generics).

Excluded drugs are not coverable under Part D, but may be offered as a supplemental benefit in some enhanced plans. Members may not appeal the denial of excluded drugs and their cost will not count toward TrOOP. In addition, some states may continue to provide coverage of excluded drugs for their dual eligible and SPAP populations.

Network Pharmacies and Mail Order

Plan members are required to use pharmacies within the plan’s network of pharmacies. (Exceptions may be made for emergencies.) Plans, in turn, are required to offer their members adequate access to retail, mail order, home infusion and long-term care pharmacies. Plans are not required to contract with all long-term care pharmacies but CMS requires that they will do so for their members who are in a nursing facility. Member costs can vary, depending upon the network pharmacy they use. Some network pharmacies have the status of “preferred” network pharmacies, where members can obtain better prices. Plans may encourage their members to use mail order for 90-day supplies, but they must have at least one retail pharmacy where members can obtain a 90-day supply. Consumers should enter into mail order with caution as mail order co-pays are not always less expensive. As indicated below, in order to get credit toward TrOOP, members must use network pharmacies, which keep track of member purchases.

Utilization Management Restrictions

Part D plans are permitted to impose restrictions on certain formulary drugs in order to control costs. These cost cutting tools are collectively known as utilization management restrictions. They are usually applied to more expensive drugs or those that have abuse potential. Pain medications, for example, nearly always have one or more of the following type of restrictions.

• Prior Authorization – The physician must “justify” the prescription to the plan and explain why the medication is medically necessary as prescribed. If the plan continues to deny the medication it may be necessary to file an appeal.
• Quantity Limits – The plan may limit the dosage allowed over a specified period, e.g., x milligrams over a 25-day period. Such dosage restrictions are often an issue for chronically ill individuals who take high dosages of pain medications on a maintenance schedule. These cases often need to go to appeal.
• Step therapy (sometimes called the “fail first” requirement, the requirement that a member try and fail other lower-costing drugs before the plan will approve the prescribed drug). Plans may require a trial of up to 90 days on a different medication, which may be completely untenable for some patients.

Members and potential members of a plan may review the plan’s utilization management restrictions on particular drugs in the plan’s formulary, website or the Medicare Plan Finder at www.medicare.gov. These restrictions should be taken into consideration when choosing a plan.

In addition to utilization management restrictions, all plans also impose safety edits at the point-of-sale. These may include but are not limited to over-utilization (early refill), age/gender contraindications, drug-drug interactions, therapeutic duplication, incorrect dosage or duration of therapy, etc.

Formulary Changes

Plans generally change their formularies each year (making it important to review one’s plan choice annually). Plans may also change their formularies mid-year but must generally obtain CMS approval to do so.

Unless the FDA declares a drug to be unsafe, or a drug is taken off the market by the manufacturer, Part D plans may not remove drugs from their formularies, or make changes to the cost sharing status of a drug, from the beginning of the annual coordinated enrollment period (ACEP) also called the annual enrollment period (October 15) through the first 60 days of the plan contract (calendar) year.

Plans may expand formularies by adding drugs, lowering cost sharing, or removing utilization management tools, at any time of the year.

After March 1, Part D plans may amend their formularies as summarized below. CMS approval and notice to members is required for both types of formulary changes.

• Maintenance changes – While CMS values the stability of plan formularies, it generally gives positive consideration to maintenance changes, which are intended to refine the safety of the Part D benefit, save taxpayer money and protect the interest of beneficiaries throughout the plan year. Maintenance changes include: removal (or change in tier placement) of a brand name drug based upon the addition of a new grade A generic at a lower cost to members; removal (or change in tier placement) of a formulary drug in light of new clinical evidence; adding new utilization management restriction(s) based on a new FDA “black box” warning; removal of a drug based on an FDA market withdrawal notice; removal of a non-Part D drug mistakenly included on the formulary.[71] Plans may notify members of maintenance changes at the same time that they submit the changes to CMS for approval.
• Non-maintenance changes – Changes to formularies other than maintenance changes require the pre-approval of CMS. These changes can include changing the status of “preferred” vs. “non-preferred” drugs, adding utilization restrictions, or increasing cost sharing (for reasons other than those given for maintenance changes). After providing justification to and receiving approval from CMS, the plan is required to provide members with 60 days written advance notice. Further, members who are already taking the drug in question are exempt from the formulary change for the rest of the calendar year.

Generic Substitution

Brand name drugs have patents that expire after a number of years. When these patents expire, other manufacturers are free to develop generic versions of these drugs. To keep Medicare costs low, CMS encourages Part D plan members to take the less expensive generic drugs. In fact, the pharmacy may substitute a generic drug for a brand name drug at the point of sale because these formulary changes fall into the category of maintenance changes, which do not require advance notice to the beneficiary. There is no transition policy that guarantees a member the right to continue to receive the brand name drug for the rest of the year when a generic becomes available.

Members need to read their plans’  Evidence of Coverage carefully to find out what they need to do to get brand name drugs instead of generics. Usually, it is necessary to file an exception or appeal request. To prevail in an exception or appeal, the physician must document a history of adverse reactions or ineffectiveness of the generic.

Transition Policy

All Part D sponsors must have a transition process to ensure that newly enrolled members, and other individuals described below, have access to non-formulary medications during their first 90 days in a plan. (For transition purposes, formulary drugs that are subject to prior authorization or step therapy are treated as non-formulary drugs.).

The transition process applies to:

• new members who enroll during the ACEP/AEP; (or, depending upon the plan’s declared transition policy, current enrollees affected by a formulary change from one contract year to the next)
• newly eligible Medicare enrollees who previously had other coverage;
• individuals who transition from one Part D plan to another after the start of the contract year (as through a Special Enrollment Period);
• enrollees in long-term care facilities.

The transition process requires Part D plans to allow a one-time temporary supply of a non-formulary drug, during which time the member, his/her physician, and the plan, can work out an appropriate change to another drug, or commence an exception request to obtain the non-formulary drugs. The plan must provide a written notice to all members who receive a transition fill within three business days of the temporary fill.

For members living in the community, the temporary supply is a one-time fill for at least 30 days of medication (unless the prescription is written for fewer days). For members living in long-term care facilities (LTC), the requirement for a temporary supply changed in 2019 and members in LTC facilities are entitled only to a 30-day transition fill. The temporary supply must be consistent with the applicable dispending increment and Part D sponsors must allow multiple fills if needed.

The Part D Standard Benefit

At a minimum, plan sponsors must offer a “standard benefit” package mandated by law. The standard benefit includes an annual deductible, an initial coverage phase and a “catastrophic” phase. Sponsors may also offer plans that differ from – but are actuarially equivalent to – the standard benefit. Finally, they may also offer “enhanced” plans that provide benefits in addition to the standard benefit. Some enhanced plans offer coverage of drugs excluded under Part D.

The Standard Benefit is defined in terms of the financial structure of the cost-sharing, not the drugs that must be covered under the plan.

• In 2025, the annual deductible is $590. This is called the Deductible Phase. 
• Initial coverage stage: After you meet your deductible (if your plan has one), you’ll pay 25% of the cost for your generic and brand-name drugs until your out-of-pocket spending on covered Part D drugs reaches $2,000 in 2025 (including certain payments made on your behalf, like through the Extra Help program).
• Catastrophic coverage stage: Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered
  Part D drugs reaches $2,000, you won’t have to pay anything out of pocket for
  covered Part D drugs for the rest of the calendar year.

Medicare does not establish premium amounts for plans. Instead, premiums are established through an annual competitive bidding process and evaluated by CMS. Premiums vary from plan to plan and from region to region. Medicare does establish the maximum deductible amount, the Initial Coverage Limit, the TrOOP threshold, and Catastrophic Coverage levels every year. The table below shows the standard benefit for this year (and the next, when available).

Alternatives to the Standard Benefit

Most plans do not follow the defined Standard Benefit (DS) model. Medicare law allows plans to offer actuarially equivalent or even enhanced plans. While structured differently, these alternative plans cannot impose a higher deductible. The value of benefits in an actuarially equivalent plan must be at least as valuable as the Standard Benefit. Actuarially Equivalent (AE) plans can modify the deductible and have different cost-sharing than the standard benefit. Insurers may reduce the maximum annual deductible and impose cost-sharing requirements that are higher than 25%. Almost all plans use a tiered cost-sharing structure where beneficiaries have a lower copayment for generic drugs and a higher copayment or coinsurance for more expensive brand name drugs.

Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) – Part D

Medicare Part D beneficiaries with higher incomes pay higher Medicare Part D premiums based on their income, similar to higher Part B premiums already paid by this group. The premium adjustment is called the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). The IRMAA is not based on the specific premium of the beneficiary’s plan, but is rather a set amount per income-level that is based on the national base beneficiary premium (the national base beneficiary premium is recalculated annually; for 2023 it is $32.74). In effect, the IRMAA is a second premium paid to Social Security, in addition to the monthly Part D premium already being paid to the plan.

The IRMAA is withheld from an individual’s monthly Social Security payment, even if the beneficiary otherwise makes premium payments directly to the plan. If the beneficiary is not receiving Social Security, or if the Social Security payment is insufficient to cover the IRMAA, the beneficiary will be billed by Medicare or the Railroad Retirement Board for the IRMAA.

Income-Related Adjustments – 2025

Drug Tiers

(See https://www.medicare.gov/publications/11109-your-guide-to-medicare-prescription-drug-coverage.pdf, p. 24)

To lower costs, many plans place prescription drugs into different “tiers” on their drug lists. Each plan can divide its tiers in different ways. Each tier costs a different amount. Generally, a drug in a lower tier will cost you less than a drug in a higher tier. Example of a drug plan’s tiers (your plan’s tiers may be different):

• Tier 1—lowest copayment: Most generic prescription drugs
• Tier 2—medium copayment: Preferred, brand-name prescription drugs
• Tier 3—higher copayment: Non-preferred, brand-name prescription drugs
• Specialty tier—highest copayment: Very high cost prescription drugs

Your plan’s drug list might not include a prescription drug you take. However, in most cases, you can get a similar drug that’s just as effective. In some cases, if your drug is in a higher (more expensive) tier and your prescriber thinks you need that drug instead of a similar drug in a lower tier, you can file an exception to get a lower coinsurance or copayment for the drug in the higher tier. Plans can change their drug list at any time. Your plan must notify you of any changes to their drug list that affect drugs you’re taking.

Explanation of Benefits (EOB)

Plans are required to send their members an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) for every month that the member uses plan services. The EOB is a summary of services and items a beneficiary has received and states how much the provider billed, the approved amount the plan will pay, and how much the beneficiary owes to the provider. The EOB also informs the member what stage of coverage he/she is in, and how much more the member needs to spend to move to the next stage of coverage.

Straddle Claims

Whether in a standard, alternative or enhanced plan, with each purchase of formulary prescription drugs during the plan year (calendar year), plan members move through the stages of Part D coverage: the Deductible Period, the Initial Coverage Period, the Coverage Gap, and Catastrophic Coverage Period. Beneficiaries experience different cost sharing as they move through these stages. A “straddle claim” occurs when a prescription drug crosses multiple stages of the benefit. For example, the member may have $400 left in the Initial Coverage Period but needs a brand-name drug that costs $500. His claim, therefore, “straddles” the Initial Coverage Period and the Coverage Gap.  The plan will “prorate” the claim accordingly.

Calculating what the beneficiary owes is complicated and is even trickier when the plan has tiered co-pays instead of the standard benefit. For a more detailed discussion of straddle claims, see Part Covered, Part Not: “Straddle Claims” in Medicare Part D.

Part D Enrollment

For most people, enrollment in Part D is voluntary. Most people need to affirmatively .select and enroll in a plan in order to have coverage. There are several Part D enrollment periods.

• Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) – People can enroll during the 7-month period surrounding their 65th birthday. For example: the three months before, the month of, and the three months after their birth month. (Note: this IEP is the same as for Part B.). People who become eligible for Medicare because of a disability have an IEP that begins the month they are notified of Medicare entitlement and continues for three months after. A second 7-month IEP is available for people who already have Medicare because of a disability and who turn 65.
• Annual Coordinated Election Period (ACEP) [also called the Annual Election Period (AEP)] – During the AEP, people can add, change, or drop their Part D or Medicare Advantage coverage for the next year. The AEP runs from October 15 to December 7 of every year, for coverage beginning the following January 1. Members are “locked in” to their chosen plan for the rest of the calendar year and cannot change plans unless they qualify for a Special Enrollment Period).
• Initial Coverage Election Period (ICEP) – The ICEP is the period when an individual can enroll in a MA plan for the first time. If there are one or more MA plans in an individual’s service area at the time the individual first becomes enrolled in Parts A and B, the ICEP  begins the three months before enrolled in Parts A and B and ends the last day of the month preceding the month of entitlement or the IEP, whichever is later. When a beneficiary is joining later, their ICEP is the three months before their Part B coverage takes effect. Members are “locked in” to their chosen plan for the rest of the calendar year unless they opt out during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP) or qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP).
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP) – During the OEP, which runs from January 1 to March 31 of every year, individuals enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan (MA-only or MA-PD) could switch to another MA plan with or without drug coverage, disenroll from Medicare Advantage, re-join original Medicare, and enroll in a PDP for drug coverage. (People cannot just change their PDP during this period.) If the OEP election is taken, the new coverage will begin the first day of the month after the plan receives the election request.
• General Enrollment Period (application to Part D) – People who have to pay a premium for Medicare Part A,who enroll in Medicare Part B (whether or not they have Part A) during the Part B General Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31), may enroll in Part D. Starting January 1, 2024, individuals have two months after signing up for Part B to join a drug plan or MA-PD, if also have Part A.  

Exceptions to Voluntary Enrollment

Enrollment in Part D is generally voluntary, however, some people are required to be  enrolled, and others should not enroll.

• People who have Medicare and who receive assistance under certain federal programs (Medicaid, Medicare Savings Programs, SSI or the Part D Low Income Subsidy) are required to enroll. If they do not self-enroll, Medicare will automatically enroll them in a plan. People enrolled in their state’s State Pharmacy Assistance Program (SPAP) are also required to enroll.

Involuntary Disenrollment

• Members can be involuntarily disenrolled from a plan if the plan terminates, or the member loses eligibility for Part D, moves from the plan’s service area, engages in behavior that makes it difficult for the plan to provide services, or fails to pay premiums timely. Note that the plan cannot terminate a member for non-payment of premiums if premiums are being withheld from Social Security or other monthly cash benefit check. Plans must also provide a two-month grace period before terminating a member for non-payment. The notice period begins when the plan notifies the member that payment is due.

Creditable Coverage

Creditable coverage is prescription drug coverage through another insurance plan that is actuarially as good as, or better than, Part D coverage. All insurers are required to notify their Medicare-eligible members of their plan’s creditable coverage status every year. This notice must be in writing and it must be received before September 30.

Examples of creditable coverage include TRICARE (coverage for military members and their families), Veteran’s (VA) benefits, and the Federal employee health benefits program (FEHBP). Many Medigap policies that offer prescription drug coverage are not creditable. Individuals with Medigap policies should check with their plans.

Individuals who have creditable coverage are not required to enroll in Part D and may not find it to their advantage to do so. This is because they may lose the hospital and medical coverage if they enroll in Part D. They should check with their plan’s Benefit Administrator before deciding to enroll in Part D.

Individuals who involuntarily lose creditable coverage are entitled to a Special Enrollment Period. They have 63 days in which to enroll in a Part D plan. Non-payment of premium is NOT considered involuntary loss.

NOTE: Individuals who do not receive a notice of creditable coverage, or who receive an incorrect notice, may qualify for a SEP that allows them to enroll in Part D outside the AEP. Complaints regarding lack of or inadequate notice should be reported to 1-800-MEDICARE.

The Late Enrollment Penalty (LEP)

A beneficiary who does not enroll in a Part D plan within 63 days of his or her IEP, must pay a late penalty if she or he subsequently enrolls in a Part D plan, unless exempt from the penalty. Those exempt from the penalty include individuals who:

• Had creditable coverage, or
• Qualify for the Extra Help/Low-Income Subsidy (LIS), or

The penalty is 1% of the national base monthly premium ( $32.74 in 2023).) for every full month the individual could have been but was not enrolled. The base calculation changes yearly, based on the average national base premium amount. The LEP cannot go back farther than June 2006.

CMS calculates the penalty amount, which is collected by the Part D plan. The penalty is a “lifetime” penalty and is added to the person’s monthly premium. Note, however, that if a penalty is imposed on an individual who becomes eligible for Medicare based on disability before the individual is 65, the slate is “wiped clean” when she/he turns 65 and has a new IEP for Part D upon turning 65.

The Medicare Part D plan notifies the member in writing if the plan determines the member has had a continuous period of 63 days or more without creditable drug coverage at any time following his or her IEP for the Medicare drug benefit. The member will receive an LEP Reconsideration Notice and an LEP Reconsideration Request Form with the written notification. The member may request a review or reconsideration of a decision to impose an LEP.

There is a process to request reconsideration if a late enrollment penalty appears to be imposed in error. Medicare contracts with an independent review entity (Maximus) to conduct these reconsiderations and the decision is final. The penalty must be paid during the time the penalty is being reconsidered, which can take many months. If reconsideration is granted, the beneficiary will be reimbursed for erroneous penalty charges assessed.

Special Enrollment Periods

Special Enrollment Periods allow people to enroll, disenroll or change plans outside the AEP, the ICEP and the MAOP. The most commonly available are listed here. All SEPs require CMS approval, some on a case-by-case basis.

How to Enroll, Payment of Premiums, and Other Enrollment Miscellaneous Information

CMS (Medicare) plays a central role in Part D enrollment and actual enrollment in a plan is not complete without CMS approval. Enrollment may be accomplished by calling the plan directly, calling 1-800-MEDICARE, contacting the area SHIP agency, or using the on-line Plan Finder tool at www.medicare.gov.

Premiums may be paid directly to the plan, deducted from Social Security, or deduction from a bank account (EFT). Members who wish to change their method of payment during the year should contact their plan to make the change but the byword in this exchange is “patience.” Some changes, such as going from Social Security withholding to “direct pay” status, may take up to three months. Any change that has not been processed within three months should be reported to 1-800-MEDICARE.

Individuals may not belong to more than one Part D plan at a time. In fact, enrollment in one plan automatically cancels out enrollment in the previous plan. For this reason, beneficiaries who want to switch plans need only enroll in their desired plan. Medicare will cancel out their enrollment in their old plan.

Note that individuals who wish to remain with their existing plan from one year to the next need do nothing. Their enrollment will automatically “roll over” into the next year.

Evidence of Coverage (EOCs)

Shortly after enrolling in a plan, new members should receive a member card and a contract called the Evidence of Coverage (EOC). The EOC explains the member’s benefits under the plan, how to access member services such as mail order (if it is offered), and how to access the plan’s grievance and appeal processes.

Along with the EOC, the member should receive at least an abridged copy of the plan’s formulary and information how to obtain or access the complete formulary. The formulary will show not only what drugs are covered by the plan but what restrictions may apply to some of those drugs (such as prior authorization, quantity limits and step therapy).

Returning members (those staying with the plan for another year) should also receive an EOC and a copy of the plan’s formulary by the first day of the ACEP each year. The plan can provide the EOC electronically or a hard copy upon request by the member.

NOTE: Complaints that a plan has not fulfilled its contract as described in the EOC should be reported to 1-800-MEDICARE.

Annual Notice of Change (ANOCs)

All drug plans (MA-PD and PDP) must send their existing members an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) by September 30 each year. The ANOC informs members how their plan will change in the coming year, including any changes that may be made to the formulary.

October 15 marks the beginning of the Annual Election Period (AEP) when people can join or change their Part D plans. People need to read the ANOC carefully to decide if they should remain in their existing plan or look for another during the AEP.

People should not assume that their existing plan will meet their needs or remain an appropriate choice in subsequent years. This is because plans make changes to their costs and coverage every year. It is not unexpected for costs to increase, but people may not realize that plans can also remove drugs from their formularies, or change the pricing of certain drugs, or impose utilization management restrictions (such as prior authorization, quantity limits and step therapy) on their drugs in the next year.

The ANOC is so important that a plan’s failure to send the ANOC timely may be grounds for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) that will allow the member to change plans outside the normal enrollment periods. Complaints that a plan has not sent the ANOC by the date above should be reported to Medicare.

The Medicare Savings Programs Can Lead to “Extra Help”

Medicare Savings Programs help low-income individuals to pay for their Medicare Part A and/or Part B co-pays and deductibles. There are four Medicare Savings programs, all of which are administered by state Medicaid agencies and are funded jointly by states and the federal governments. Participants in these programs are sometimes called “partial dual eligibles.” Individuals who qualify for a Medicare Savings program automatically qualify for the Part D Low Income Subsidy (LIS), which is also known as “Extra Help.” The LIS helps qualified individuals pay their Part D expenses, including monthly premiums, deductibles, co-payments and co-insurance.

The four Medicare Savings Programs are:

• QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary) – Eligible individuals in most states have a monthly income limit of 100% of poverty, plus $20 income disregard, plus limited resources. QMB helps pay for Part A premiums, Part B premiums, and deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. For prescription drugs covered by Medicare Part D, pharmacists may charge up to a limited amount (no more than $4.30 in 2023).
• SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary) – Eligible individuals in most states have a monthly income limit of 120% of poverty, plus $20 income disregard, and limited resources. This state program help pays for the Medicare Part B premium, thereby increasing recipient’s spendable income each month.
• QI (Qualified Individual) – Eligible individuals in most states have a monthly income limit of 135% of poverty, plus $20 income disregard, plus limited resources. Like SLMB, QI helps pay for the monthly Part B premium.
• QDWI (Qualified Disabled and Working Individuals) – This program helps pay for the Medicare Part A premium for disabled individuals who have lost their Part A benefits because they returned to work. Eligible individuals may have countable income up to 200% for the FPL, and limited assets. They must be eligible to purchase Part A and may not be covered by Medicaid.

NOTE: Calculation of applied income and assets follow SSI rules, but some states liberalize these rules for their residents. For example, some states have raised or eliminated the asset test and have significantly increased unearned income disregards as a means of effectively raising program income limits. Interested individuals should contact their state Medicaid agency for more information and applications.

• For more details on the various programs, see: https://medicareadvocacy.org/medicare-info/medicare-savings-programs/.

The Low-Income Subsidy (“Extra Help”)

The Low-Income Subsidy (“LIS”), also known as “Extra Help,” is administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and helps qualified individuals pay their Part D expenses, including monthly premiums, deductible, co-payments and co-insurance.

“Deemed” and “Undeemed” Eligibles

Some people automatically qualify for the LIS and do not have to apply for the program, regardless of their income or asset levels. This “deemed” group includes:

• Full Dual eligibles (people on Medicare and full Medicaid)
• Partial duals (people on a Medicare Savings Program: QMB, SLMB and QI)
• SSI recipients who have Medicare but not Medicaid.

Other individuals (the “undeemed“) may qualify if their income and assets are within LIS program limits. Calculation of income and assets follow SSI rules.

What Do You Get from the Low-Income Subsidy / “Extra Help”

• Plan premium: $0
• Plan deductible: $0
• Prescriptions you fill at one of your plan’s participating pharmacies:
  • Up to $4.90 for each generic drug
  • Up to $12.15 for each brand-name drug
• Once your total drug costs (including certain payments made on your behalf, like through the Extra Help program) reach $2,000, you’ll pay $0 for each covered drug.

Once granted, the LIS continues for a year.

SSA redetermines eligibility for the LIS every year. A portion of the universe of undeemed individuals is selected for redetermination every August. Individuals deemed eligible for the LIS between January 1 and June 30 are deemed eligible for the rest of the year. Individuals deemed eligible between July 1 and December 31 are deemed eligible for the rest of the year and all of the following calendar year. Notices of eligibility (if the subsidy is reduced or terminated) go out in the fall. No notice is sent to those who remain eligible at the same subsidy level for the following year.

Dual-Eligibles and Other LIS Eligibles

Until 2006, when Part D began, full benefit duals in most states received prescription drug coverage through their state’s Medicaid programs. Since the advent of Part D, prescription drug coverage for full benefit duals is now provided by private Medicare Part D plans.  

Auto-Enrollment of Duals

To ensure that duals do not “slip through the cracks,” those that fail to enroll in a Part D plan on their own are auto-enrolled by Medicare. To ensure that full benefit duals are able to afford Part D costs, beneficiaries are randomly assigned to Part D plans with premiums at or below the average premium for their region and all individuals are temporarily covered by the Limited Income Newly Eligible Transition Program (NET), providing immediate prescription drug coverage for those who qualify for the LIS but are not enrolled in a Part D plan, until CMS enrolls them in a Part D plan.

Prescription drug plans that offer basic coverage and have a monthly premium set below each state’s regional benchmark thresholds, are referred to as “benchmark” plans. Full benefit duals (and all other LIS-eligibles) are encouraged to enroll in benchmark plans, but they may enroll in non-benchmark plans if they pay the premium in excess of the benchmark threshold. Often, benchmark plans have less robust formularies than non-benchmark, and it may be worthwhile for the beneficiary to pay the excess premium out-of-pocket to obtain the drugs s/he needs. Dual eligibles (and all other LIS-eligibles) have a continuous SEP that allows them to enroll in more compatible plans once a calendar quarter for the first nine months of the year. Enrollment in the new plan is effective the first day of the month following the month of enrollment.

Newly granted duals are created when Medicaid recipients become eligible for Medicare. To ensure that newly granted dual eligibles have Part D coverage, states forward at least twice monthly electronic data files to CMS. These files identify individuals who will be eligible for Medicare within 3 months by virtue of reaching their 65th birthday or their 24th month of disability. CMS then enrolls these individuals to the temporary NET plan, pending their ultimate prospective random assignment to a benchmark plan (in about two months time). Coverage in Part D is retroactive to the effective the date of Medicare entitlement. The process of enrolling full dual eligibles in a Part D plan is called auto-enrollment.

Newly granted duals are also created if a Medicare beneficiary becomes eligible for Medicaid. In these cases, the person may already have a Part D plan, which needs to update the individual’s status as an LIS-eligible through the presentation of Best Available Evidence (BAE).

Facilitated Enrollment

Other LIS eligibles include individuals on a Medicare Savings Program, or SSI (with Medicare but not Medicaid), or “undeemed” eligibles who qualify because they meet LIS income and asset requirements. LIS-eligibles who do not choose a Part D plan on their own are also enrolled into a plan by Medicare. Unlike full duals who are enrolled in a temporary plan (NET) and then are randomly assigned to benchmark plans), other LIS eligibles are enrolled directly into a benchmark plan through the random assignment process. This is called facilitated enrollment.

Point of Sale (POS) Enrollment

LIS eligible individuals should be auto-enrolled or facilitated enrolled into a Part D plan of they do not select a plan on their own. These processes generally work very well. However, if an LIS-eligible individual presents him/herself at the pharmacy without a Part D plan, there is the Point of Sale (POS) process administered by LINET.

If the pharmacy has reasonable assurance that the individual qualifies for the LIS, and has no other prescription drug coverage, the pharmacy can immediately fill the prescription(s) and bill the claim to LINET. The pharmacy can confirm LIS eligibility through an on-line query or may accept other reasonable documentation, such as (but not limited to) a copy of a current Medicaid award letter with effective dates and a notice from Medicare or SSA awarding Extra Help. Medicaid card, an LIS award letter. Individuals and advocates may telephone LINET if there are questions about the person’s eligibility for LIS.

NET (Low Income Newly Eligible Transition Program)

LINET is a CMS Part D program, administered by Humana, which began on January 1, 2010. LINET administers the Point of Sale enrollment process for LIS eligibles that are not enrolled in a Part D plan. NET also acts as a temporary plan for newly enrolled full dual eligibles, and provides reimbursement to individuals who have retroactive Medicare prescription drug coverage. LINET has an open formulary, with no utilization management restrictions on any drugs, and no pharmacy network restrictions.

SPAP Programs

State Pharmacy Assistance Programs are state-funded prescription drug assistance programs dual-eligibles and other low-income residents. Program rules, income and asset limits, and program benefits vary by state.  Federal law allows SPAPs to “wrap around” Part D coverage by filling in Part D program gaps. SPAPs may provide co-pay assistance, coverage during the Part D coverage gap, and coverage of non-formulary and/or excluded drugs. Payments made by an SPAP for formulary drugs purchased while the beneficiary is in the coverage gap count toward TrOOP of $7,400 in 2023 and $8,000 in 2024.

Part D Appeals and Grievances

Coverage Determinations and Exceptions

All Part D plans must have an appeal process through which members can challenge a denial of drug coverage. The Part D appeals process is based on and similar (but not identical) to the Medicare Advantage Part C appeals process.

Denials of drug coverage by a PDP or MA-PD are called “coverage determinations.” For example, a coverage determination may be issued by the plan if the drug is not considered medically necessary or if the drug was obtained from a non-network pharmacy. The process begins when the beneficiary or prescriber requests a coverage determination, either orally or in writing. It is necessary to have a coverage determination (denial from the plan) in order to initiate an appeal. A doctor’s supporting statement is not required for this type of appeal, but it may be helpful to submit one. If the request for coverage is denied, the member may proceed to further levels of appeal, including redetermination by the plan, reconsideration by an Independent Review Entity (Maximus), Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) review, the Medicare Appeals Council (MAC), or federal district court.

One type of coverage determination is called an “exception request.” An exception request is a coverage determination that requires a medical statement of support in order to proceed to appeal.

There are two types of exceptions that may be requested:

Formulary Exceptions – This type of exception is requested because the member:

• needs a drug that is not on the plan’s formulary,
• requests to have a utilization management requirement waived (e.eg., step therapy, prior authorization, quantity limit) for a formulary drug).

Members may not request an exception to obtain an excluded drug. Excluded drugs include (but are not limited to) erectile dysfunction drugs, drugs for weight loss or gain and drugs for the symptomatic relief of cough.

Tiering Exceptions – This type of exception is requested because the member needs a non-preferred drug at the lower cost-sharing terms applicable to drugs in a preferred tier. Members may not request that a drug be priced at the generic level if the plan maintains a separate Tier 1 for generics. Further, members may not ask for a tiering exception for high cost and unique genomic and bio-tech products, if the plan maintains a separate tier (Tier 4 or 5) for these drugs. Beginning in 2022, Part D plans can use a second, preferred specialty tier. Plans that do so must permit tiering exception requests for drugs on the higher cost-sharing specialty tier to the lower cost-sharing, specialty tier, but they can continue to prohibit tiering exceptions from a specialty tier to a non-specialty-tier. With these caveats in place, members can only ask to receive a Tier 3 (non-preferred) drug at Tier 2 (preferred) prices. Note also that if a member receives a favorable Formulary Exception decision, he/she cannot then ask for a Tiering Exception for the same drug.

If a Formulary or Tiering Exception is denied, the member may proceed to further levels of appeal, including redetermination by the plan, reconsideration by an Independent Review Entity (Maximus), Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) review, the Medicare Appeals Council (MAC), or federal district court.

What to do When a Drug is Denied at the Pharmacy

There are two things a member must do when a drug is denied at the pharmacy.

• First, the member should contact his/her prescriber. If the drug has been denied because it is not on formulary, the prescriber may believe that a change to a formulary alternative would be equally effective and unlikely to cause negative side effects. In this case, an exception request need not be pursued. If an exception request is necessary, e.g., because there is no viable on-formulary alternative, or because the member needs a dosage in excess of the plan’s quantity limit, the prescriber will need to submit a statement of support to the plan.
• Second, the member needs to contact the plan to obtain a written denial, or coverage determination, in order to pursue an exception or further levels of appeal. Note that a statement from a pharmacy that the drug will not be covered does not constitute a coverage determination. The decision must come from the plan itself. All network pharmacies are required to post or provide information to members on how to contact their plan to request a coverage determination or ask for an exception.

The Medical Statement

Without support from the prescriber (physician or other provider), the formulary exception will not go forward. The importance of the medical statement of support cannot be overemphasized. Without it, the member may not progress in accordance with the prescriber’s treatment plan and goals. The statement need not be lengthy, but it must be specific as to why the prescribed drug is medically necessary at the prescribed dosage. Diagnosis must be provided. Any adverse reactions to the plan’s preferred drug or dosage level must be documented as to date and specific effects. If the drug is being denied because a step therapy requirement, the statement should indicate which formulary alternatives the member has tried and failed, including dates and length of treatment and the reason the drug failed. At the initial Exception Request and the Redetermination levels, the physician’s statement may be oral or written, but the latter is preferable (and required at later stages of the appeal process). The plan is not required to reverse a decision based simply on the provider’s letter of support; however, the strength of that support will increase the likeliness of a favorable decision. Providers may include case notes, charts, laboratory reports, etc. to strengthen their support.

Time Frames for Exception Requests and Authorized Representatives

The member (or his/her representative, or the prescriber) has 60 days from the date of the plan’s Notice of Denial to request an Exception. The plan has 72 hours (three calendar days) to render a “standard” decision, or 24 hours if an expedited (“fast”) decision is requested. The plan must render an expedited decision (in 24 hour or less, based on medical necessity) if the plan determines, or the prescriber statement indicates, that a standard decision would seriously jeopardize the patient’s life or health or ability to regain maximum function. The plan is not required to render an expedited decision if the member has already obtained the medication. The timing of the plan’s decision begins when it receives the prescriber’s documentation.

The member or his/her prescriber (usually a physician) may request an exception. (At higher levels of appeal, the member’s physician cannot file an appeal without being an appointed representative.) A duly appointed conservator or other person named in a health care power of attorney may also apply on behalf of the member. Or the member may appoint anyone he/she chooses to act as a representative. It is usually best and simplest to use CMS Form 1696 to appoint a representative. The form may be downloaded from CMS’s website.

How to File an Exception Request

The plan’s initial Notice of Denial (coverage determination) or Redetermination Decision will provide clear instruction on when, where and how to file the next level of appeal. The plan’s website and 1-800 customer service should also clearly provide this information. The appeal may be mailed or faxed (the latter is preferable in situations requiring an expedited decision). No specific form is required to complete an exception request or redetermination request. A detailed cover letter, accompanied by relevant medical documentation and a signed appointment of representative form, is sufficient. An attorney is not required to submit an exception request but may be necessary at higher levels of appeal.

If an Exception is Granted

If an exception is granted, coverage is granted back to the earliest date of request for the approved drug. If the member has already paid for the drug, the plan is required to reimburse the member in a timely way. The exception continues for the remainder of the plan year (although the plan may extend approval beyond this period). For example, some drugs may be approved “for life,” depending on the member’s diagnosis and condition. The plan may set a specific Tier at which it will place all drugs approved by exception or appeal. A non-formulary drug approved by exception will be considered a formulary drug for purposes of TrOOP.

Other Levels of Appeal

If the exception is denied, the member may go on to further levels of appeal, which are briefly summarized below.

• Redetermination – This is a secondary review of the decision by the plan itself, using a different set of examiners. The member, prescriber, or authorized representative may file the request. The request may be oral or in writing, although the latter is preferred. Medical support is required. The request must be filed within 60 days of the plan’s notice of denial. This is a paper review, no hearing is held. There are no specific forms required. An attorney is not required. A standard decision must be rendered in 7 days, an expedited decision in 72 hours. Timing begins when the plan receives the medical documentation.
• Reconsideration – The case is reviewed by an Independent Review Entity (IRE). In 2023, C2C is the current IRE contractor. If the plan is not timely in its redetermination decision, it must forward the case to C2C for review. Otherwise, the member, prescriber, or authorized representative must request Reconsideration. The request must be written and submitted within 60 days of the Redetermination decision, but this deadline may be extended for good cause. Again, this is a paper review only. The member may submit more medical information than was previously submitted to the plan. An attorney is not required but may be better able to represent the member. Instructions on filing for Reconsideration are contained in the plan’s redetermination decision. C2C must solicit and record the prescriber’s views. A standard decision must be rendered in 7 days, an expedited decision in 72 hours. Timing begins when C2C receives the provider information.
• ALJ Review – The case is reviewed by an Administrative Law Judge. Appellants should generally use an attorney at this level and beyond, but it is not required. The amount in controversy (cost of the denied drug projected for a year) must equal at least $180 in 2023. The Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA) provides forms and information on the ALJ process on their website. The request must be in writing and must be submitted within 60 days of the Reconsideration decision. The member may submit additional supporting medical information. Hearings are usually held by video or teleconference. A standard decision is rendered in 90 days but there is also a 10-day provision for expedited decisions.
• MAC Review – This is a paper review of the case by the Medicare Appeals Council. Filing information is on the OMHA website. The member should be represented by an attorney at this level. The MAC may decline to review the case, and allow the ALJ decision to stand. Or, it may – at the request of the IRE (if the IRE disagrees with the ALJ decision) – take up the case on its own motion. The request for MAC review must be filed within 60 days of the ALJ decision. A member may submit additional supporting information. A standard decision is 90 days but there is also a 10-day provision of expedited decisions.
• Federal Court – the fifth and final level of appeal. The amount in controversy must be at least $1,850 in 2023. The appeal must be filed within 60 days of the MAC decision. An attorney is required at this level.

Grievances

A grievance is a complaint about some aspect of service from the plan, other than actual denial of a drug. For example, mail order delays, poor customer service, enrollment problems, overcharges at the pharmacy, etc. Some complaints can have aspects of both an appeal and a grievance. For example, a person may file an appeal because a drug was denied, and then file a grievance because the plan did not issue a timely coverage determination. It is up to the plan to determine whether a complaint is an appeal or a grievance.

A grievance must be filed within 60 days of the event that is the source of complaint. The grievance may be oral or in writing. The plan must issue a written decision if one is requested. Generally, the plan should respond to the grievance within 30 days. However, if a grievance is filed because of the plan’s failure to expedite a coverage determination or to forward an untimely redetermination decision to the IRE, and the member does not yet have the drug, the plan must respond within 24 hours of receiving the grievance.

Unlike an appeal, there are no further levels of appeal if the member is dissatisfied with the plan’s decision on a grievance. However, failure of a plan to respond to a grievance should be reported Medicare through 1-800-Medicare or the complaint tracking feature at www.medicare.gov.

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• Attention Patients and Prescribers of Part D Drugs March 2, 2016
• Remove Barriers to Obtaining Medicare Covered Drugs January 20, 2016
• Office of Inspector General Authorizes Hospitals to Discount or Waive Certain Drug Charges for Patients Classified as “Outpatients” December 10, 2015
• Assistance with Paying for Prescription Drugs November 30, 2015
• Department of Health and Human Services Forum on Drug Pricing and Innovation November 24, 2015
• Kaiser Family Foundation Releases Reports on MA and Part D in 2016 October 15, 2015
• Final 2016 CMS Call Letter for Medicare Parts C and D Released April 9, 2015
• Center for Medicare Advocacy Submits Comments to Draft 2016 Call Letter for Medicare Parts C and D March 12, 2015
• 2016 Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Part D Final Rule Issued February 19, 2015
• Update on MA and Part D Plans October 23, 2014
• 2015 Medicare Cost Sharing October 9, 2014
• Hospice and Access to Medications Update: CMS Replacement Guidance July 24, 2014
• The Center Joins 26 Other Organizations in Calling for Suspension of Hospice and Part D Guidance June 12, 2014
• Submitting Claims to Part D for Prescription Drugs Administered in the Hospital During an Observation Status Stay May 1, 2014
• Hospice and Access to Medications – New CMS Guidance April 10, 2014
• 2014 Income and Resource Information for Medicare Low-Income Programs February 6, 2014
• Medicare Prescription Drug Rebate Debate November 21, 2013
• The Medicare Annual Coordinated Election Period Has Begun! October 17, 2013
• Debunking Medicare Myths: Drug Rebates for Dual Eligibles May 8, 2013
• Reminder: Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period (MADP) Ends February 14th February 7, 2013
• Deficit Reduction and Medicare: Save Money Without Harming Beneficiaries November 15, 2012
• Picking a Plan During the Annual Enrollment Period? Choose Carefully October 18, 2012
• Impact of Budget Control Act and Sequestration on Aids Drug Assistance Programs September 24, 2012
• Increased Funding for AIDS Drugs Assistance Program Responds to Need for Additional HIV/AIDS Services August 23, 2012
• Affordable Care Act in Action: People with Medicare Continue to See Savings May 3, 2012
• New Medicare Part D Pharmacy Notice Rule In Effect; Stay Tuned for Final Model Notice January 5, 2012
• 2012 Medicare Premiums, Deductibles and Co-Pays October 27, 2011
• Medicare Advantage and Part D Changes and Enrollment Updates October 6, 2011
• Annual Enrollment Starts October 15 and Ends December 7 for Medicare Part C & Part D Plans September 22, 2011
• New Rules for Medicare Advantage and Part D Plans June 2, 2011
• CMS Sends Out Reminders to LIS-Eligible Medicare Beneficiaries May 26, 2011
• Help Someone Retain Part D Extra Help March 17, 2011
• Extension of Time to Enroll In a Prescription Drug Plan for Medicare Beneficiaries Who Lost Coverage February 10, 2011
• 2011 Poverty Levels Affect Eligibility for Many Federal Programs January 27, 2011
• 45 Day Disenrollment Period for Medicare Advantage Members January 6, 2011
• The Center for Medicare Advocacy Applauds HHS for Making It Simpler for Medicare Beneficiaries to Choose A Drug Plan in 2011 October 7, 2010
• Court Emphatically Rejects Beneficiaries’ Right to Sue a Part D Plan When the Plan Delays Enrollment September 30, 2010
• CMA REPORT: MEDICARE COVERAGE FOR OFF-LABEL DRUG USE September 16, 2010
• Health Reform in Action: Donut Hole Rebate Checks Start Arriving June 10, 2010 June 10, 2010
• LI NET: More Help for Dually-Eligible People December 24, 2009
• Part Covered, Part Not: "Straddle Claims" in Medicare Part D July 24, 2008
• ADAPs to Offer Free Hepatitis C Drugs March 15, 2005
• MS Drug, Tysabri, Suspended March 1, 2005

For older articles, please see our article archive.

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“Are You Eligible for the Part D $250 Rebate? Cms Posts Q&As.” California Health Advocates, May 24, 2010, https://cahealthadvocates.org/part-d-250-rebate-questions/.

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“What Are Medicare Part D “Straddle Claims”?” Q1Group LLC, https://q1medicare.com/q1group/MedicareAdvantagePartDQA/FAQ.php?faq=What-are-Medicare-Part-D–Straddle-Claims–&faq_id=368&category_id=.

“What Exactly Is Troop or Total out-of-Pocket Costs?” Q1Group LLC, https://q1medicare.com/q1group/MedicareAdvantagePartDQA/FAQ.php?faq=What-exactly-is-TrOOP-or-Total-Out-of-Pocket-costs-&faq_id=370&category_id=.

“What Is the Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period (Aep)?” Q1Group LLC, https://q1medicare.com/q1group/MedicareAdvantagePartDQA/FAQ.php?faq=What-is-the-Medicare-annual-Open-Enrollment-Period–AEP—&faq_id=557&category_id=.

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