Medicare Advantage Pharmacy Coverage

Your Medicare Advantage plan includes prescription drug coverage, also known as Part D. Learn about your prescription drug coverage and resources to help you fully utilize your benefits.
Pharmacist holding medicine box in pharmacy drugstore.

Everything You Need In One Place

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Manage your prescription drug coverage

  • Transfer or request a prescription, or order a refill
  • Check the formulary for covered drugs
  • Find in-network pharmacies near you

NEW! What You Pay for Part D Prescription Drugs

Beginning in 2025, there will be only three drug payment stages instead of four: the Yearly Deductible Stage, the Initial Coverage Stage, and the Catastrophic Coverage Stage. The Coverage Gap Stage and the Coverage Gap Discount Program will no longer exist in the Part D benefit.

How the Program Works

  • Yearly Deductible


    Some plans may include a yearly deductible.

    There is no deductible for your AZ Blue plan.

  • Initial Coverage


    All plans: $2,000

    The Initial Coverage is the member's out-of-pocket cost.

    Once the member’s out-of-pocket costs reach $2,000, the member will then enter the Catastrophic Coverage Stage.

  • Catastrophic Coverage


    Once the member’s out-of-pocket costs reach $2,000, the Catastrophic Coverage Stage begins.

    The member will pay nothing for the remainder of the year for Part D covered drugs.

NEW! Medicare Prescription Payment Plan

Beginning in 2025, there is new payment plan option to help you manage your out-of-pocket Part D drug costs. It is available to anyone with a Medicare drug plan or Medicare health plan with drug coverage. Participation in the program is voluntary.

How the Program Works

There’s no cost to participate in the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. If you select this payment option, each month you’ll continue to pay your plan premium (if you have one), and you’ll get a bill from your health or drug plan to pay for your prescription drugs (instead of paying the pharmacy).

How to Join: Starting in 2025, you can opt-in at any point in the year by contacting your plan’s Member Service department. For more information, view the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan fact sheet.

Pay Less and Get Your Prescriptions Delivered to Your Door

  • Medical_Healthcare_Pharmacy Mail Order icon

    Save Costs with up to 100-day Supply & Mail Order

    As a Medicare Advantage plan member, you can save by getting up to a 100-day supply of covered generic drugs through an in-network pharmacy or mail order. Save yourself a trip to the pharmacy by getting your prescriptions delivered right to your mailbox.

  • New Icons

    Save with your Over-the-Counter Allowance

    Medicare Advantage members receive a quarterly allowance to buy health-related products from a catalog or from participating retail stores, such as Walgreens, CVS, Fry’s, Safeway and Albertsons.

Additional Pharmacy Resources

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    Medication Therapy Management

    Use your medications safely and effectively with this no-cost service.
  • Shot of a senior couple discussing their monthly budget with financial documents and laptop in home

    Pharmacy Forms

    Find pharmacy and prescription forms you may need, such as a drug claim form, mail-order form, or a prior authorization list, plus much more. 
  • Opioid epidemic, painkillers and drug abuse concept with close up on a bottle of prescription drugs and hydrocodone pills falling out of it on white

    Opioids Information & Dangers

    Opioids can safely reduce pain when prescribed and used correctly. When misused, they can lead to addiction and even death. Knowing how to prevent opioid misuse and recognizing and responding to opioid overdose can help save a life. 
  • hero-mobile-managing-diabetes

    Diabetes Education

    Be aware of your risks and improve your health through diabetes education.

Understanding the differences between medication types

  • A brand-name drug is a first-to-market medication. Brand-name drugs may cost consumers more due to the time, money, and resources that drug companies invest in development and the clinical trials required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Just because a drug carries a brand name, however, does not necessarily mean it’s more effective than a generic or similar brand-name medication.
  • Generic drugs deliver the same amount of active ingredient in the same timeframe as their brand-name counterparts. Generics are required to have the same quality, strength, purity, and stability as brand-name product. Generally, using a generic drug can save you money by replacing a brand-name medication with the same active ingredient and dosage.
  • Traditional drugs are used to treat general health and chronic conditions, such as flu, diabetes, or common infections. Specialty drugs are commonly used to address complex as well as rare diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. Both traditional and specialty drugs can be administered as an oral medication, infusion, or injectable.

What you need to know before filling your next prescription

  • A drug list (sometimes called a formulary) describes which medications your health plan covers and how you share in the cost.
  • When you look at our plan's drug list, sometimes called the formulary, or use our online tools, you will notice that each covered drug is on a tier. Drug tiers are levels that we use to categorize prescription drugs and lower costs. Each tier costs a different amount. Typically, drugs on tier 1 will be the least expensive and drugs on tier 5 will be the most expensive.

    Each drug on our drug list is put into 1 of 5 tiers. Each tier has a different cost-sharing amount in the form of a copay or coinsurance.

    Tier 1: Preferred generic - Preferred generics. This is the lowest tier.
    Tier 2: Generics.
    Tier 3: Preferred Brand.
    Tier 4: Non-Preferred Drugs.
    Tier 5: Specialty Drugs (limited to a 30-day supply in-network Specialty or Retail pharmacies). This is the highest tier.
    Tier 6: Select Care Drugs. This is a $0 tier.
    Blue Cross® Blue Shield® of Arizona (AZ Blue) is contracted with Medicare to offer HMO Medicare Advantage plans. Enrollment in AZ Blue plans depends on contract renewal.

    You are eligible to enroll in a AZ Blue Medicare Supplement plan if you are age 65 or older, entitled to Medicare Part A, and enrolled in Medicare Part B, and you live in the plan service area. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premiums (and Part A, if applicable), if not otherwise paid for by Medicaid or another third party. During the first six months when you are age 65 and also enrolled in Medicare Parts A & B you cannot be denied a Medicare Supplement plan when you apply for one, regardless of health status.

    Health Choice Pathway HMO D-SNP is a Health Plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the state Medicaid program. Enrollment in Health Choice Pathway HMO D-SNP depends on contract renewal. Health Choice Pathway Member Services can be reached at 1-800-656-8991, TTY: 711, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week.
    Member Services can be reached at 480-937-0409 (in Arizona) or at our toll-free phone number at 1-800-446-8331 (TTY users should call 711). Hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday from April 1 to September 30; and 7 days a week from October 1 to March 31. Member Services also has free language interpreter services available for non-English speakers.

    OptumRx® is an independent company providing prescription mail order services.

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    Last Updated 01/01/2025