Does Medicare Part B Cover Prescription Drugs?
" "When it comes to prescription drug coverage, Medicare Part B can be a slippery slope. Part B covers some drugs. It doesn't cover others. And it could be that your drug is covered, but that you have to pay a part of the cost, and your drug plan covers something else entirely. The way Part B works is confusing, to say the least. The best advice is to talk to your doctor and your pharmacist to understand exactly what you're paying for and why. The information below should be used a starting point for your negotiations with your doctor and your pharmacist, not as an absolute guide to coverage.
Part B covers some prescription drugs, such as:
Some cancer treatments. This is a benefit that you have with Part B. After you have been diagnosed with cancer, Part B may cover some cancer drugs if they are administered in a doctor's office.
This is a benefit that you have with Part B. After you have been diagnosed with cancer, Part B may cover some cancer drugs if they are administered in a doctor's office. Some drugs that treat multiple sclerosis. Part B covers drugs that treat relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. These drugs include beta interferon and glatiramer acetate.
Part B covers drugs that treat relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. These drugs include beta interferon and glatiramer acetate. Some drugs that prevent infections, such as certain drugs used to fight infections after an organ transplant.
Part B doesn't cover some drugs, such as:
Most drugs used to treat asthma, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar.
Most drugs used to treat joint pain, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen.
Most drugs used to treat depression.
Part B covers some drugs if you have a Part B deductible. If your drug isn't covered, you may be able to get the drug for free if you have a Part B deductible. You have a Part B deductible if you pay Medicare Part B premiums and you haven't yet reached the Part B deductible.
And Part B doesn't cover some drugs if you have a Part B deductible. If your drug isn't covered, you may be able to get the drug for free if you have a Part B deductible. You have a Part B deductible if you pay Medicare Part B premiums and you haven't yet reached the Part B deductible. And Part B doesn't cover some drugs if you have a Part B deductible. If your drug isn't covered, you may be able to get the drug for free if you have a Part B deductible. You have a Part B deductible if you pay Medicare Part B premiums and you haven't yet reached the Part B deductible.
Part B covers some drugs if you don't have a Part B deductible. If your drug isn't covered, you may be able to get the drug for a low cost. You have no Part B deductible if you don't pay Medicare Part B premiums.
And Part B doesn't cover some drugs if you don't have a Part B deductible. If your drug isn't covered, you may be able to get the drug at a low cost. You have no Part B deductible if you don't pay Medicare Part B premiums. And Part B doesn't cover some drugs if you don't have a Part B deductible. If your drug isn't covered, you may be able to get the drug at a low cost. You have no Part B deductible if you don't pay Medicare Part B premiums.
Part B covers some drugs if you have no Part B premiums. If your drug isn't covered, you may be able to get the drug for free.
And Part B doesn't cover some drugs if you have no Part B premiums. If your drug isn't covered, you may be able to get the drug for free.
Medicare Part D covers some prescription drugs, such as:
Antidepressants
Hormone replacement therapy drugs
Some anti-anxiety drugs
Some painkillers
Most drugs used to treat high blood pressure
Most drugs used to treat high cholesterol
Medicare Part D doesn't cover some drugs, such as:
Most drugs used to treat asthma
Most drugs used to treat high blood sugar
Most drugs used to treat joint pain
Most drugs used to treat depression
Most drugs used to treat heart disease
Part D covers some drugs if you have no Part D premiums. If your drug isn't covered, you may be able to get the drug for free.
And Part D doesn't cover some drugs if you have no Part D premiums. If your drug isn't covered, you may be able to get the drug for free.
But getting that free drug may be complicated, because your Part D drug plan covers some drugs and not others.
" "A person on Medicare Part D can try to get drugs for free even if the plan doesn't cover them. However, getting a drug for free doesn't mean that the drug plan will cover it.
Even though Medicare Part B doesn't cover all drugs, it does pay for some. These payments are made under a separate law that covers Medicare Part B.
The Prescription Drug Coverage Law allows Medicare Part B to pay for drugs to treat the following health problems:
Autoimmune diseases
Kidney failure
Heart conditions
Cancer
Mental illness (such as depression)
To use this law, Medicare Part B must approve the drug. The drug must also be one that's covered by Medicare Part B.
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