Make one accurate medicine list
List each medicine’s name, dose, formulation, refill frequency, and your preferred pharmacy. Keep it private. Bring it to a trusted comparison or enter it directly into Medicare’s official Plan Finder.
Check the formulary
A formulary is a covered drug list. Plans may place medicines on different cost sharing tiers. Check the exact prescription and plan year; a listed medicine does not mean every formulation has the same coverage or price.
Read the rules beside the price
Prior authorization requires plan approval before coverage. Step therapy may require trying another covered drug first. Quantity limits restrict the amount covered over a period. Ask the plan and prescriber how a rule applies; do not change a medicine on your own.
Compare the full year
Use the same medicine list for every comparison. Ask about network pharmacies, preferred pricing, refill quantities, and mail order when appropriate. Write down annual premiums plus estimated drug costs and any access restrictions.
If a medicine is not covered
Ask about the plan’s coverage determination and exception process with your prescriber’s help. Approval is not guaranteed. Ask whether a transition supply applies when moving into new coverage.
Your checklist
Your next step checklist
Use this here, or print it for your next conversation. Your checks stay on this page only.
Go straight to the source
Sources checked September 28, 2026. General education, not a coverage determination or medical advice. Plan terms, eligibility, and state rules can vary. How we approach education
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