Most Medicare Part D Plans Incentivize Use of Generics, Study Finds

September 10

For medications with both brand-name and generic versions, an overwhelming majority of Medicare Part D plans encouraged the use of generics over their brand-name equivalents in 2019, according to a study published in Health Affairs. By analyzing Part D formulary coverage and tier placement of matched brand-name drugs and generics, the researchers found that 84% of Part D plan-product combinations covered the generic only in 2019, while 15% covered both brand-name and generic versions. In 2019, of the 1,361 drug products analyzed, there were 98% of products for which generics were placed on a lower cost-sharing tier than their brand-name counterparts in at least one plan in 2019.

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Radar on Drug Benefits

Jinghong Chen Reporter

Jinghong has been producing infographics and data stories on employer-sponsored insurance, public health insurance programs and prescription drug coverage for AIS Health’s Health Plan Weekly and Radar on Drug Benefits since 2018. She also manages AIS Health’s annual executive compensation database for top insurers and Blue Cross and Blue Shield affiliates. Before joining AIS Health, she interned at WBEZ, Al Jazeera English and The New York Times Chinese. She graduated from Missouri School of Journalism with a focus on data journalism and international reporting.