I have Medicaid and a Medicare Part D plan. How do Medicare and Medicaid coordinate to cover my drug costs?
December 27, 2011
Dear Marci, I have Medicaid and a Medicare Part D plan. How do Medicare and Medicaid coordinate to cover my drug costs? —Cato
Dear Cato, If you have Medicare and Medicaid, you will usually get your drugs covered by the Medicare prescription drug benefit (Part D) and the Extra Help program. Extra Help is the federal program that pays for most of the costs of Medicare drug coverage. In limited cases, Medicaid may cover drugs that Medicare does not cover. For example, in many states, Medicaid covers some drugs that are excluded from Medicare coverage by law. Drugs excluded from Medicare coverage by law that may be covered by your state’s Medicaid program include: • Certain anti-anxiety drugs (barbiturates and benzodiazepines) • Drugs for: o Anorexia, weight loss or weight gain o Fertility o Cosmetic purposes or hair growth o Relief of cold symptoms, like a cough and stuffy nose • Prescription vitamins and minerals (except prenatal vitamins and fluoride preparations, which are covered by Medicare) • Non-prescription drugs (over-the-counter drugs)
—Marci
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