Medicare Coverage for Jardiance: A Question Explored
Rewritten Article:
Hop on the Medicare express with Jardiance, a med powered by doctors to manage heart failure and type 2 diabetes. Most Medicare Part D prescription drug plans include coverage for Jardiance, with Part C plans with drug coverage ideally covering it - but keep in mind, this depends on specific plans (Chapter 1: What's Covered).
The Medicare bank pumped approximately $7 billion into Jardiance over the 2022 fiscal year, with typical enrollees coughing up around $290 out-of-pocket in 2022 (Chapter 2: How Much Does it Cost?).
Every single Medicare-approved drug comes with a handy-dandy list, known as the formulary, of covered medications. To score Jardiance coverage, you gotta join a plan that lists it on their very own formulary (Chapter 1: What's Covered).
How Much Does Jardiance Cost on Medicare?
According to Optum Perks, the out-of-pocket pharmacy cost for 30 tablets of Jardiance hovers around the $600 mark (but remember, this changes based on the pharmacy). This number might sound hefty, but the reality is much lighter due to the plan and the drug's tier.
The part you pay varies based on your insurance plan and the drug's specific tier (coinsurance, copayments, premiums). Don't forget, Part C and Part D premiums are managed by private insurers and don't always fit into neat little boxes (Chapter 2: How Much Does it Cost?). Typically, there's also an annual deductible you've gotta meet before coverage sparks to life (Chapter 2: How Much Does it Cost?).
Medicare Terms Simplified
- Out-of-pocket cost: Amount you pay when Medicare doesn't cover everything or doesn't cover anything at all. This can include premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.
- Premium: Money paid monthly for Medicare coverage.
- Deductible: Annual amount you pay out-of-pocket before Medicare starts covering costs.
- Coinsurance: The percentage of treatment costs that you must cover after meeting the deductible. For Medicare Part B, coinsurance is 20%.
- Copayment: A fixed amount you pay when receiving certain treatments. For Medicare, this usually applies to prescription drugs.
Which Tier is Jardiance in with Medicare?
Pay attention, now! Each Medicare drug plan might place Jardiance in a unique tier, which means the higher the tier, the more you might pay post-coverage. Luckily, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 gave the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) the power to negotiate new prices for Jardiance and nine other drugs, which could make a big difference for Jardiance costs (Chapter 3: How Can I Save on Jardiance?).
Lower the Cost: Making Jardiance More Affordable
- Smart Plan Selection: Hop on the train with the lowest prices for Jardiance. Preferred tiers mean lower copays or coinsurance, and researching different plans can help you find the best deals (Chapter 3: How Can I Save on Jardiance?).
- Extra Help Program: Dial into savings by applying for the Extra Help program if you're eligible. This program significantly reduces the cost of meds, like Jardiance. In 2025, members pay only $12.15 for brand-name drugs (Chapter 3: How Can I Save on Jardiance?).
- Catastrophic Coverage: Ride the wave of savings all the way to $2,000 in annual out-of-pocket drug costs. Once you reach this amount, Part D plans cover all additional costs (Chapter 2: How Much Does it Cost?).
- Negotiated Prices: Be on the lookout as Medicare gains the ability to negotiate prices for certain drugs (Chapter 3: How Can I Save on Jardiance?).
- Discount Programs: Some pharmacies and organizations offer discount programs that can help lower your costs for Jardiance (Chapter 3: How Can I Save on Jardiance?).
Is There a Cheaper Alternative for Jardiance?
Generic pills tend to be lighter on the wallet compared to the brand-name stuff, but unfortunately, no generic version of Jardiance exists yet (Chapter 4: Can I Find a Cheaper Alternative for Jardiance?).
Class Mates: Diabetes and Heart Disease Medication Coverage
Jardiance belongs to the SGLT2 inhibitor family. These meds work wonders in the kidneys by removing extra sugar from the body through urine (Chapter 4: What Other Diabetes and Heart Disease Medications are Covered?).
Jardiance may help keep that ticker pumping smoothly. But whether it's on the list or another diabetes or heart disease medication depends entirely on the specific plan (Chapter 4: What Other Diabetes and Heart Disease Medications are Covered?). Here are a few examples of meds that plans might cover:
- metformin (Glumetza)
- nateglinide (Starlix)
- acarbose (Precose)
- glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase, Glynase)
With Original Medicare's Part B, certain IV medications might be covered, mainly those you can't CHO stuck yourself (Chapter 4: What Other Diabetes and Heart Disease Medications are Covered?).
Score More Deets: Learn More
- Diabetes medications and Medicare
- Does Medicare cover cardiovascular disease?
[1] https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/out-of-pocket-costs[2] https://www.kff.org/medicare/report/how-the-inflation-reduction-act-of-2022-will-affect-medicare-beneficiaries/[3] https://www.medicare.gov/pharmacy/part-d/costs/catastrophic-coverage.html[4] https://www.medicare.gov/medicare-costs/out-of-pocket-costs-worksheet/[5] https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/questions/PrescriptionDrugs.aspx
- Jardiance, a medication utilized for managing heart failure and type 2 diabetes, is covered under most Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) with prescription drug coverage, albeit this varies based on specific plans.
- The out-of-pocket cost for 30 tablets of Jardiance typically hovers around $600, a sum that may seem significant but is reduced by plan and drug tiers.
- Enrollees in Medicare should be aware that the amount they pay for Jardiance or any other medication can vary based on the insurance plan, the drug's tier (coinsurance, copayments, premiums), annual deductibles, and other out-of-pocket costs.
- The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 gave the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) the authority to negotiate new prices for Jardiance and other drugs, potentially reducing costs for enrollees.
- To lower the cost of Jardiance, Medicare enrollees can consider smart plan selection, applying for the Extra Help program, reaching catastrophic coverage, taking advantage of negotiated prices, and utilizing discount programs offered by some pharmacies and organizations.