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Medicare: Your GoodRx guide
Learn the ins and outs of Medicare with our comprehensive guide that covers eligibility, coverage, costs, and more.
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Common Medicare glossary terms
The Medicare Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) is a letter for people enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans and anyone with Medicare Part D prescription coverage. People with Medicare Advantage or original Medicare (Part A and/or Part B) can have Part D plans. The ANOC informs enrollees about any changes to their benefits for the coming coverage year. By law, Medicare Advantage and Part D plans must send the ANOC to enrollees by September 30 — which is before the annual Medicare open enrollment period of October 15 to December 7. Even if you have the same plan, your benefits could change year to year.
A premium is the cost of having a health insurance plan and is usually paid monthly. Medicare enrollees may pay several premiums. Most people don’t pay anything for Part A hospital insurance, but some people do depending on how long they worked and paid taxes. For outpatient and preventive coverage, the Part B standard premium is $185 a month in 2025, but people with higher incomes pay more. Your premium for Medicare Advantage plans will vary, but even so-called “zero premium” plans require you to pay your Part B premium. Part D premiums range in price, but the average is about $47 a month in 2025. If you have original Medicare and a Medigap supplement plan, you have an additional premium for that coverage.
A deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket before your Medicare plan begins cost-sharing. In 2025, the Part A deductible is $1,676 per benefit period. The Part B deductible is $257 for the year, but you can access certain preventive care — including some vaccines — without meeting your deductible. Medicare Advantage deductibles vary and your Part D deductible can’t exceed $590 in 2025.
Original Medicare has no annual out-of-pocket maximum. Medicare Advantage plans have out-of-pocket limits. In 2025, they are $9,350 for in-network covered services and $14,000 for in-network and out-of-network covered services combined.
Starting January 1, 2025, anyone with Part D coverage had the option to use the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan for their out-of-pocket medication costs instead of paying upfront at the pharmacy. This plan doesn’t provide savings, but allows you to spread prescription costs — including your deductible — over the year. Making payments can be particularly helpful for people who may skip or delay picking up prescriptions because of high costs early in the year. Also in 2025, the Part D out-of-pocket limit dropped to $2,000.
After a Medicare enrollee meets the Part D deductible (if the plan has one), the health insurance begins cost sharing. The initial coverage phase means you pay coinsurance or a copay for covered prescriptions.
When you reach the $2,000 out-of-pocket maximum, your Part D plan pays for 100% of covered medications for the rest of the year.
How to save on drugs with Medicare
Medicare Part D is the part of Medicare that helps cover prescription medications, including both brand name and generic. It also includes coverage for certain vaccines that aren’t covered by Part B, as well as some medical supplies.
Even with Medicare Part D coverage, you may still have out-of-pocket costs such as premiums, deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. As of 2025, Medicare Part D plans include a $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap. Once you reach this limit, your plan covers the full cost of your covered medications for the rest of the year.
Still, there are several ways to reduce your prescription medication cost. From GoodRx coupons to patient assistance programs, here are ways you can save money on the medications you need.
1. See if you qualify for Medicare’s Extra Help program
The Medicare Extra Help/Low-Income Subsidy program is a federally funded program for people covered under a Medicare Part D plan. It helps reduce enrollees’ out-of-pocket costs by limiting their deductibles and copays. To qualify, your income and assets fall below a certain limit.
If you’re eligible, you may receive:
No monthly premiums for Medicare Part D
No Medicare Part D deductible
Low copays for prescription medications
2. Use GoodRx coupons
You can’t combine GoodRx coupons with Medicare, but you can choose to use a coupon instead of your insurance if it results in a lower price.
Here’s how to download a GoodRx coupon:
Go to the GoodRx website, or download the GoodRx app on your phone.
Search for your prescription medication.
Enter your prescribed dose and quantity, then set your location.
Compare prices across different pharmacies in your area.
Click “Find the lowest prices” or press “Enter.”
You can have the coupon sent by text or email, or print it out.
To apply the discount, show the coupon at the pharmacy when you fill your prescription. Ideally, this is done at drop-off before the prescription is filled.
3. Consider the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan
The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan is a new program that can help make paying for medications more manageable. It’s open to anyone with a standalone Part D plan or those with Medicare Advantage plans that offer prescription medication coverage.
There is no cost to participate in the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan and participation is voluntary. Instead of paying for the total cost of your medications up front at the pharmacy, the payment plan allows you to spread the cost into smaller payments during the year. If you join, you will continue to pay your premium every month as well as an additional monthly amount on your payment plan. It’s a good idea to review how the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan works to determine if it’s right for you.
4. Compare Part D plans during open enrollment
Medicare open enrollment, which takes place every year from October 15 to December 7, is your chance to switch plans if another option offers better prescription medication coverage or lower costs. Plan costs and coverage details can change each year, so it’s important to review your options.
Here are some steps to help you compare plans:
Make a list of all your medications and what dosages you take.
Visit Medicare’s plan finder tool.
Enter the names of your prescription medications to see which plans offer the best coverage.
Look at premiums, deductibles, and medication costs for each plan. Plans usually change their formularies, premiums, and copays annually.
Check if your preferred pharmacy is in each plan's network.
5. Get a 90-day supply
Opting for a 90-day supply instead of a monthly refill of your medication might help reduce your long-term out-of-pocket costs. Many insurance plans offer lower copays or bulk pricing for 3-month prescriptions.
If your medication is covered under your plan, see if your insurer’s mail-order or specialty pharmacy provides savings on a 90-day supply. If they do, ask your prescriber to write a prescription for a 90-day quantity to take advantage of these potential savings.
6. Ask about the generic version of your medication
Some medications have a generic version, and they generally cost less than the brand-name prescriptions. Generic medications are just as safe and effective as brand-name medications, so it’s an option worth considering to reduce your cost. Ask your prescriber about switching to a generic version of your medication to save money.
7. Consider lower-cost alternative medications
There may be other medications that help manage your condition, and they may cost less. If your medication is costly or not covered by your insurance, talk to your prescriber about lower-cost alternatives that might be a good option for you. Alternatives might have better insurance coverage or lower costs.
8. Learn more about patient assistance programs
Patient assistance programs (PAPs) offer free or low-cost medications to uninsured and low-income consumers. These programs, which primarily offer savings on brand-name medications, are usually run by private pharmaceutical companies or nonprofit organizations. You must meet certain qualifications and complete paperwork to receive savings from PAPs. However, some PAPs exclude Medicare recipients, so it’s important to review the program’s rules and requirements carefully.
9. Check state-funded resources
Depending on where you live, your state may offer programs to help you navigate prescription medication costs. A good place to start is your local Department of Aging. This U.S. Department of Health and Human Services office can help you find the best Medicare plan for the coverage you need.
Some states even have their own cost-saving programs for older adults. For example, Pennsylvania runs PACE and PACENET. These programs help eligible residents get prescription medications at reduced costs.
Alternatively, you can find out if your state has a State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program by using Medicare’s search tool. These programs are state-run and help qualifying residents pay for prescription medications.
10. Use a health savings account to pay for prescription medications
Although you can’t contribute to a health savings account (HSA) after enrolling in Medicare, you can still use any remaining funds in your account to pay for qualified medical expenses. An HSA allows you to use tax-free dollars to pay for eligible prescription medications. The money in your account does not expire so you can use your funds at any time to reduce your out-of-pocket medication costs.
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Frequently asked questions about Slynd
Some people do experience weight gain after starting Slynd, but this isn't a common side effect. In clinical studies, about 2% of people reported weight gain with this medication. Keep in mind that the weight gain might be from bloating and "water weight", instead of from fat. Let your gynecologist or healthcare professional (HCP) know if you've gained a lot of weight after starting Slynd.
Talk with your gynecologist if you'd like to skip the placebo pills (inactive) pills in your Slynd pack. They can let you know about the risks and benefits of doing so. Some people skip the placebo pills in hopes of avoiding their period. But doing so might raise the risk for unexpected breakthrough bleeding. While this isn't harmful nor a health risk, it can be inconvenient to experience spotting when you're not expecting it.
You might stop having periods after taking Slynd for a while, typically 6 months or longer. This medication can change your bleeding patterns. A clinical study shows that after a year of treatment with Slynd, a little over 25% of people still experienced regular menstrual periods. And while this isn't harmful, you should consider the possibility of pregnancy (especially if you've missed one or two active pills). If you've missed two periods in a row while taking Slynd, take a pregnancy test. Talk with your gynecologist if you're concerned about changes in menstrual bleeding pattern.
Slynd works well to prevent pregnancy; based on clinical studies, an estimated 4 out of 100 people might get pregnant within the first year of taking Slynd. As with other birth control pills, Slynd works best if you take it everyday, around the same time each day. If you're concerned about the risk of pregnancy with Slynd, have a discussion with your gynecologist.
When you first start Slynd, ask your gynecologist how quickly this birth control will be effective for you. The timing can depend on where you are in your menstrual cycle and whether you've been taking any other birth control medications before Slynd. Depending on your situation, your gynecologist might ask you to use a non-hormonal birth control method, such as condoms, for up to a week after starting Slynd.
Both Slynd and norethindrone are estrogen-free birth control pills, but there are some differences between them. One difference is whether or not they contain inactive pills per pack. Slynd has 4 inactive pills per pack, whereas norethindrone has none per pack. The inactive pills in Slynd allow your body to have a few hormone-free days per month and might lower your chance of having irregular bleeding compared with norethindrone pills. Another difference is how much time you have to make up a missed dose. Both medications work best if you take them around the same time each day. But if you're taking Slynd, you have 24 hours to make up your missed dose. However, if you’re taking norethindrone pills, you only have 3 hours to make up a missed dose. If you don’t make up your dose in time for either type of birth control, you’ll need to use a back-up method of birth control (e.g., condoms) to prevent pregnancy. For other differences between Slynd and norethindrone birth control pills, ask your gynecologist or pharmacist.
No, Slynd doesn't contain estrogen; it's a progestin-only pill (POP). Slynd might be a good choice for people who want to avoid estrogen-containing birth control pills, such as those who have a higher risk of blood clots or those who are breastfeeding. This is because POPs, like Slynd, have a lower risk of blood clots and are less likely to affect your milk supply compared to birth controls with estrogen. Talk with your gynecologist if you’re not sure whether or not you should consider an estrogen-free birth control pill.
Talk with your healthcare team if you're breastfeeding. Slynd is a possible birth control option for people who are breastfeeding. Only a very small amount of estrogen-free medications like Slynd pass into the breast milk and it isn't expected to cause your baby any harm. Also, estrogen-free birth control pills don't lower your milk supply as much. This is why estrogen-free birth control pills, like Slynd, are recommended during breastfeeding.
