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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 Sodium oxybate
Some people have said that they've lost some weight while taking Sodium oxybate. It's not clear how much weight they lost, though. The medication can cause stomach upset or make you not want to eat as much as side effects. This could possibly lead to some weight loss. If you notice you're losing weight and you're worried about it, talk to your prescriber. If your child has weight changes, tell their prescriber because they might need to adjust the dose.
The Xyrem REMS program is an extra safety requirement for the medication from the FDA. It's required because the medication has a risk of misuse. It can also make you very sleepy, slow your breathing, and make it hard to think, focus, and react. These risks can be serious and dangerous. This Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program makes sure that you and your care team understand these risks. Your prescriber will help you enroll in the Xyrem REMS program. Your prescriber and the pharmacy where you're getting the medication from will also need to enroll. If you have more questions about the Xyrem REMS program, ask your prescriber.
Yes. Sodium oxybate is a schedule 3 controlled substance. This is because the medication has a risk of misuse. Misuse means taking the medication in a way other than how your prescriber told you to. Misuse can lead to very serious and possibly life-threatening problems. This can include dangerously slow breathing and overdose. It can also sometimes lead to addiction. Controlled substances like Sodium oxybate have federal and state laws about how they're prescribed and dispensed. Talk to your prescriber about these regulations and any questions you have. Also talk to them if you're worried about these risks with Sodium oxybate.
It can take several weeks to see improvements in narcolepsy symptoms. In a study, adults had fewer cataplexy attacks after 4 weeks of taking Sodium oxybate. In another study, adults had shorter episodes of excessive sleepiness during the day after about 8 weeks of treatment. Children also showed improvement after a few weeks of taking Sodium oxybate. Note that some people were also taking other narcolepsy medications along with Sodium oxybate in these studies. Be sure to keep taking Sodium oxybate every night, even if you don't see any difference right away. This will help the medication work the best it can for you. If you have questions about how long Sodium oxybate is taking to work, talk to your prescriber.
Sodium oxybate contains a high amount of sodium (salt). The amount of sodium in the medication depends on your dose. For example, a total dose of 4.5 grams of medication each night contains 820 mg of sodium. And if an adult is taking 6 grams of medication each night, they're getting 1,100 mg of sodium per night. Tell your prescriber if you have a medical condition that makes you sensitive to sodium. This can include heart failure, high blood pressure, or kidney problems. Too much sodium in the body can be problematic for these people. Your prescriber can make sure you can take Sodium oxybate in a safe way. Or, they might suggest a different option for you.
If you're pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant, talk to your prescriber. They can help you understand the risks and benefits of taking Sodium oxybate. There isn't enough information to know if the medication is safe to take during pregnancy. In animal studies, Sodium oxybate harmed unborn babies when given during pregnancy. This included stillbirths and growth problems. Your prescriber can help you decide the safest option for you.
Xyrem and Xywav are both medications for people 7 years and older who have a sleep problem called narcolepsy. They both help with cataplexy and excessive daytime sleepiness related to this condition. But Xywav can also help adults with another sleep problem called idiopathic hypersomnia. What's more, Xyrem and Xywav both have sodium oxybate in it. But Xywav also has extra ingredients: calcium, potassium, and magnesium oxybates. And, the company that makes Xywav says that it has much less sodium per nightly dose than Xyrem, in fact 92% less. This might make Xywav a better option for people who need to limit salt for their health. Talk to your prescriber about how the two medications compare and see which one best fits your needs.
Xyrem and Lumryz both have sodium oxybate in them. They're both used to treat cataplexy and excessive daytime sleepiness in people 7 years and older with narcolepsy. The main difference is how you take them. Xyrem is taken twice each night. You take it at bedtime and then again 2.5 to 4 hours later. But for Lumryz, you take it just once at bedtime. So, Lumryz might be a good option if you often miss your second dose of Xyrem of the night. Both need to be mixed with water before you take it. For Xyrem, you can take the medication as long as it's within 24 hours of mixing. But for Lumyrz, you have to take it within 30 minutes of mixing. Talk to your prescriber about how these medications compare and see which might be best for you.
