Essential Drug List What is a drug list? The drug list, also called a formulary, is a list of prescription medicines your plan covers. It includes hundreds of brand-name and generic drugs approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Is this a complete listing of all covered drugs? Yes, this is a complete listing of all the drugs on the drug list. But, it’s possible a drug(s) on this list may not be covered, depending on your plan’s design. Your coverage has limitations and exclusions, which means there are certain conditions that determine what’s covered by your plan and what isn’t. To find out more, read your Certificate/Evidence of Coverage or your Summary Plan Description, which you got when you signed up for your plan. How can I find a drug on the list? The drugs are listed in alphabetical order based on the name of their drug class, also called therapeutic class. You can search the PDF drug list by: o Drug name, using Ctrl + F on your keyboard, then type in the name of the drug you’re looking for. o Drug class, using the categories listed in alphabetical order. The Notes column will tell you if you need preapproval before you can take the drug (called prior authorization or PA), or if you need to try other drugs first for your treatment (called step therapy or ST). When I search the list, I see that each drug is on a tier. What are the tiers for? The drug list is set up in tiers or levels. We place drugs on different tiers based on how well they work to improve health, whether there are over-the-counter (OTC) options and their costs compared to other drugs used for the same type of treatment. Your share of the drug cost will depend on what tier a drug is on. The lower the tier, the lower your share of the cost. Here’s a breakdown of the tiers in your plan: o Tier 1 drugs have the lowest cost share for you. These are usually generic drugs that offer the best value compared to other drugs that treat the same conditions. Some plans split Tier 1 into Tier 1a and Tier 1b: • Tier 1a drugs have the lowest cost share. These are often generic drugs that offer the greatest value compared to others that treat the same conditions. • Tier 1b drugs have a low cost share. These are typically generic drugs that offer the greatest value compared to others that treat the same conditions. o Tier 2 drugs have a higher cost share than Tier 1. They may be preferred brand drugs, based on how well they work and their cost compared to other drugs used for the same type of treatment. Some are generic drugs that may cost more because they’re newer to the market. o Tier 3 drugs have the highest cost share. They often include non-preferred brand and generic drugs. They may cost more than drugs on lower tiers that are used to treat the same condition. Tier 3 may also include drugs that were recently approved by the FDA or specialty drugs that are used to treat serious, long-term health conditions and that may need special handling. o Tier 4 drugs have the highest cost share and usually include specialty brand and generic drugs. They may cost more than drugs on lower tiers that are used to treat the same condition. Tier 4 may also include drugs recently approved by the FDA or specialty drugs used to treat serious, long-term health conditions and that may need special handling. How will I know if my drug is covered and how much will it cost? You can go online and with the Price a Medication tool, get pharmacy-specific drug coverage details and pricing from a number of local retail pharmacies in your zip code.