Even with Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D, Medicare drug prices may still be expensive if you don’t qualify for low income subsidies like Extra Help. On some prescription drugs, you can actually save more by using a free SingleCare prescription discount card instead of Medicare.

Anyone can use SingleCare’s free drug coupons, even if you receive drug coverage through Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D. Ask a pharmacist to compare what you would pay under SingleCare vs. Medicare to see if you can save on your medications. Please note, however, that SingleCare and Medicare cannot be used together—you have to use one or the other.

SingleCare can help Medicare consumers save on prescriptions when:

• You don’t have drug coverage through Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D
• SingleCare prices are lower than your Medicare copay or coinsurance (compare prices on singlecare.com or our app before you go to the pharmacy)
• Your medication isn’t covered by your Medicare Part D plan
• You’re in the Medicare donut hole (also known as the coverage gap)

Note: If you use a discount card like SingleCare instead of Medicare, your out-of-pocket costs will not apply to your Medicare deductible.

Medicare Advantage and Part D have different tiers of coverage. Tier 1 drugs usually have the lowest copay. The higher the tier, the more you’ll usually pay out of pocket. So even if your drug is covered by your Medicare plan, your SingleCare discount may be greater than your Medicare discount, unless you qualify for Medicare Part D’s low income subsidy called Extra Help.

Medicare Part D covers prescriptions. If you have Medicare Part A or Part B, you can enroll in separate Medicare drug coverage through Medicare Part D. Medicare Advantage (also called Part C) can bundle Medicare Part A, B, and D. Consumers are not always automatically enrolled in prescription drug coverage. Low-income Medicare consumers who also qualify for Medicaid, a Medicare Savings Program, or Extra Help, are automatically enrolled into Medicare Part D.

Each Medicare drug plan has its own list of drugs that are covered. This is called a formulary. Medicare Advantage and Part D formularies must include at least two drugs in the most commonly prescribed drug classes. However, your Medicare formulary might not include the specific drug you need. In this case, you should consider switching to another Medicare Part D plan during open enrollment.

Some medications aren’t covered at all by Medicare Part D, such as certain brand-name drugs, weight-loss drugs, sexual dysfunction drugs, prescription vitamins, and more. In these cases, and at times when you cannot switch plans, SingleCare may be your cheapest option.