Frequently Asked Questions About the Inflation Reduction Act

• The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is a federal law passed by Congress in 2022 to help improve Medicare. 
• The IRA requires all Medicare Advantage plans to make several changes to Medicare drug benefits across multiple years.  
• All MAPD and PDP plans are impacted by the IRA – not just Tufts Health Plan.
   

Four changes will be made in 2025:

1. Maximum out of pocket lowered to $2000 per year
2. Implementation of the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan 
3. Formulary tier changes (Moving drugs to higher tiers as well as some drugs no longer covered)
4. Change from copay to coinsurance on Tiers 3 and 4.

In addition, there will be no Coverage Gap stage (donut hole) where members faced 100% of their drug costs. Once a member meets their maximum out of pocket, they pay $0 for covered prescription drugs.

• Lower Maximum Out of Pocket 

  The Rx Maximum Out of Pocket amount will be lowered to $2,000. 

  • This is good news.
  • $2,000 is the most you would pay for your prescription drugs in 2025  before entering the catastrophic phase where Tufts Health Plan pays the prescription drug costs and you pay $0 for covered prescription drugs. 

   

• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan   

  The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan is a new payment option to help members manage out-of-pocket Part D drug costs by paying in installments across the calendar year (January-December).

  • This is good news..
  • Members opt-in to receive a monthly bill that splits their prescription drugs cost into regular monthly payments (as an alternative to paying the full amount up front).
  • All plans will offer this payment option and member participation is voluntary.
  • For example, if you go to the pharmacy in January and your prescription has a $600 copayment you can enroll in the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan to pay nothing to pickup the prescription and instead receive a bill from Tufts Health Plan each month Jan–Dec for $50 (assuming you do not fill any other prescriptions). There is no interest or financing charges for participating in the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan program. 

• There is no cost to join the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan  
  • The monthly bill is based on what you have paid for any prescriptions, plus any previous month’s balance, divided by the number of months left in the year. 
  • All plans use the same formula to calculate monthly payments.

• Members who have high Part D cost-sharing earlier in the plan year are more likely to benefit from the program by spreading those expenses throughout the year. 
• Members who pay more than $600 for a single prescription at the pharmacy. 

• Members whose yearly drug costs are low.
• Members whose drug costs are the same each month.

• Individuals enrolled in a 2025 plan can elect the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan program during the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) (October 15-December 7, 2024) or at any time during the 2025 benefit year. 

• There are multiple ways to sign up for the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: 
  • Enroll online
    • Mail or fax your completed paper enrollment form: 
      • Fax: 1-617-972-9405

      • Mail: 

        Point32Health 

        1 Wellness Way 

        MS D3 

        Canton, MA 02021-9936

    • Call Member Services 

• Several changes will be made to the formulary in 2025. 
  • These changes will cause some drugs to have higher cost shares and some drugs to no longer be covered. 
  • For drugs that will no longer be covered, the federal government requires that an alternative medication is available.

• Some higher cost drugs that have a fixed copay will be changing to a coinsurance payment which means you pay a percentage of the actual cost of the drug instead of a fixed copayment. 
  • The percentage you pay depends on the plan you are in and what type of drug it is. 
  • For some members, the coinsurance amount will be a similar or lower cost to the current copay amount. 
  • But the change to a coinsurance payment will mean some members costs at the pharmacy counter will be much higher than the current copay amount. 
  • In addition, since the actual cost of a drug that the pharmacy buys from the manufacturer can change month to month, the cost to the member at the pharmacy counter may change from one fill to the next.
  • Most generic drugs will continue to have low copays that range from $0–$8 per 30-day fill at a preferred retail pharmacy depending on the plan and the drug.
  • If your drugs have high costs next year under the new cost share structure, the $2,000 maximum out of pocket and the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan will help make your drugs more affordable. 
  • The lower maximum out of pocket will protect you from spending more than $2,000 during the year and the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan can be used to spread payments across multiple months during the year.

• Starting in 2025, the donut hole or coverage gap will be eliminated, meaning there will be no more gap in prescription drug coverage.
• If your prescription drug costs reach $2,000 you move to the Catastrophic Coverage Stage where Tufts Health Plan pays your prescription drug costs and you pay $0 for prescription drugs.

While the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan helps to manage costs, it doesn’t lower the costs. However, members may be eligible for the following programs: 

• Extra Help

 A Medicare program that helps pay your Medicare drug costs if you have limited income and resources. Visit secure.ssa.gov/i1020/start to find out if you qualify and apply. You can also apply with your state’s Medicaid office. Visit Medicare.gov/basics/costs/help/drug-costs to learn more.

• Medicare Savings Program 

A state-run program that helps people with limited income and resources pay some or all of their Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance. Visit Medicare.gov/medicare-savings-programs to learn more.

• State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program (SPAP)

A program that may include coverage for your Medicare drug plan premiums and/or cost sharing. SPAP contributions may count toward your Medicare drug coverage out-of-pocket limit. Visit go.medicare.gov/spap to learn more.

• Manufacturer’s Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (sometimes called Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs))

A program from drug manufacturers to help lower drug costs for people with Medicare. Visit go.medicare.gov/pap to learn more.

 Many members qualify for savings and don’t realize it. They can visit Medicare.gov/basics/costs/help, or contact their local Social Security office to learn more. To find a local Social Security office visit secure.ssa.gov/IC

• See our website for additional details on these changes at thpmp.org/IRA
• Call Member Services. Our Member Services team is here to help answer any questions you have about the prescription drug changes.