Express Scripts reveals Medicare savings plans for 2020

Express Scripts’ new Medicare plan for 2020 includes significant discounts on both generic and brand medications.

The PBM is rolling out three high-value options for coverage and savings-Saver, Value and Choice-under its Express Scripts Medicare prescription drug plan (PDP) for 2020. The plans include a $0 copay on all Tier 1

drugs via home delivery from Express Scripts Pharmacy^.

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"Savings and meeting seniors' prescription needs have made our Saver plan so successful," said Jennie Knisley, vice president, Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, Express Scripts, in a statement. “For seniors with more complex medication needs, our Value and Choice plans offer a broader range of coverage options on both generic and brand-name drugs to help Medicare beneficiaries better manage their medication costs."

The low-premium Saver plan will continue to provide “affordable access” to more than 2,800 commonly used medications, while offering a preferred pharmacy network that includes CVS Pharmacy, Walmart, and the Kroger Family of Pharmacies, according to Express Scripts.

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The Saver plan offers premiums as low as $18.30 per month with a $0 deductible on Tiers 1 and 2 medications. A 1-month supply of Tier 1 generic medications is approximately $1 and $4 for Tier 2 generic medications when filled at one of more than 16,000 preferred retail pharmacies nationwide.

The copays for a 90-day supply of Tier 1 or Tier 2 generic medications are $0 and $8, respectively, via home delivery from Express Scripts Pharmacy.

New for 2020, the Express Scripts Medicare Choice plan will have a $0 deductible on Tiers 1 and 2 medications, and only a $250 deductible on drugs in Tiers 3 through 5, which is a $100 decrease from 2019 and lower than the CMS standard deductible of $435.

Both Express Scripts Medicare Value and Choice plans provide broader medication access with low-cost preferred pharmacy options, Express Scripts said. Each will deliver a comprehensive formulary with nearly 3,000 medications for the Value plan and 3,200 medications for the Choice plan.

Further cost savings can be achieved by using the plans' network of more than 24,000 preferred pharmacies, including Walgreens, the Kroger Family of Pharmacies, and local, independent pharmacies nationwide.

Read more: Top 5 things to know about Express Scripts’ new formulary

Christine Blank is a freelance writer based in Florida.