Eligibility and Claims
Pharmacy
Provider Directories
Forms
P4P Portal
CareAdvantage
Healthy Families
Healthy Kids
HealthWorx
Medi-Cal
San Mateo ACE
Health Education
Do You Qualify?
Employment
Mission
Members
Programs
Governance
Management
Provider Network
Calendar
Contact Us
 

Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage and Pharmacies

CareAdvantage (HMO) includes the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit, which gives you comprehensive drug coverage. It covers brand-name and generic drugs.

   Covered Drugs
Covered drugs are listed in the CareAdvantage Formulary.

   Review the list of covered drugs
CareAdvantage Formulary

   Search the online formulary to find a drug
Use this online tool to see if your medication is on the list of covered drugs

   Notices of Drugs Removed from 2010 CareAdvantage Formulary

   Coverage requirements and limits
Some drugs may have quantity limits or step therapy rules, or they may require prior authorization from CareAdvantage before they will be covered.

   Criteria for drugs that require prior authorization
Read the details of the preconditions for approving coverage of certain drugs.

   Quantity Limits for Formulary Drugs

   Criteria for Step Therapy Drugs

   Low Income Subsidy
Members who qualify for CareAdvantage (HMO) have Medicare and Full-Scope Medi-Cal. By qualifying for Medi-Cal, you also qualify for
"Extra Help" with your Prescription Drug Coverage through Medicare Part D.
This "Extra Help" is also called the Low Income Subsidy.

For more information on how to apply for the Low Income Subsidy click on the following link. Social Security Online - Prescription Drug Costs

Qualifying for this subsidy means you have no Part D premium under CareAdvantage (HMO), and you have the following co-pays for drugs:

Year 2010
Deductible You Pay $0
Generic (Tier 1) Co-pay until your Total Drug Spending* is $2,660 You Pay $0
Brand (Tier 2) Co-pay until your Total Drug Spending* is $2, 660 You pay $3.30 or 6.30 depending on your income
Generic (Tier 1) Co-pay when your Total Drug Spending* is from $2,660 to $6,440 You pay $1.10 or $2.50, depending on your income
Brand (Tier 2) Co-pay when your Total Drug Spending* is from $2, 660 to $6,440 You pay $3.30 or $6.30, depending on your income
Catastrophic coverage limit After your Total Drug Spending* reaches $6,440, you pay $0 for your prescription drugs.


Members of CareAdvantage (HMO) receive this information in an attachment to their Evidence of Coverage, called the Low Income Subsidy Rider upon enrollment and each following year.

"Some members qualify for $0 co-payments all year, if they are in a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF). If you feel you qualify for a lower cost-sharing amount for generic or brand drugs, you may submit evidence of your Medi-Cal or SNF status by contacting our CareAdvantage Unit. For more information, click on the link below."
Center for Medicare and Medicad Services - Best Available Evidence

   Starting your Medicare Part D prescription coverage
If you are new to CareAdvantage, you may be taking a drug that is not on our formulary or has other coverage restrictions. You may be able to get your prescription through HPSM’s Transition Process. This describes what to do if you receive a letter that says your prescription cannot be covered. Read about the steps for requesting exceptions, coverage determinations, and appeals.

  Use Network Pharmacies for Covered Prescriptions
There are over 200 independent and chain pharmacies in the HPSM provider network located in San Mateo County and San Francisco. CareAdvantage will also cover prescriptions filled at national network pharmacies outside of the local area. Prescriptions filled at out-of-network pharmacies will be covered only in situations where a network pharmacy is not available to you.

  Review the list of network pharmacies in the CareAdvantage Provider Directory.

  Search the CareAdvantage Directory to find a pharmacy.

Personal Pharmacist Program
A free program that helps members get the best results from their medications. Read about the requirements for participation.

Information is available in these sections of the Evidence of Coverage
Prescription Drug (Part D) Benefits
How to Get Care and Prescription Drugs

Call our CareAdvantage Unit for questions about the formulary, pharmacies you can use, and the Personal Pharmacist Program.




© Health Plan of San Mateo