Your Prescription Costs $8 One Month and $80 the Next. Here Are the Questions to Ask Before You Pay

The same prescription can cost more because of deductibles, coverage stages, drug tiers, coinsurance, or plan changes. Before paying a surprising pharmacy bill, ask what changed and whether lower-cost options are available. Kenishirotie/Shutterstock

You picked up the same prescription last month for $8, so when the pharmacist says today’s refill costs $80, it’s reasonable to wonder what went wrong. The drug hasn’t changed, your doctor didn’t change the dose, and as far as you know, you still have the same insurance. Yet Medicare prescription costs can change because of deductibles, drug tiers, pharmacy networks, formulary changes, coinsurance, and other plan rules that aren’t obvious when you’re standing at the register. Medicare also says Part D plans can make certain formulary changes during the year, including changes that may affect what you pay for a particular medication. Before handing over $80 simply because the computer says that’s what you owe, ask a few questions that can help explain the difference and potentially uncover options for lowering it.

1. “Did I Hit a Deductible or Change Coverage Stages?”