How to Appeal a Medicare Prescription Drug Denial

If your Medicare drug plan denies coverage for a drug you need, you don't have to simply accept it. There are several steps you can take to fight the decision.

The insurers offering Medicare drug plans choose the medicines -- both brand-name and generic -- that they will include in a plan's "formulary," the roster of drugs the plan covers and will pay for that changes year-to-year. If a drug you need is not in the plan's formulary or has been dropped from the formulary, the plan can deny coverage. Plans may also charge more for a drug than you think you should have to pay or deny you coverage for a drug in the formulary because it doesn't believe you need the drug. If any of these things happens, you can appeal the decision.