Prescription drug or pharmacy coverage is an important aspect of your health insurance. When you’re eligible for Medicare, there are a variety of ways you can receive prescription drug benefits, depending on the type of Medicare plan you choose.

Two of the most popular ways to get Medicare coverage: 

• Original Medicare with a supplement and separate prescription drug plan (Part D)
• An all-in-one Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan with prescription drug coverage included

Do MA plans include prescription drug coverage?

Most, but not all, Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage. Medicare Advantage plans are Medicare-approved private health insurance alternatives that take the place of Medicare Parts A and B. Most MA plans offer additional coverage that is not provided through Original Medicare, such as vision, dental, care for chronic illnesses and drug coverage.

If you choose an all-in-one MA plan, you do not need to enroll in a separate prescription drug plan because it’s already included in your coverage.

It’s important to learn about the different kinds of prescription drugs covered in your plan and which pharmacies to choose so you can get the medications you need at the most affordable price.

Podcast: Questions to ask when shopping for Medicare Rx coverage

What pharmacies are included in our network?

Align powered by Sanford Health Plan includes a pharmacy network of over 60,000 regional and national pharmacies. To have your prescriptions covered at the highest level, be sure to fill them at a pharmacy that’s part of our network, such as:

• Costco
• Hy-Vee
• Sam’s Club
• Walmart

Our pharmacy network also includes independently owned pharmacies. View the entire list.

What are preferred pharmacies?

Our pharmacy network also includes preferred pharmacies, which offer prescriptions at the lowest cost-share amount. If you have a preferred pharmacy in your area, you could save more on your medications at these locations.

Our preferred pharmacies include: 

• CVS
• Gateway Pharmacy
• Lewis Drug
• OptumRx
• Sanford Health Pharmacy
• Seip Drug
• Thrifty White
• OptumRx

How can you see if your prescriptions are covered?

A plan’s list of covered medications is called a formulary. You can use this tool to see if your prescriptions are covered and view other drug information, such as if a prescription requires prior authorization.

Tip: The formulary is divided into tiers or different cost levels. Using lower-tier or preferred medications can help you pay the lowest out-of-pocket cost. View our formulary. 

What else is important to know?

Our Medicare Advantage plans include the Part D Senior Savings Model to provide a stable copay for certain types of insulin. In addition, you can have over-the-counter (OTC) medications shipped directly to you. Depending on your plan, you’ll receive a credit each quarter to purchase medications such as aspirin or cold and flu medicine.

More resources:

Medicare Part D terms to know
Understanding pharmacy and drug coverage

Download a free guide to Medicare Advantage plans from Align powered by Sanford Health Plan or contact a licensed agent at (888) 535-4831 (TTY: 711) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time, excluding holidays, to learn more.

Sanford Health Plan and Sanford Health Plan of Minnesota have HMO and PPO plans with a Medicare contract. Sanford Health Plan D-SNPs have contracts with State Medicaid programs. Enrollment in our plans depends on contract renewal. Sanford Health Plan complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, or any other classification protected under the law. This information is not a complete list of benefits. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply. Call (888) 605-9277 (TTY: 711) 8 a.m.–8 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday for more information.

CMS ID Number: H8385_166-222-919-PY2025-ND-SD-IA_M, H3186_166-222-919-PY2025-MN_M