- Medicare can help cover the cost of your Adderall prescription.
- You can get coverage using a Medicare Part D or a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan.
- Most plans will only cover the generic version of Adderall, which is called amphetamine salt combo.
- Your costs will depend on your specific Medicare Part D or Medicare Part C plan.
Adderall is a commonly prescribed medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). While many people associate both ADHD and Adderall with children and young adults, it’s actually common for seniors to be prescribed Adderall as well.
In fact, the advocacy organization Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), reports that as many as 10 million adults have ADHD. Many of those adults are Medicare beneficiaries.
Medicare offers coverage for Adderall in most Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans. Your cost for Adderall using Medicare will depend on your specific plan. However, in many cases, you’ll be able to purchase the generic form of Adderall, amphetamine salt combo, at a lower cost using Medicare.
Important Adderall information
- Adderall is a controlled substance.
- Adderall can be habit-forming.
- Never mix Adderall with alcohol. Mixing Adderall and alcohol can lead to alcohol poising, heart conditions, impaired judgment and more.
- Adderall can make it difficult to sleep if you take it too late in the day.
You can get coverage for your Adderall prescription through Medicare. Your coverage will depend on your specific plan, but most Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans cover Adderall.
Depending on your plan, you may only have coverage for the generic version, amphetamine salt combo.
Your coverage for Adderall will depend on which part of Medicare you’re using.
Original Medicare
Together parts A and B are called “original Medicare,” and they don’t include prescription coverage. Medicare Part A is hospital coverage and Medicare Part B is medical coverage. You can use this coverage for things like hospital stays, emergency room visits, doctor visits, and medical equipment.
However, you can’t get coverage for any medication, including Adderall, using original Medicare.
The only time original Medicare might pay for Adderall is if you receive it while you’re being cared for at a hospital or in a skilled nursing facility.
Medicare Part A would cover your Adderall during your stay in these facilities; however, once you are discharged, Medicare Part A no longer covers this cost.
This means that you’ll need to go beyond original Medicare if you want Medicare to cover the cost of your Adderall prescription.
Medicare Part C
Medicare Part C is also called Medicare Advantage. These plans are offered by private companies and are regulated by Medicare.
Plans are required to offer the same coverage as original Medicare, but most offer additional coverage including prescription options.
Medicare Part D
Medicare Part D is stand-alone prescription coverage. You can use a Part D plan in addition to your original Medicare or Medicare Advantage plan to get coverage for any prescriptions you take.
Both Advantage plans and Part D plans need to be purchased separately. The exact plans available to you will depend on where you live since many plans are only offered in certain states or regions.
Your plan will have costs associated with it such as monthly premiums, deductibles, and copayments. You can compare the Advantage and Part D plans in your area by using the Medicare website’s plan finder tool.
Medicare supplement (Medigap)
Medicare supplement plans, also called Medigap plans, are designed to help you cover the out-of-pocket costs of original Medicare. When you have a Medigap plan you’ll have coverage for costs like:
- deductibles
- coinsurance payments
- copayments
However, Medigap plans don’t provide additional prescription coverage. You’ll still need a Part D or Advantage plan to get coverage for Adderall.
A formulary is a list of prescription drugs that a particular insurance plan will cover. All Part D plans and any Advantage plans that include prescription coverage will have a formulary.
The formulary will list what prescriptions are covered and what your cost for them will be. Many formularies include the generic form of a prescription but not the brand name. Other formularies might specify a set number of times they’ll cover certain medications in a year.
You can make sure that all your prescriptions are included in a plan’s formulary before you sign up for it.
One of the best ways to do this is by entering your prescriptions into the Medicare website’s plan finder tool while you’re shopping for plans. The tool will then match you with plans that include your prescriptions on their formulary. You’ll also be able to see your out-of-pocket costs.
Your cost for Adderall will depend on your plan, pharmacy, dose, and specific prescription. Some example prices can be seen below.
| Medicare options | Adderall cost |
|---|---|
| Adderall without Medicare | around $514.00 for a 30-day supply |
| Adderall with Medicare | between $2 and $517.00 for a 30-day supply depending on your plan |
| Adderall with pharmacy coupons | around $438.00 for a 30-day supply |
| Generic amphetamine salt combo without Medicare | around $94.00 for a 30-day supply |
| Generic amphetamine salt combo with Medicare | between $1 and $62.00 for a 30-day supply depending on your plan |
| Generic amphetamine salt combo with pharmacy coupons | around $24.00 for a 30-day supply |
As you can see from the prices above, one of the biggest differences you can make in your costs for Adderall is taking the generic option, amphetamine salt combo.
In many cases, your pharmacist can make this switch for you after talking to your doctor. You can also ask your doctor about switching to the generic if you’re worried about the cost.
Keep in mind that your out-of-pocket costs with Medicare will depend on your plan. In some cases, your copayment might be higher than the cash price using a coupon. It’s a good idea to know what your cost will be using your plan, and then look for coupons from pharmacies in your area to compare prices.
Adderall is a stimulant medication commonly prescribed to treat both ADHD and narcolepsy. Adderall is a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine.
It works by stimulating your central nervous system and raises the levels of the hormones norepinephrine and dopamine in your brain. In many people, this improves concentration, memory, organization, and other brain functions.
Adderall is a brand name. The generic version, amphetamine salt combo, has the same effects and is prescribed for the same reasons.
The dose you take will depend on how you respond to Adderall. Your doctor might start you on one dose and then increase or decrease it after a few months. It’s important to tell your doctor what improvements you see and let them know if you’re having any side effects.
Adderall is a controlled substance that can be highly addictive. It also has the potential to be abused. However, when taken as prescribed many people see positive changes when taking Adderall.
You’ll need a prescription to take it, and your doctor will probably want to evaluate your prescription regularly to make sure it’s still the best choice for you.
Your doctor might prescribe an alternative if Adderall isn’t working for you. Some other stimulants you may be prescribed include:
- Aptensio
- Concerta
- Daytrana
- Dexedrine
- Dyanavel XR
- Evekeo
- Metadate ER
- Methylin
- Ritalin
- ProCentra
- Quillivant
- Vyvanse
Sometimes, stimulants might not be the choice for your ADHD or narcolepsy. In this case, your doctor will try a different approach to help you manage symptoms.
Nonstimulant medications work with your nervous system differently, and often have fewer side effects than stimulants. It’s always important to talk with your doctor about how your prescription is making you feel, so they can make changes if needed.
- Medicare can help cover the cost of your Adderall prescription. You’ll need either a Part D or a Medicare Advantage plan for coverage.
- Your plan’s formulary will need to include Adderall to get coverage. In many cases, your plan will only cover the generic form, amphetamine salt combo.
- Your costs will depend on your specific plan. You might also be able to get pharmacy coupons to bring down your price.
The information on this website may assist you in making personal decisions about insurance, but it is not intended to provide advice regarding the purchase or use of any insurance or insurance products. Healthcare Website Media does not transact the business of insurance in any manner and is not licensed as an insurance company or producer in any U.S. jurisdiction. Healthcare Website Media does not recommend or endorse any third parties that may transact the business of insurance.