What is the list?
This is the list of medications that we cover. The list is reviewed by a team of clinical experts every three month for new safety alerts, medications and other developments. The Preferred Drug List does not change very often but may have medications added and removed from time-to-time.

Who decides what's on it?
The HealthPartners Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee (P&T) manages this list. This team of clinical experts is focused on safety, effectiveness and affordability. Click here for more information on what determines the medications on our Preferred Drug List.

How can I use it?

• By Drug Name: If you know the name of the medication, type in the name and click on go. If you're not sure how to spell it -- that's okay, we can find close matches.
• By Drug Category: If you want to see all your options, use the dropdown list under the Drug Category tab and select the category you need. Common categories include cholesterol lowering, diabetes and birth control/contraceptives.
• Drug First Letter: If you're not sure how to pronounce or spell your medication, use this easy way to see a list of medications in alphabetical order.

What should I look for?
1. Use the legend: If you forget what the symbols are for, move your mouse over the symbol for a reminder.

2. Generics: Generic medications are the best opportunity to save money. The average price difference between a brand-name medication and its generic is more than $100. Generics work the same as a brand-name medication, have the same ingredients and are approved by the Federal Drug Agency (FDA). You can identify generics by the green .

3. Brands: You can identify brand-name medications by the blue . These medications are covered, but you'll probably have to pay more if you use a brand-name medication instead of a generic.

4. Price Range: An estimated cost range is provided for each medication. This range is the average cost of the medication (prior to your benefits) for a one-month supply across all strengths of the medication. Medication prices can change frequently due to market conditions and are based on the strength of the medication you use. Please log on to your secure online account and use the Drug Cost Calculator found in the Pharmacy Toolkit for cost estimates that use your pharmacy benefits to determine how much you will need to pay.

5. Category: When your search returns a brand-medication that is on the Preferred Drug List, click on "Category" below the label name. Then you'll see all the covered medications, including generics that are similar to the brand-name medication you had selected.

6. More Details: When you see a symbol under the "More Details" column, click on it to see special programs, money-saving opportunities and, in some cases, rules for the medication such as prior authorization requirements.

7. Print: The "Print" symbol is directly over the "More Details" column. Click this symbol to print your search results. You can use this tool to print off a list of medications before you visit your doctor -- that way you can make sure any medications that are prescribed for your condition will be covered, and you can request a generic!

8. The "Orange Alert Box": When the medication you searched for is returned in an orange box, that means the medication is not covered (non-preferred). Below it, you'll see similar medications that are covered in the "Covered Medications" section. Some plans have coverage for non-preferred medications, but you'll have to pay more. You can see what's covered by your benefits by calling Member Services at the number on the back of your Member ID card; logging on and viewing your benefits at healthpartners.com; or using the Contact Us link at healthpartners.com.

9. The Pharmacy Toolkit: Look for the green box to the right of your screen when you're using the formulary. The toolkit contains online tools that will help you use your pharmacy benefits.

• Find medication information: Use the Healthwise health information library for more details, like a picture of the medication, what to do if you miss a dose and side effects.
• Check drug interactions: Enter the name of your medication along with any over-the-counter (non-prescription) products, vitamins and prescription medications you're taking. This tool will alert you to any interactions that may impact your health, including interactions to foods and drinks.
• Calculate drug costs:
  • If you're a HealthPartners member, log on using your username and password. Enter the medication name to see your costs for this medication. The costs are based on your pharmacy coverage and even take into account where you are with your deductible (if you have one). You can also see costs at HealthPartners Mail Order and the cost of filling three-month fills at participating network pharmacies.
  • Not a member yet? You can still see estimates based on two of our most common pharmacy benefits.
• Find a pharmacy: See the more than 60,000 pharmacies covered across the country. This tool is powered by MapQuest^(R) -- you can search by ZIP Code, name, the distance from a specific location or even 24-hour pharmacies.
• Look up pharmacy claims: You must be logged on to healthpartners.com to use this tool. You can view and print your pharmacy claims. This is a great tool to use when you need to complete your taxes or estimate expenses for the coming year.