What is a formulary in Medicare Part D?

• A. A list of covered drugs by the plan.
• B. A directory of pharmacies.
• C. A list of vaccines.
• D. A schedule of doctors' visits.

Answer: (A)

Formulary is the plan’s official list of prescription drugs that are covered under a Medicare Part D plan. It shows which medications are covered and typically places them into cost-sharing tiers, which affects your copay or coinsurance. The formulary helps control costs while ensuring access to appropriate, effective therapies, but some drugs may have restrictions such as prior authorization, step therapy, or quantity limits. Plans can change their formularies each year, so it’s important to check the specific drugs covered by your plan and how they’re priced before filling prescriptions.

Why the other options don’t fit: a directory of pharmacies is about where you can fill prescriptions, not which drugs are covered; a list of vaccines isn’t the formulary; a schedule of doctors’ visits relates to medical services, not prescription drug coverage.