In the United States there are over 28 million people with type 2 diabetes and more than 84 million people living with pre-diabetes, a condition that often becomes type 2 diabetes if it’s left untreated.
Today, type 2 diabetics have better and easier drug options for controlling their blood sugar and A1C levels. One of these drug options is Trulicity, a medication specifically for type 2 diabetics. Trulicity works together with a healthy diet and exercise program to medically assist the body in releasing sufficient amounts of insulin so blood glucose and A1C levels improve. Your physician may feel that Trulicity is a good option for you.
How Does Trulicity Work?
Trulicity is not insulin, it is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist that works in the same way as the hormone GLP-1. In other words, it acts by helping the body release its own insulin in a more natural way.
Trulicity is injected with a pre-filled pen containing one dose, taken once a week. It gives the pancreas a boost to release proper amounts of insulin according to high blood glucose levels. It also limits the amount of sugar released into the blood by the liver, and it slows the rate of food leaving the stomach. Your physician may prescribe Trulicity for you if you have type 2 diabetes and have not had successful results with blood glucose level control from other treatments.
Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage for Trulicity
You may have coverage for Trulicity if you have Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. This is optional coverage that helps cover the costs of prescription drug coverage. Since Original Medicare Part A or Part B do not include any coverage for drugs, you can enroll in a stand-alone Prescription Drug Plan (PDP). You can also enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), that includes all the coverage of Original Medicare Parts A and B, but many include additional benefits, as well, including prescription drugs.
You can sign up for any Medicare Part D plan that is available where you live. In every state or region, there are between 40 and 50 different Medicare Prescription Drug Plans available for you to select from.
Each drug plan has its own list of covered drugs, called a formulary. All formularies have at least 2 drug options for every category. They offer a generic brand as well as a brand-name of the drug in tiers of pricing. As of now, however, Trulicity does not have a generic equivalent.
To find the best plan for your needs, consider the answers to these questions:
• What drugs does the plan cover?
• What are the monthly premiums?
• Are the pharmacies acceptable in the plan conveniently located?
The Costs of Trulicity
How much you pay for a prescription of Trulicity depends on which Medicare prescription drug coverage plan you have, where you live, which pharmacy you shop from, and your weekly dosage. The average cost in the United States for 2 Trulicity pens containing 1.5 mg or 0.5 ml is around $800.00 without insurance. That means you could end up paying over $400.00 per week if you don’t have a prescription drug plan. If your physician prescribes Trulicity for you, check your Part D plan to check coverage details.
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