Does Medicare Cover Glimepiride?

Christian Worstell | January 03, 2024

Glimepiride, a prescription drug to treat type 2 diabetes in adults, helps the body produce insulin. Learn whether Medicare provides coverage for glimepiride.

Adults living with diabetes struggle to keep their insulin levels in check. Glimepiride, a prescription drug that stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin, can help keep blood sugar levels stable.

Often prescribed along with other drugs, glimepiride works best when combined with diet and exercise. According to GoodRx.com, all Medicare prescription drug plans cover glimepiride.

Drug Information About Glimepiride

Glimepiride is available in tablet form and is usually taken once per day. It helps older adults with type 2 diabetes manage blood sugar levels. Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels is important for those with type 2 diabetes as serious complications can occur, such as heart disease, stroke and kidney problems, when blood sugar is too high.

Glimepiride doesn't cure diabetes; it simply helps manage blood sugar. An individual prescribed glimepiride should work closely with their doctor to develop a diabetes management plan that includes diet, exercise and smoking cessation. The most common side effects associated with glimepiride are nausea and dizziness.

What Tier Level Is Glimepiride?

A generic drug, glimepiride is usually a Tier 1 medication. The brand alternative, Amaryl, may be on a higher tier, and some Medicare prescription drug plans may not cover it. Medicare beneficiaries should check their drug plan's formulary or drug list for the current year to verify which tier level is assigned to glimepiride.

How Much Is a 30-Day Supply of Glimepiride?

GoodRx.com reports that a 30-day supply of glimepiride may have a cost share of $0-$15, depending on which stage of Medicare prescription drug coverage is active. Beneficiaries who receive Extra Help with prescription drug costs or are qualified Medicaid recipients may not have to pay anything for glimepiride.

Does Medicare Have Coverage Restrictions for Glimepiride?

Some Medicare prescription drug plans place a quantity limitation on glimepiride. This restriction can limit the number of tablets permitted to be dispensed in a 30-day period. Adults prescribed glimepiride should check with their Medicare plan and discuss any needs to bypass the restriction with their doctor.

About the Author

Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with HelpAdivsor.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.

Christian’s work as a Medicare expert has appeared in several top-tier and trade news outlets including Forbes, MarketWatch, WebMD and Yahoo! Finance.

While at HelpAdvisor, Christian has written hundreds of articles that teach Medicare beneficiaries the best practices for navigating Medicare. His articles are read by thousands of older Americans each month. By better understanding their health care coverage, readers may hopefully learn how to limit their out-of-pocket Medicare spending and access quality medical care.

Christian’s passion for his role stems from his desire to make a difference in the senior community. He strongly believes that the more beneficiaries know about their Medicare coverage, the better their overall health and wellness is as a result.

A current resident of Raleigh, Christian is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. You can find Christian’s most recent articles in our blog.

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