Glimepiride (Amaryl) Medicare Coverage

Glimepiride
Chemical name: Glimepiride

Brand name: Amaryl

Typical dosage: 4mg

Typical type: Tablet1

Glimepiride is a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. Glimepiride is available as a brand name drug or as a generic and comes as an oral tablet.

Glimepiride is a medication used to treat high blood sugar for people who have type 2 diabetes. The brand name equivalent of Glimepiride is called Amaryl.

It is typically taken one time daily. Glimepiride stimulates insulin production and reduces glucose output from the liver.

Common side effects of Glimepiride include upset stomach, dizziness, fatigue, headache, flu-like symptoms and weight gain.

Does Medicare cover Glimepiride or Amaryl?

Yes! 100% of Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Part D plans cover Glimepiride.1

  • Medicare Advantage plans that offer prescription drug coverage are called Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans (MA-PD). Most Medicare Advantage beneficiaries (88 percent) are enrolled in MA-PDs.2

  • Medicare prescription drugs plans each have their own formulary, or drug list, that details what prescription drugs are covered by the plan and how they are covered.

Drug coverage may vary based on plan availability. You may be able to find Medicare Advantage plan options in your area that cover Glimepiride.

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Average costs for Glimepiride with Medicare drug coverage1

Your copay and deductible costs for any prescription drug can vary depending on what coverage stage you’re in.

Deductible stage Typical copay stage
Your deductible is the amount of money you must spend on covered drugs before your Medicare drug coverage starts paying its share of costs.

In the deductible stage, you’re responsible for the full cost of your prescription drugs.

Some Medicare prescription drug plans have a $0 deductible. Medicare drug plans cannot have a deductible more than $415 in 2019.		 After you meet your Part D deductible, you enter the initial coverage period.

During this phase (the typical copay stage), you pay a copayment (flat fee) or coinsurance (percentage) for your covered medications.
Free – $12 Free – $11

Additional information

Take Glimepiride with a meal. If you take it once a day, take Glimepiride with your breakfast. It’s best to try and take this medication at the same time every day.

Glimepiride works best along with a healthy lifestyle and diet.

Glimepiride can cause low blood sugar. Signs of low blood sugar include headache, feeling tired and weak, shaking, confusion, hunger, rapid heartbeat and sweating.

If you experience these symptoms while taking Glimepiride or if your blood sugar falls to less than 70 mg/dL, you should eat or drink 15 grams of carbohydrates, wait 15 minutes, then recheck your blood sugar.

Repeat if your blood sugar remains low. If you continuously have low blood sugar, talk to your doctor, as your medications may need to be adjusted.

 

 

This article is for informational purposes only. It is not healthcare advice, treatment, or diagnosis. It is not an endorsement of or recommendation for this medication. Speak to your doctor or healthcare provider about your specific healthcare needs, including your prescription medications. Only take medication as directed by your doctor.

Coverage and costs of prescription medications will vary by Medicare plan. Not all plans are available in all areas.

 

Written by Hayden Gharibyar, Pharm.D.

Copyright © 2019 TZ Insurance Solutions LLC. All rights reserved.

1 GoodRx. Glimepiride. Retrieved May 2019, from www.goodrx.com/glimepiride.

2 Jacobson, Gretchen; et al. A Dozen Facts About Medicare Advantage. (Nov. 13, 2018). Kaiser Family Foundation. Retrieved from www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/a-dozen-facts-about-medicare-advantage.

MedicareAdvantage.com is a website owned and operated by TZ Insurance Solutions LLC. TZ Insurance Solutions LLC and TruBridge, Inc. represent Medicare Advantage Organizations and Prescription Drug Plans having Medicare contracts; enrollment in any plan depends upon contract renewal.

Plan availability varies by region and state. For a complete list of available plans, please contact 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day/7 days a week or consult www.medicare.gov.

Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed this information.