Cost and What to Expect at the Pharmacy

Last Updated: July 6, 2026

Every fill costs a flat $50 — no matter your income or whether you receive Extra Help (the program that lowers drug costs for people with limited income). The $50 is the same for everyone.¹

A few things worth knowing about that $50:

• It does not count toward your annual drug spending cap (the $2,100 out-of-pocket limit for prescription drugs)

• It does not count toward your regular Part D deductible

• Manufacturer coupons or savings cards cannot be used to reduce it²
  
  

Only monthly supplies are covered — meaning 28- or 30-day fills. You can't get a 90-day supply through the Bridge.²

Here's one thing to prepare for: you probably won't be able to pick up your prescription the same day you drop it off. The Bridge requires a prior authorization — an approval process between your pharmacy and your doctor — before your first fill is covered. It sounds more complicated than it is.

Here's how it typically goes:²

1. Your doctor sends the prescription to your pharmacy with a note to route it through the Bridge.

2. The pharmacy submits the claim and sends your doctor a request to confirm you qualify.

3. Your doctor completes the approval — usually within 72 hours.

4. You come back, pick up your prescription, and pay the $50 copay at the counter.
   
   

Bring your red, white, and blue Medicare card. The pharmacy needs your Medicare ID number to process the claim. If you've misplaced your card, they can look it up with the last four digits of your Social Security number.²

Good news: once that first fill is approved, refills go through automatically. No new paperwork each time — unless you switch to a different covered drug.

SOURCES

1. "Medicare GLP-1 Bridge." Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. cms.gov/medicare/coverage/prescription-drug-coverage/medicare-glp-1-bridge. Accessed June 2026.
   
   
2.  "Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: Information for Pharmacies." Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, June 2026. cms.gov/files/document/glp-1-pharmacies-c.pdf. Accessed June 2026.