View and/or print the 2008 Aetna Medicare Rx plan comprehensive formulary (drug list) (132 pages)

All the medications on the preferred drug list (or formulary) have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This includes generic drugs as well as brand-name drugs. When a doctor prescribes medications from the preferred drug list, it helps you reduce costs.

The FDA promotes and protects public health by making sure prescription drugs and other products are safe, effective, and reach the market in a timely way. Once medications and other products have entered the market, the FDA keeps track of them for continued safety. Not all approved drugs are on Aetna's preferred drug list. To decide whether an FDA-approved medication belongs on Aetna's preferred drug list, Aetna evaluates its safety, effectiveness and value in comparison with similar drugs.

Aetna members should refer to their Evidence of Coverage to learn more about quality assurance policies and procedures, including utilization management, drug utilization review, and medication therapy management programs. Aetna's Medicare Rx Evidence of Coverage PDF files can be found in the Member Assistance section under Member Documents and Forms. Find your plan, open the PDF, and go to the "Drug Management Programs" section.

Aetna Medicare prescription drug plans cover both brand-name and generic drugs.

• Brand-name drugs are those that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves and the manufacturer markets with a brand or trade name. When the manufacturers lose their patents, generic versions may become available.
• Generic drugs have the same active ingredients in the same amounts as brand-name drugs. Generic drugs usually cost less than brand-name drugs and are considered by the FDA to be as safe and effective as brand-name drugs.

• From time to time, Aetna reviews the Aetna Medicare Preferred Drug List to make sure it meets the criteria for safety, effectiveness and overall value. Medications may be covered at a higher copayment and/or removed from the Preferred Drug List with advance notice of the change.
• As brand-name medications lose their patents and generic versions become available, the brand-name medication may be covered at a higher copayment.
• The Aetna Medicare Preferred Drug List may also change if a medication is taken off the market or becomes available without a prescription.
• If the Food and Drug Administration judges a drug on the Aetna Medicare Preferred Drug List to be unsafe, or if the drug's manufacturer removes the drug from the market, we will immediately remove it from the Aetna Medicare Preferred Drug List.

You and your doctor can ask Aetna to make an exception to our coverage rules if your doctor thinks it is medically necessary. There are several types of exceptions that you can ask us to make. For complete information about coverage determinations, requests for exceptions, and a copy of the form that can be used for a request, please see the Medicare Rx website section "Exceptions, Appeals & Grievances."

1. You can ask us to cover your medication even if it is not covered on our Aetna Medicare Preferred Drug List.
2. You can ask us to change coverage restrictions or limits on your medication.
3. If you are in an open formulary plan, such as the Aetna Medicare Rx Plus or Aetna Medicare Rx Premier plan, you can ask us to provide a more favorable level of coverage for your medication. However, you cannot be granted an exception to lower your specialty tier cost share.
4. To ask for an exception to our coverage rules, you should submit a statement from your doctor supporting your request. Most decisions will be made within 72 hours of your request.