Prescription savings guide
Can You Use a Discount Card With Medicare?
Last updated August 31, 2026 · Reviewed by the LowerScript editorial team · Español
You cannot combine a prescription discount card with Medicare on the same purchase, but you can choose to pay the discounted cash price instead of using Medicare when it's cheaper. This often happens before you've met your Part D deductible or for medications your plan doesn't cover. (The old coverage gap — the "donut hole" — was eliminated by the Part D redesign starting in 2025.) Always ask the pharmacist to compare both prices.
When a discount card beats Medicare
Paying out of pocket is common on Medicare, not a rare edge case. In a 2016 national survey of roughly 56 million Medicare beneficiaries, 14.4% of those aged 65 and older reported not taking a medication as prescribed because of the cost — with higher rates among people on lower incomes and those managing more chronic conditions.1 Research has also documented that cost-related nonadherence eased unevenly across income and racial groups as Part D changed over time.2 A discount card gives those fills a lower cash price to fall back on: before you've met your deductible, for non-covered drugs, or any time the cash price is lower than your plan's cost-share, compare both at the counter and pick the cheaper one.
What's changing for Part D in 2027
On July 28, 2026, CMS announced that the temporary Premium Stabilization Demonstration — which reduced standalone drug-plan premiums and capped yearly increases in 2025 and 2026 — ends after 2026. The 2027 base premium is $41.33 (up from $38.99), and with the cap gone, individual plans can raise premiums by more than in recent years; plan-by-plan prices arrive in September, and open enrollment runs October 15 – December 7. The out-of-pocket cap continues, rising to $2,400 in 2027. If your premium jumps, comparing cash prices on your generics becomes more useful, not less — see our full guide to the 2027 Part D premium changes for Florida seniors.
Important caveat
A prescription paid for with a discount card does not count toward your Medicare deductible or out-of-pocket (TrOOP) totals. Weigh that if you're close to catastrophic coverage.
See also
Our guide to Medicare prescription discounts in Florida covers this in more detail.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use LowerScript and Medicare together?
Not on the same purchase. You choose one or the other per prescription — use whichever is cheaper.
Will discount-card spending count toward my Part D out-of-pocket?
No. Purchases made with a discount card don't count toward Medicare TrOOP or your deductible.
Should seniors still keep Medicare?
Yes. A discount card is a supplement for specific fills, not a replacement for coverage.
Are Part D premiums going up in 2027?
The federal subsidy that held down standalone drug-plan premiums ends after 2026, and the 2027 base premium rises to $41.33. With the yearly increase cap gone, some plans may rise more than others — compare plans during open enrollment (October 15 – December 7). See our 2027 Part D guide.
References
- Nekui F, Galbraith AA, Briesacher BA, Zhang F, Soumerai SB, Ross-Degnan D, Gurwitz JH, Madden JM. Cost-related Medication Nonadherence and Its Risk Factors Among Medicare Beneficiaries. Medical Care. 2021;59(1):13–21. doi:10.1097/MLR.0000000000001458
- Bakk L. Medicare Part D Coverage Gap: Race, Gender, and Cost-related Medication Nonadherence. Social Work in Public Health. 2015;30(6):473–485. doi:10.1080/19371918.2015.1052607
This guide is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your medications. LowerScript is a discount program, not insurance.
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Get your free cardMore guides: What Is a Prescription Discount Card? · How to Use a Prescription Discount Card · Insurance vs Cash Price: Which Is Cheaper? · How Are Prescription Prices Determined? | All savings guides · Drug prices