For North Carolina seniors on Medicare
Medicare prescription discounts in North Carolina
Medicare covers a meaningful share of North Carolina seniors, and a discount card can sometimes beat your Part D price. Here's how to use LowerScript alongside Medicare to pay less. LowerScript is not insurance and does not replace Medicare.
Adults 65 and older make up 18.9% of North Carolina's population (Census QuickFacts, 2025 estimate).
When a discount card helps Medicare members
You can't combine LowerScript with Medicare on the same prescription, but you can choose whichever price is lower at the counter. A LowerScript cash price often wins in three situations North Carolina seniors hit regularly: For 2026, the Part D out-of-pocket threshold is $2,100 and the standard deductible is $615 (both up from 2025) — the earlier in the year you reach these amounts, the more purchases fall in the phases where comparing a LowerScript price against your plan price is worth doing. Looking ahead, CMS has finalized the 2027 standard deductible at $700 and the out-of-pocket threshold at $2,400 (both up from 2026) — see our guide to the 2027 Part D premium changes for what else is changing this fall.
- Before you've met your Part D deductible
- For a drug your plan doesn't cover
- When the cash price is below your plan copay
The simple rule: at the pharmacy, ask the pharmacist to check both your Medicare price and the LowerScript price, and use the lower one. (Note that a drug paid for with a discount card doesn't count toward your Medicare out-of-pocket totals.)
How to compare before you go
Look up your medication to see the cash price at pharmacies near you — CVS, Walgreens, Publix, Food Lion, Walmart and more — then bring your free card to the counter.
Can I use LowerScript with Medicare in North Carolina?
You cannot combine LowerScript with Medicare on the same purchase, but you can choose to pay the LowerScript cash price instead of using Medicare when it is cheaper — for example before your Part D deductible is met or for a drug your plan doesn't cover. Compare both prices at the counter.
Does the Medicare Part D coverage gap still exist?
No — the Inflation Reduction Act's Part D redesign eliminated the coverage-gap phase starting in 2025. A discount-card price can still help during your deductible phase, for a drug your plan doesn't cover, or any time it beats your copay.
Does LowerScript cost anything for seniors?
No. LowerScript is free — no fees, no subscription, no sign-up. It is a discount program, not insurance, and does not replace Medicare.
This page is general information, not medical, insurance, or financial advice. Compare prices and confirm coverage details at the pharmacy.
Related: Publix savings · Walgreens savings | Charlotte · Raleigh · Durham