Starting January 1, 2025, Medicare will launch a free and voluntary Prescription Payment Plan that could make a big difference for Hawaii’s kupuna (elders) and others facing high prescription drug costs. With the cost of medications continuing to burden many island families, this new plan offers a way to better manage healthcare expenses through monthly billing instead of upfront pharmacy payments.
The new program lets Medicare beneficiaries spread out their prescription drug copays over the year, rather than paying them all at once when filling prescriptions. It’s particularly helpful for those who face high out-of-pocket costs at the start of the year or who need multiple medications regularly.
Instead of paying directly at the pharmacy, your health or drug plan will send you a monthly bill, dividing the total amount owed over the remaining months in the calendar year.
Enrollment is FREE and VOLUNTARY
No impact on your drug coverage or other Medicare benefits
Starts January 1, 2025
Helps you budget more effectively for your healthcare costs
This isn’t a discount or reduction program—it doesn’t lower the actual cost of your copays. What it does is help make those expenses more manageable by spreading them out evenly, which can ease financial stress for many on a fixed income.
All Medicare beneficiaries with drug coverage qualify. However, the program is most beneficial for those with high prescription copays who struggle with paying large amounts at once.
Whether you live in Honolulu or Hilo, or in a rural community on Molokaʻi or Lānaʻi, this is a practical way to plan for your medication costs throughout the year.
Enrollment is simple and fast:
Call your health or drug plan directly to ask about enrolling in the plan.
There’s no fee and no penalty for leaving the program later.
If you decide it’s not for you, you can cancel at any time. Stopping the program won’t affect your current Medicare drug coverage or benefits.
Your monthly bill will be based on:
For example, if your total expected copays are $1,200 and you join the plan in January, your monthly bill would be $100 for the next 12 months. If you join later in the year, your monthly payments will be higher to cover the same total over fewer months.
Hawaii’s senior community often faces higher costs and longer distances to care. By joining this program, residents can avoid large one-time pharmacy payments, which can be especially difficult for those living on a fixed income or in remote areas with limited access to affordable medication.
Programs like this help us build a stronger, more resilient healthcare system for our islands—one that supports our kūpuna and ensures no one has to choose between medicine and groceries.
Hawaii SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) offers free, unbiased, and local help with Medicare questions.
Contact Hawaii SHIP:
📞 Toll-Free: 1-888-875-9229
Their friendly team can walk you through your plan, help you enroll, and make sure you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled to.
With healthcare costs rising, the new Medicare Prescription Payment Plan is a welcome option for many in Hawaii. It’s voluntary, flexible, and designed to ease financial pressure on Medicare recipients who depend on life-saving medications.
If you or a loved one are on Medicare, reach out today to learn more about this valuable program—and take control of your prescription expenses with confidence.
