Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (M3P)

Find out if the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (M3P) is right for you

The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan could help you manage your prescription costs if you are currently:

  • Enrolled in Medicare Part D,
  • Paying more than $600 a month on your prescriptions,
  • Spending more than $2,000 a year on prescriptions.

This payment option can help you manage your monthly expenses by spreading your payments out over the course of the year, but it does not save you money or lower your drug costs.

What is Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (M3P)?

The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (M3P) can help you manage your out-of-pocket Medicare Part D drug costs by spreading them across the calendar year (January-December). As part of the Inflation Reduction Act, this payment plan is available to all Medicare Advantage members with prescription drug coverage.

It is free to sign up for M3P and you will never pay any interest or fees. You will also never pay more than you would have paid at the pharmacy. 

Anyone with a Medicare health plan with drug coverage can use this payment option. Plan participation is 100% voluntary and may not make sense for all Medicare participants.

You can sign up for M3P in one of three ways:

  1. Online: Go to www.expressscripts.com/mppp
  2. Phone: Call (866) 845-1803 (TTY: 711) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  3. Mail: Send in a completed enrollment form to Express Scripts, P.O. Box 66562
    St. Louis, MO 63166-6562

You can request a form be mailed to you by calling (866) 845-1803 (TTY: 711).

NOTE: It can take up to 24 hours after enrollment before you can start using the payment plan.

Once enrolled in M3P, you will no longer pay for your prescription drugs at the pharmacy or through your mail order or specialty pharmacy. Instead, you will receive a monthly bill from Express Scripts on behalf of HAP.

Your monthly bill is based on what you would have paid for any prescriptions you get, plus your previous month’s balance, divided by the number of months left in the year. For more information, see Medicare’s What’s the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan? fact sheet.

Your monthly bill can change over the course of the year, especially if you get or refill a new prescription. Express Scripts, on behalf of HAP, can provide an estimate of your monthly bill with the monthly payment calculator.

Once your enrollment request has been received, Express Scripts will send you a letter confirming your participation in the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (M3P).

For requests received prior to the plan year, the notice of election approval will be sent within 10 calendar days. For requests received during the plan year, the notice of election approval will be sent within 24 hours. The initial notice will be delivered via telephone, followed by a written notice delivered within 3 calendar days of delivering the initial telephone notice.

If you have any questions, call (866) 845-1803 (TTY:711) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you cannot wait for the M3P approval process due to health or safety reasons, have your prescription filled. You will pay your normal copay, but once you opt in, you can choose to have the start date applied retroactively as long as the prescription was filled within the last 72 hours.

Bills can be paid online, over the phone or by mail.

You will receive a monthly bill with the amount you owe for your prescriptions, when the payment is due and how to make a payment. The bill will arrive separately from any bills from HAP, including your monthly plan premium, if applicable.

Even though you won’t pay for your drugs at the pharmacy, you are still responsible for the costs. If you want to know what your drugs will cost before you take them home, call HAP or ask your pharmacist.

You can leave the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (M3P) at any time by visiting www.expressscripts.com/mppp or calling (866) 845-1803 (TTY: 711) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Opting out won’t affect your Medicare drug coverage and other Medicare benefits.

After opting out of the payment plan, you will still receive bills for any amount owed. You will also need to pay your pharmacy directly for any new medication. Opting out will stop all new purchases from being added to your account. You have the option to pay the balance in full at any time.

You can opt back in to the program at any time if you change your mind.

If you miss a payment, you will receive a reminder. If you do not pay your bill by the date listed in the reminder, you will be removed from the plan and you will be billed for the total amount owed.

You are required to pay the amount you owe, but you will not be charged any additional interest or fees, even for late payments.

You can choose to pay your remaining balance in a lump sum, or you can be billed monthly. Even if you are removed from M3P, you will still be enrolled in your Medicare health or drug plan.

Always pay your health or drug plan monthly premium (if you have one) first, to avoid losing your coverage. If you are having difficulty making both your monthly plan premium and M3P payments, learn about programs that can help lower your costs.

The payment plan isn’t for everyone. Consider staying with your current payment options if you:

  • Have low to no prescription drug costs each month
  • Already pay the same amount every month for your medication
  • If you are considering signing up for the payment option after September in the calendar year
  • Are eligible for Extra Help from Medicare (LIC subsidy)
  • Are eligible for a Medicare Savings Program
  • Have extra help paying for your drugs from other organizations, such as the State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program (SPAP) or coupon programs

If you are in need of Extra Help from Medicare (LIC subsidy), read more on our website or on the Medicare Extra Help Program.

For more information on the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (M3P), check out the Medicare What’s the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan? fact sheet.

Online: Go to www.expressscripts.com/mppp

Phone: Call (866) 845-1803 (TTY: 711) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Click here to read the Medicare fact sheet on the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan.

Health Alliance Plan (HAP) has HMO, HMO C-SNP, HMO-POS, and PPO plans with Medicare contracts. HAP Medicare Complete Duals (HMO D-SNP), HAP Medicare Complete Assist (PPO D-SNP), and HAP CareSourceTM MI Coordinated Health (HMO D-SNP) are Medicare health plans with a Medicare contract and a contract with the Michigan Medicaid Program that provides benefits of both programs to enrollees. Enrollment depends on contract renewals.