Does Medicare Cover Minocin?

Although Minocin is a moderately priced antibiotic, it can be helpful to know if your Medicare plan can cover the costs. Below, you can learn about Medicare coverage for Minocin and other medications containing minocycline.

What Is Minocin and What Does It Treat?

Minocin is a branded version of the antibiotic minocycline. Doctors often prescribe minocycline medications to treat bacterial infections or chronic acne. It can also prevent bacteria from spreading to the brain from the respiratory tract and causing meningitis. Your health care provider may recommend Minocin if you're allergic to penicillin.

Doctors often prescribe between two and four doses of Minocin per day for bacterial infections, with or without food. The dosage requirements depend on several factors, which may include your build, overall health and the type of bacteria causing the infection. 

Minocin Side Effects

Minocin may cause the following side effects:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Tinnitus
• Discolored tears or urine
• Diarrhea
• Hair thinning
• Sore throat
• Unusual skin sensations, such as prickling or numbness

Does Medicare Part D Cover Minocin?

All Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage) plans provide coverage for generic minocycline, but they may not cover the Minocin brand specifically. You can check which drugs containing minocycline your insurance policy covers by reading the plan's formulary. Most insurers list generic minocycline and Minocin under formulary Tier 2 because they are moderately priced medications. 

If your policy excludes the Minocin brand, your doctor may recommend another medication containing minocycline covered by your policy. Potential alternatives to Minocin include:

• Dynacin
• Myrac
• Solodyn
• Ximino

Does Medicare Advantage Cover Minocin?

Whether your Medicare Advantage plan covers Minocin or generic minocycline depends on your covered benefits. Medicare Advantage plans are an alternative to regular Medicare coverage, and you can purchase them from private health insurance companies. All Medicare Advantage insurers must cover the same essential services as Original Medicare.

However, many companies selling Medicare Advantage policies offer extra benefits. One of the most common enhanced benefits is prescription drug coverage. If this applies to your plan, your policy will usually cover generic minocycline and may cover Minocin. 

How Much Will I Pay for Minocin With Medicare Coverage?

How much Minocin costs without insurance depends on your pharmacy and where you live. Most pharmacies charge up to $101 for 30 100mg capsules, but you could potentially get your medication for substantially less if you use discount vouchers. 

You'll pay the regular retail price for Minocin until you meet your deductible unless your Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan doesn't impose deductibles. The maximum deductible for Medicare Part D plans is $545 in 2024, but Medicare Advantage deductibles can be significantly higher. 

Once you've spent enough on medication to satisfy your deductible, your insurance company will pay most of your prescription drug costs. However, some companies charge a copay of around $2 or less whenever you claim for a Minocin prescription.

Medicare Coverage Restrictions for Minocin

Most Medicare plans including prescription drug benefits offer unrestricted coverage for Minocin or generic minocycline. Quantity limits or prior authorization requirements are relatively unusual.