Does Medicare Cover Pravastatin?

Pravastatin is a medication that's typically prescribed for people with high cholesterol or who are at risk for heart problems. If you're taking pravastatin, and you have prescription drug coverage through Medicare, there's good news — 100% of Medicare drug plans cover the medication. Your specific costs can vary based on the plan you choose, so it's helpful to understand how coverage works. 

What Is Pravastatin?

Pravastatin is a drug that reduces the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in your body. Your doctor may prescribe it to slow the rate of atherosclerosis, a condition that happens when your arteries thicken or harden due to the buildup of plaque. In some cases, you may use pravastatin if you have heart disease; it can help reduce the need for surgery.

If you receive a prescription for pravastatin, your doctor will likely recommend that you modify your diet and fitness routine as well to avoid averse Pravastatin interactions. Used in combination with lifestyle changes, the medication can help reduce your risk of a stroke, heart attack, angina or heart disease.

Pravastatin is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. When you take this medication, it prevents your body from making a key enzyme in the cholesterol-production process. As a result, you create cholesterol at a slower rate, which helps reduce plaque buildup. When your arteries aren't blocked, your blood can flow freely.

How Much Does Pravastatin Cost if You Have Medicare?

If you have a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that covers prescriptions, your pravastatin is covered. However, the price you pay depends on a number of factors.

To start, look at your deductible. If you haven't met it yet, you'll pay full price for pravastatin. This cost can vary based on where you live and the pharmacy you choose; some pharmacies offer lower prices, so it pays to shop around. Deductibles are different from plan to plan, but they can't be more than $545 in 2024.

After your prescription drug costs have surpassed your deductible, your plan starts to pay. Every time you fill a prescription, you'll pay a co-pay. This could be a flat fee or a percentage of the drug cost. Co-pays usually vary based on how the insurance company classifies the drug; pravastatin is typically a Tier 1 drug, which means that it's among the most affordable options. You can find the specific co-pay for pravastatin in the drug formulary for your plan.

Are There Any Medicare Coverage Restrictions for Pravastatin?

In most cases, Medicare prescription drug plans restrict the number of pravastatin tablets you can get at a time. This limit is usually set to a 1-month supply, which means you'll need to refill the prescription every month.

What is the Most Serious Side Effect of Pravastatin?

Pravastatin may come with some side effects. Among the more common are difficulty moving, stomach pain and pain or stiffness in bones, joints and muscles. 

Less common side effects may include^1:

• Chills
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Diarrhea
• Difficulty breathing
• Ear congestion
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Fever
• Headache or nausea 
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle cramps
• Shivering
• Sweating
• Vomiting
• Fatigue
• Rash
• Feelings of sadness or loss of interest
• Painful or difficult urination
• Bloating
• Blurred vision

What to Avoid When Taking Pravastatin

It's recommended to avoid breastfeeding and the use of certain other medications while taking Pravastatin. 

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of Pravastatin and make one more susceptible to side effects. These medical problems include^1:

• Alcohol abuse
• Liver disease
• Low blood pressure
• Recent major surgery
• Kidney disease
• Major trauma
• Seizures
• Infections in the blood