Does Medicare Cover Abilify?

Christian Worstell
In this article...
  • Abilify is a prescription drug used to treat mental health conditions including depression and schizophrenia. Learn how it works and possible side effects.

Abilify is the brand name for aripiprazole. This prescription drug, typically given as a 5 mg tablet, may be recommended by your doctor to treat a mental health disorder. It is also available in liquid form.

What is Abilify Used For?

Your doctor may prescribe Abilify if you have been diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome, schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, autism-associated irritability or bipolar disorder. 

How Does Abilify Work?

Abilify regulates chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. It balances the levels of serotonin and dopamine, natural substances that affect behavior, mood and thinking. Imbalances in these neurotransmitters can cause symptoms associated with depression and other mental health conditions.

Is Abilify an Antipsychotic or an Antidepressant?

The Food and Drug Administration categorizes Abilify as an antipsychotic medication for the treatment of schizophrenia. However, it can be used as an adjunctive (add-on) treatment for depression in conjunction with another antidepressant. 

Abilify Side Effects

Some people who take Abilify experience headaches, anxiety, restlessness, weakness, fatigue, dizziness, cold symptoms, shakiness, sleep disturbances, constipation, stomach issues or unexplained weight gain.

The drug may also lead to suicidal thoughts or attempts at self-harm in young adults and children, especially those who have had similar symptoms in the past. Seek immediate attention if you or a family member has panic attacks, nervousness or mood changes while taking Abilify. The drug is not safe to use in older adults as some research shows it may increase risk of death by infection or heart disease.

Does Medicare Cover Abilify?

Most Medicare prescription drug plans, including Advantage and Part D, cover Abilify if your doctor says it is medically necessary. However, you may have to meet the deductible for your plan first, a maximum of $545 in 2024. Without coverage, a monthly supply of Abilify may cost between $3 and $93.

Christian Worstell
About the Author

Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with HelpAdivsor.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.

Christian’s work as a Medicare expert has appeared in several top-tier and trade news outlets including Forbes, MarketWatch, WebMD and Yahoo! Finance.

While at HelpAdvisor, Christian has written hundreds of articles that teach Medicare beneficiaries the best practices for navigating Medicare. His articles are read by thousands of older Americans each month. By better understanding their health care coverage, readers may hopefully learn how to limit their out-of-pocket Medicare spending and access quality medical care.

Christian’s passion for his role stems from his desire to make a difference in the senior community. He strongly believes that the more beneficiaries know about their Medicare coverage, the better their overall health and wellness is as a result.

A current resident of Raleigh, Christian is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. You can find Christian’s most recent articles in our blog.

If you’re a member of the media looking to connect with Christian, please don’t hesitate to email our public relations team at Mike@MyHelpAdvisor.com.

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