Do most medical expense policies cover prescription drugs automatically?

• A. Not always; many basic plans exclude or limit drug coverage; some major medical plans include it.
• B. Yes, all plans include it.
• C. No plans cover drugs.
• D. They cover only over-the-counter drugs.

Answer: (A)

Prescription drug coverage is not automatic in medical expense policies. The amount and existence of drug benefits depend on the plan. Many basic plans exclude prescription drugs or provide only limited coverage, while some more comprehensive major medical plans do include prescription drug benefits as part of the policy, though with varying details like copays, formulary restrictions, or caps. There are also arrangements with separate drug riders or stand-alone prescription plans. Because of this variability, you can’t assume all plans cover drugs automatically, and some do not cover them at all or only under specific conditions.