What are Tier 2 and 3 drugs?

Asked by: Sierra Breitenberg  |  Last update: November 5, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (74 votes)

Tier 1: Least expensive drug options, often generic drugs. Tier 2: Higher price generic and lower-price brand-name drugs. Tier 3: Mainly higher price brand-name drugs. Tier 4: Highest cost prescription drugs.

What does tier 3 mean in healthcare?

Tier 3 — Out-of-network providers: You can use any out-of-network provider or facility; however, benefits are paid at a lower level, which means you can expect to pay more. In addition, you are responsible for any charges above the plan's allowed cost for a given healthcare service.

What are class 2 and 3 drugs?

Schedule II drugs include certain narcotics, stimulants, and depressant drugs. Some examples are morphine, cocaine, oxycodone (OxyContin®), , methylphenidate (Ritalin®), and dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®). Schedule III, IV, or V — drugs with an abuse risk less than Schedule II.

What is Tier 1, tier 2, tier 3 in health insurance?

Tier 2 — Standard providers: This tier includes providers who offer good quality care at a higher cost than Tier 1. Employees might pay a bit more out-of-pocket, but still benefit from quality healthcare services. Tier 3 — Non-preferred providers: Providers in this tier are usually the most expensive.

Is Adderall tier 3?

Only 1 brand-name drug, Adderall, was assigned tier 2 status at the same time as the 3-tier formulary implementation, and this drug had a generic version available in tier 1.

Understanding Specialty Tiers

21 related questions found

What tier is Xanax?

What drug tier is alprazolam typically on? Medicare prescription drug plans typically list alprazolam on Tier 2 of their formulary. Generally, the higher the tier, the more you have to pay for the medication. Most plans have 5 tiers.

What drugs are considered Tier 3?

Tier 3: Preferred brand drugs

These are brand-name drugs that don't have a generic equivalent. They're the lowest-cost brand-name drugs on the drug list. This tier also includes some high-priced generic drugs.

How do I find what tier my drugs are?

Generally, the lower the tier, the less you pay. You can find what tier a drug is on by checking your formulary or drug list. You can find the formulary or drug list on your member portal. It details which drugs are covered and any plan requirements associated with these drugs.

What is the difference between Tier 2 and Tier 3?

Whereas Tier 2 assessment is largely at the group-level, Tier 3 assessment is at the individual level. Thus, assessment at Tier 3 requires a much more comprehensive, thorough, and intensive approach. To accomplish this, assessment at Tier 3 is organized within the RIOT/ICEL framework.

What are Tier 2 drugs?

Tier 1: Least expensive drug options, often generic drugs. Tier 2: Higher price generic and lower-price brand-name drugs. Tier 3: Mainly higher price brand-name drugs. Tier 4: Highest cost prescription drugs.

Is Xanax a schedule 2 drug?

Schedule IV Controlled Substances

Examples of Schedule IV substances include: alprazolam (Xanax®), carisoprodol (Soma®), clonazepam (Klonopin®), clorazepate (Tranxene®), diazepam (Valium®), lorazepam (Ativan®), midazolam (Versed®), temazepam (Restoril®), and triazolam (Halcion®).

Which drug has the lowest risk of dependence?

Schedule IV drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with a low potential for abuse and low risk of dependence. Examples of Schedule IV drugs are: Xanax, Soma, Darvon, Darvocet, Valium, Ativan, Talwin, Ambien, Tramadol.

How do insurance companies decide which drugs to cover?

In practice, insurers use an internal committee or group, often called a pharmacy and therapeutics committee, to review formulary changes. According to the Insurance Department, these committees typically meet quarterly to review new drugs and, if the drugs are to be covered, determine the drugs' formulary tiers.

What is Tier 3 benefits?

Retirement Benefits
  • Mandatory retirement age(60 years)
  • Voluntary retirement age(55years)
  • Death(no age restriction)
  • Total incapacity( no age restriction)
  • If the member meets the employer's vesting rules.
  • Partial withdrawal after 10 years from the date of first contribution.

What does 3 tier means?

Three-tier architecture is a well-established software application architecture that organizes applications into three logical and physical computing tiers: the presentation tier, or user interface; the application tier, where data is processed; and the data tier, where application data is stored and managed.

What does Tier 2 mean in medical terms?

3-tier plan:

The levels are organized as follows: Level or Tier 1: Generic drugs, which could be low-cost preferred generics or general preferred generics. Level or Tier 2: Brand-name drugs, including preferred and nonpreferred options. Level or Tier 3: Highest-cost drugs.

Which is better 2 tier or 3 tier?

A two-tier DB architecture is comparatively much easier to maintain as well as build. A three-tier DB architecture is comparatively much complex to maintain as well as build. It runs at a comparatively slower pace. It runs and works at a comparatively faster pace.

What are examples of Tier 3 interventions?

These kinds of Tier 3 behavior interventions can include:
  • Mentoring.
  • Social skills development.
  • Collaboration with student's physician, therapist, or mental health provider.
  • Check-In/Check-Out (CICO)
  • Individual, visual schedule.
  • Structured breaks.
  • Behavior meetings with parents/guardians.
  • School counseling.

What tier is oxycodone?

Medicare prescription drug plans typically list oxycodone on Tier 3 of their formulary. Generally, the higher the tier, the more you have to pay for the medication.

Is Ozempic a tier 3 drug?

Medicare prescription drug plans typically list Ozempic on Tier 3 of their formulary.

What tier is Adderall?

Amphetamine- Dextroamphetamine (generic Adderall XR) – Tier 2.

What tier drug is hydrocodone?

Pure hydrocodone medications are classified as Schedule II controlled substances;4 however, combination hydrocodone products are designated as Schedule III controlled substances.

How do I know what tier my prescription is?

Drug tier list: What tier is my medication?
  1. Tier 1 medications: Generic versions.
  2. Tier 2 medications: Preferred brands.
  3. Tier 3 medications: Non-preferred brands.
  4. Tier 4 medications: Preferred specialty.
  5. Tier 5 medications: Non-preferred specialty.
  6. HSAs and FSAs.

What tier is gabapentin?

Medicare prescription drug plans typically list gabapentin on Tier 1 of their formulary.