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Does Medicare Part D Cover Fasenra?

Yes — Fasenra (Benralizumab) is covered under Medicare Part D, filled by 32,000 beneficiaries across 348,000 claims in the latest year. It typically sits on tier 4-5 (specialty) of standard Part D formularies. Specialty drugs use coinsurance (25-33% of plan-negotiated price), not flat copays. The 2025 Part D annual out-of-pocket cap is $2,000.

Fasenra Medicare Coverage & Out-of-Pocket Cost

Fasenra is covered under Medicare Part D, with the program paying an average of $2,836 per prescription fill. Fasenra typically falls on Tier 4-5 (specialty) of standard Part D formularies. Specialty drugs use coinsurance (25-33% of plan-negotiated price), not flat copays. The 2025 Part D annual out-of-pocket cap is $2,000.

Your actual out-of-pocket cost depends on three factors: (1) formulary tier — your plan's specific placement; (2) deductible status — most plans require you to meet up to a $590 deductible (2025) before copays kick in; (3) coverage phase — initial coverage, then the donut hole was eliminated in 2025, replaced by a hard $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap under the Inflation Reduction Act. Once you hit $2,000 in true out-of-pocket spending, the rest of your Part D drugs are free for the year.

No generic is currently available for Fasenra. Medicare beneficiaries cannot use manufacturer copay cards (anti-kickback statute prohibits them for federal program enrollees), but charity foundations such as the PAN Foundation, NeedyMeds, and the HealthWell Foundation offer copay grants for many asthma/copd drugs. The Medicare Extra Help (LIS) program also reduces Part D costs to near-zero for income-qualified beneficiaries (under 150% of the federal poverty level).

For cash-pay or commercial insurance scenarios, compare prices using GoodRx, SingleCare, or Cost Plus Drugs before filling — discount-program prices sometimes beat Part D copays for lower-cost generics.

How to Confirm Fasenra Coverage & Handle a Denial

Medicare Part D coverage of Fasenra is set plan-by-plan, not nationally. To confirm your plan covers it, look up Fasenra in the Medicare Plan Finder or your plan's online drug list, and check three flags: the formulary tier (drives your copay), prior authorization (PA), and step therapy (ST) or quantity limits.

Because Fasenra is a higher-cost drug, plans are more likely to require prior authorization or step therapy — meaning you may need to try a lower-cost alternative first, or your prescriber must document why Fasenra is medically necessary. If your plan denies coverage, you have the right to a formulary exception: your prescriber submits a statement of medical necessity, and the plan must respond within 72 hours (24 hours if expedited).

A denial can be appealed through five levels — redetermination by the plan, an independent review entity, an Administrative Law Judge, the Medicare Appeals Council, and finally federal court. Coverage resets every January, so re-check Fasenra on your formulary during open enrollment (October 15 – December 7) even if it was covered this year.

Key Facts: Fasenra Cost

Medicare Part D avg
$2,836/claim
Likely Part D tier
Tier 4-5 (specialty)
Annual cost/patient
$30,844
Generic available
No
Manufacturer
AstraZeneca
Treats
Asthma/COPD
Patent expires
2031-11-14
YoY price change
+18.6%

Source: CMS Medicare Part D Spending Dashboard. Tier placement inferred from typical formulary norms — confirm with your specific Part D plan.

Fasenra is manufactured by AstraZeneca and prescribed primarily for Asthma/COPD. In the most recent Medicare Part D data, 348,000 claims were filed for 32,000 unique beneficiaries, at an average cost of $2,836 per claim. Average annual cost per beneficiary is $30,844.

Year over year, Medicare spending on Fasenra has increased by +18.6%. No generic substitute is available, so the brand-name price reflects the full market cost. Its patent expires 2031-11-14.

Fasenra belongs to the Asthma & COPD Inhalers class. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) reduce airway inflammation. Long-acting beta-agonists (LABA) relax airway muscles for 12-24 hours. Long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA) block bronchoconstriction. Triple combination inhalers (Trelegy) combine ICS + LABA + LAMA. Biologics (Nucala, Xolair, Dupixent) target specific immune pathways in severe asthma that doesn't respond to inhalers alone.

Key Data

MetricValue
Avg Cost Per Claim$2,836
Total Medicare Spending$987.0M
Total Claims348,000
Beneficiaries32,000
Generic AvailableNo
Year-Over-Year Change+18.6%

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Fasenra appears in Medicare Part D claims data, with 32,000 beneficiaries filling 348,000 prescriptions in the latest year. Whether your specific plan covers it depends on that plan's formulary, so confirm on your plan's Summary of Benefits.

It can. Many Part D plans apply prior authorization, step therapy, or quantity limits to Fasenra — higher-cost drugs like this one are the most likely to carry these requirements. Prior authorization means your prescriber must document medical necessity before the plan pays. Check your plan's formulary "PA," "ST," or "QL" flags, or ask your pharmacist to run a test claim.

You have appeal rights. Start with a coverage determination / formulary exception request from your plan (your prescriber submits a supporting statement). If denied, you can escalate through five levels: redetermination, an independent review entity, an Administrative Law Judge, the Medicare Appeals Council, and federal court. Expedited 72-hour decisions are available when waiting could jeopardize your health.

Most Medicare Advantage plans include Part D drug coverage (MA-PD), so Fasenra is generally available — but each Advantage plan sets its own formulary, tier, and pharmacy network. Coverage and copay can differ from Original Medicare plus a standalone Part D plan, so compare the specific plan's drug list before enrolling.

Fasenra is typically placed on Tier 4-5 (specialty) of standard Part D formularies. Specialty drugs use coinsurance (25-33% of plan-negotiated price), not flat copays. The 2025 Part D annual out-of-pocket cap is $2,000. Your exact tier and cost-sharing are set by your individual plan and can change each plan year.

Use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov, enter Fasenra, and review each plan's formulary, tier, and restrictions. You can also call the number on your insurance card or check the plan's online drug lookup. Coverage is reset every January, so re-check during open enrollment (Oct 15 – Dec 7).

Yes — Fasenra (Benralizumab) is covered under Medicare Part D, filled by 32,000 beneficiaries across 348,000 claims in the latest year. It typically sits on tier 4-5 (specialty) of standard Part D formularies. Specialty drugs use coinsurance (25-33% of plan-negotiated price), not flat copays. The 2025 Part D annual out-of-pocket cap is $2,000.

This answer pulls from CMS Medicare Part D Drug Spending data, the authoritative federal source for U.S. Medicare prescription-drug pricing. The headline number above is the direct answer; what follows is the additional context most readers need to use the answer for a real decision rather than just a fact lookup.

For readers turning this answer into action: cross-reference against the underlying CMS Medicare Part D Drug Spending data record before acting on time-sensitive decisions. The site renders the data as it was published; subsequent revisions can shift the picture, and the live federal data is always the authoritative current reference.

Source: CMS Medicare Part D Spending, 2026.