Table 2.

Plan features for the study sample^*

Variable	Antidepressants	Antidiabetics	Statins
Cost-sharing for a generic drug ($)
5^th percentile	0	0	0
25^th percentile	5	4	5
Mean	6	5	6
Median	7	7	7
75^th percentile	7	7	7
95^th percentile	9	8	9
Cost-sharing difference between brand and generic drugs ($)
5^th percentile	16	16	16
25^th percentile	26	26	25
Mean	32	31	28
Median	31	31	31
75^th percentile	33	33	32
95^th percentile	64	49	37
Prior authorization (%)	6.2	41.9	6.7
Step therapy (%)	44.8	53.2	40.1
Deductible (%)^†	21.5	21.8	21.5
Gap coverage (%)^‡	17.2	17.6	14.6
Premium per month ($)
5^th percentile	24	24	24
25^th percentile	33	33	35
Mean	43	43	42
Median	38	38	38
75^th percentile	44	45	43
95^th percentile	81	81	78

Plan features are described at person level.

^†

In Medicare Part D program, the deductible is a specific amount of money that beneficiaries have to pay for their prescriptions before their Part D plans start to pay their share of enrollees' prescription drug claims. The deductible varies across plans, some plans may have a deductible while others do not; besides, plans can have different amounts for their deductibles.

^‡

The Medicare Part D standard benefit design requires beneficiaries (except those with low-income-subsidies) to pay for 100% of total prescription costs after their expenditures exceed the initial coverage phase and before reaching the catastrophic coverage limit. This benefit phase is usually called "coverage gap" or "doughnut hole". However, plans can offer alternative benefit designs with gap coverage that covers some drug costs in the gap.