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Copayment Tier Definitions


Medications are assigned to one of four categories known as copayment or coinsurance tiers, based on drug usage, cost and clinical effectiveness. Our prescription drug search can show you which tier applies to a specific medication.

Tier 1 (Generic drugs)

  • FDA-approved versions of brand-name medications
  • Features the lowest copayment

Tier 2 (Preferred brand drugs)

  • Brand-name drugs that meet the needs of most patients
  • Second lowest copayment

Tier 3 (Non-preferred brand drugs)

  • Brand-name drugs without a generic version, but have therapeutic alternatives in Tier 2
  • Not used typically as a first line of treatment
  • Some brand-name drugs with a generic equivalent
  • Higher copayment

Tier 4 (Specialty drugs)

  • Medications classified by BCBSNC as those which require special dosing or administering, are typically prescribed by a specialist and are more expensive than most medications
  • Highest copayment or coinsurance amount


  • This list was last updated on 8/1/07.
    Growth Hormones
    GENOTROPIN Somatropin injection
    PROTROPIN Somatrem injection
    ZORBTIVE Somatropin injection
    SAIZEN Somatropin injection
    SEROSTIM Somatropin injection
    Anti-Infectives
    CYTOVENE (brand only) Ganciclovir capsule
    DECLOMYCIN (brand only) Demeclocycline tablet
    NOXAFIL Posaconazole oral suspension
    VFEND Voriconazole tablet, oral susp
    Infertility
    REPRONEX Menotropins injection
    OVIDREL Choriogonadotropin alfa injection
    PERGONAL Menotropins injection
    PREGNYL (brand only) Chorionic gonadotropin injection
    NOVAREL (brand only Chorionic gonadotropin injection
    PROFASI (brand only) Chorionic gonadotropin injection
    LUVERIS Lutropin alfa injection
    MENOPUR Menotropins injection
    GANIRELIX ACETATE Ganirelix acetate injection
    GONAL-F Follitropin alfa injection
    GONAL-F RFF Follitropin alfa injection
    BRAVELLE Urofollitropin injection
    CETROTIDE Cetrotide injection
    FERTINEX Urofollitropin injection
    FOLLISTIM Follitropin beta injection
    FOLLISTIM AQ Follitropin beta injection
    FOLLISTIM/ANTAGON Follitropin beta/ganirelix acetate
    Rheumatoid Arthritis / Psoriasis
    ARAVA (brand only) Leflunomide tablet
    KINERET Anakinra injection
    HUMIRA Adalimumab injection
    RAPTIVA Efalizumab injection
    Hepatitis C
    REBETOL CAPSULE (brand only) Ribavirin capsule
    REBETRON 1000 Interferon alfa-2b/ribavirin
    REBETRON 1200 Interferon alfa-2b/ribavirin
    REBETRON 600 Interferon alfa-2b/ribavirin
    COPEGUS (brand only) Ribavirin tablet
    ROFERON-A Interferon alfa-2a
    Anticoagulants
    ARIXTRA Fondaparinux injection
    FRAGMIN Dalteparin injection
    INNOHEP Tinzaparin injection
    Blood Modifiers
    EPOGEN Epoetin alfa injection
    PROCRIT Epoetin alfa injection
    LEUKINE Sargramostim injection
    NEULASTA Pegfilgrastim injection
    Oncology
    FASLODEX Fulvestrant injection
    LUPRON (brand only) Leuprolide acetate injection
    NEXAVAR Sorafenib tosylate tablet
    REVLIMID Lenalidomide capsule
    VEPESID (brand only) Etoposide capsule
    SUTENT Sunitinib Malate capsule
    ZOLINZA Vorinostat capsule
    Antiemetics
    ANZEMET Dolasetron tablet
    CESAMET Nabilone capsule
    KYTRIL Granisetron tablet, oral solution
    Dermatology
    ACCUTANE (brand only) Isotretinoin capsule
    REGRANEX Becaplermin gel
    Miscellaneous
    ACTHAR H.P. Repository corticotropin injection
    ACTIQ (brand only) Fentanyl lozenge
    D.H.E. 45 (brand only) Dihydroergotamine injection
    EXJADE Deferasirox tablets
    FENTORA Fentanyl buccal tablet
    FORTEO Teriparatide injection
    INCRELEX Mecasermin injection
    IPLEX Mecasermin rinfabate injection
    LETAIRIS Ambrisentan tablet
    REVIA (brand only) Naltrexone tablet
    SYNAREL Nafarelin acetate nasal solution

If a member chooses a brand name drug when a generic equivalent is available, the member typically will be responsible for paying the difference between the cost of the generic drug and the brand name drug in addition to the higher tier copayment, unless the member’s physician specifically states that the brand name drug is necessary.