Medicare Part D does not cover NP Thyroid or Armour Thyroid

Updated March 2026
Why These Drugs Aren't Covered

Unfortunately, neither NP Thyroid nor Armour Thyroid is covered by Medicare Part D — and understanding why helps explain what your options are.

Both medications are forms of desiccated thyroid extract (DTE) — a natural thyroid hormone replacement derived from pig thyroid glands. They've been used to treat hypothyroidism for over 100 years. However, they were never formally approved by the FDA. They pre-date modern drug approval requirements and were simply "grandfathered" into pharmacy practice. Because Medicare Part D is required to cover FDA-approved drugs, and these medications don't have that status, Part D plans have no obligation to cover them — and almost none do.

 Important 2026 Update: The Situation Is Getting More Serious

This coverage gap has existed for years, but as of 2026, there's a much bigger issue on the horizon.

In August 2025, the FDA sent formal enforcement letters to manufacturers of Armour Thyroid, NP Thyroid, and similar products, notifying them that these drugs cannot legally be marketed without new FDA approval as a "biologic" drug. The FDA set a 12-month transition deadline — meaning August 2026 — for manufacturers to either obtain approval or stop selling their products.

Here's what that means practically:

• Armour Thyroid is still currently available, but its maker (AbbVie) is in the process of pursuing FDA biologic approval. Whether they'll receive it by August 2026 is uncertain.
• NP Thyroid (made by Acella) is also still available, but faces the same uncertain timeline.
• Compounding pharmacies have been an alternative for some patients — but the FDA has indicated compounded desiccated thyroid would also be banned under this enforcement action.
• CVS/Caremark announced in February 2026 that it intends to remove DTE products from its formulary effective April 1, 2026 — affecting Aetna plans that use CVS/Caremark as their pharmacy benefit manager.

Bottom line: If you or your client takes one of these medications, the conversation with their doctor needs to happen now — not after the drug disappears from pharmacy shelves.

What To Do Right Now

1. Talk to Your Doctor Immediately

Anyone currently on Armour Thyroid or NP Thyroid should contact their prescribing physician to discuss a contingency plan. FDA-approved alternatives include:

• Levothyroxine (synthetic T4 — brand names include Synthroid, Levoxyl, Tirosint) — covered by virtually all Part D plans
• Liothyronine (synthetic T3 — brand name Cytomel) — covered by most Part D plans
• A combination of synthetic T4 + T3

Important note: Many patients on DTE are on it precisely because they tried levothyroxine and it didn't work well for them. Switching requires careful medical management and monitoring — it's not a one-size-fits-all transition.

2. Request a Formulary Exception (While It's Still an Option)

Even though most Part D plans don't cover these drugs, you can request a formulary exception with a letter of medical necessity from your doctor. This works for some plans, though it's becoming less likely as plans drop DTE products from their formularies entirely. See our related article: Formulary Exceptions: What to Do If Your Medication Isn't Covered.

3. Use GoodRx to Reduce Out-of-Pocket Cost (For Now)

If your medication is still available and you're paying out of pocket, GoodRx can help reduce costs while you figure out next steps.

1. Go to www.goodrx.com
2. Enter your ZIP code, the drug name, and the dosage
3. Click “Find lowest price”
4. Choose the best option and either:
   – Print the coupon
   – Send it to your phone via email or text
   – Use the GoodRx mobile app (www.goodrx.com/mobile)
5. Present the coupon to the pharmacist when you fill the prescription

• You can’t use GoodRx in combination with insurance. It’s one or the other.
• GoodRx is free (unless you opt into their paid Gold plan, which usually isn’t necessary).
• Most big-name pharmacies accept GoodRx. Independent pharmacies often don’t, because the discounts cut too deeply into their margins.
• Costs spent on medication using GoodRx do NOT count towards your Part D deductible or out-of-pocket spending limits.