My Medicare drug plan won't cover my prescription. How do I appeal?

Medicare.gov says a Medicare drug plan has 5 levels of appeal. If you disagree with a decision, you can usually go to the next level [1].

Level 1 is a "redetermination" from your plan. For a drug you haven't gotten yet, you or your prescriber can ask your plan for a coverage determination or an exception [1]. If you disagree with the plan's denial, you, your representative or your prescriber must ask for the appeal within 65 days from the date on the initial denial notice sent by your plan. If you miss the deadline, you must give a reason [1].

Standard times for the plan to respond are 7 days for a benefits appeal and 14 days for a payment appeal. A fast ("expedited") appeal is decided within 72 hours. The plan must do that if it determines, or your doctor tells your plan, that waiting for a standard decision may seriously jeopardize your health [1].

Level 2: if the plan upholds its denial and you disagree, you'll have 60 days to file a standard reconsideration with a Part D Independent Review Entity (IRE) [1].

Open Medicare.gov, Appeals in a Medicare drug plan, at https://www.medicare.gov/providers-services/claims-appeals-complaints/appeals/drug-plans and read the part quoted above. Your own plan or policy papers hold details these sources do not give: "Don't know yet" for your case.