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Key takeaways
Emverm, a prescription drug for eliminating worm infections, costs $638 without insurance for a single 100 mg chewable tablet.
Mebendazole, the active ingredient in Emverm, has no cheaper generic versions available, making Emverm the only brand-name option on the market.
Insurance coverage for Emverm varies, with some plans covering it under certain restrictions, while others may not cover it at all, affecting out-of-pocket costs for patients.
Alternatives to Emverm, such as the over-the-counter Reese’s Pinworm Medicine and the prescription drug Albenza (albendazole), offer lower-cost treatment options for worm infections.
Emverm is a brand-name prescription drug used to eliminate worm infections in people 2 years of age and older. The active ingredient is called mebendazole, an anthelmintic (anti-worm) or antiparasitic drug. Mebendazole kills pinworms, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and other intestinal worms by blocking their ability to absorb the sugar that they eat. Essentially, mebendazole starves them to death.
Treatment doesn’t last long. A pinworm infection needs only a single dose. Other intestinal worm infections will require six doses: two chewable tablets a day for three days. Fortunately, not much mebendazole is needed. Unfortunately, the only version of mebendazole on the market is brand-name Emverm, so people without insurance pay a premium price for each tablet. Still, there are ways to save money. To treat pinworms and other intestinal worms, there is even an over-the-counter alternative.
What is the generic for Emverm?
Mebendazole, the active ingredient in Emverm, has been prescribed as a cheap anti-worm medication for decades. Unfortunately, the only version of mebendazole on the market is Amneal’s Emverm, which currently sells for $600 per chewable tablet. It is uncertain if other manufacturers will introduce lower-cost versions of mebendazole.
Is Emverm covered by insurance?
Emverm is covered by some health insurance plans, Medicare Part D drug prescription plans, and Medicaid plans. Insurance plans that do cover Emverm may impose restrictions such as prior authorization or yearly quantity limits. The out-of-pocket cost for insured patients is hard to predict. Some insurance plans put Emverm in their highest drug tier, so the copay cost will be high. Some insurance plans put Emverm in the lowest tiers—some even charge no copay.
How much does Emverm cost without insurance?
One 100 mg Emverm chewable tablet costs $638 at the full retail price. That’s enough medicine to treat a pinworm infection, but any other intestinal worm infection will cost $3,800 for the six doses needed. Fortunately, one to three days of Emverm treatment eliminates the infection in 95% of cases (68% of whipworm cases), so most people won’t need to pay for Emverm treatment a second time.
There are other treatment options. Albenza (albendazole) is a similar drug that is available in a generic version.
The lowest-cost alternative is Reese’s Pinworm Medicine, an over-the-counter anthelmintic that can treat pinworm, roundworm, hookworm, and other intestinal worm infections. A 30 mL bottle costs about $13. That bottle contains enough medicine for the single dose required for pinworm infections with medicine left over. However, its active ingredient, pyrantel pamoate, is a different drug than mebendazole. Although it is available over-the-counter, talk to your healthcare provider about the correct dose to treat a particular infection.
Compare Emverm prices to related drugs |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Price without insurance of brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Emverm | $638 for 1 tablet | $536 for 1 tablet of brand-name Emverm | See latest prices |
| Albendazole | $441 per 2, 200 mg tablets | $25 per 2, 200 mg tablets of generic albendazole | See latest prices |
| Reese’s Pinworm Medicine (pyrantel pamoate) | $13 for 1, 30 mL bottle of 144 (50 base) mg/mL | $2 for 1, 30 mL bottle of 144 (50 base) mg/mL brand-name Reese’s Pinworm Medicine | See latest prices |
Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing. The listed price without insurance references the price of brand-name drugs (unless otherwise specified). The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs if available. Click the link under “Savings options” to see the latest drug prices.
How to get Emverm without insurance
Buying Emverm at the full retail price can pose a challenge, especially if more than one dose is required. Health insurance may not help because not every insurance plan covers Emverm. A SingleCare prescription discount card can help with savings when other options may not.
1. Save as much as $100 with SingleCare
A SingleCare savings card can reduce the cost of a single Emverm tablet by as much as $100 off the normal cost. This adds up to $600 in savings on a six-tablet treatment. Keep in mind that SingleCare participating pharmacies will offer various discount prices. Shop for the best and most convenient discounts for Emverm on SingleCare’s Emverm coupons page.
2. Compare prices for Emverm
It pays to call local pharmacies and ask for their Emverm price. Simply buying Emverm at the lowest pharmacy price could cost $40 less than the average price and $115 less than the highest pharmacy price.
3. Ask the prescriber about Reese’s Pinworm Medicine
One cost-saving alternative is to use over-the-counter Reese’s Pinworm Medicine. The cost without insurance is about $13 for one bottle or $2 using a free coupon from SingleCare. However, pyrantel is a different type of antiparasitic than mebendazole. It may not be as effective, may cause drug interactions or allergic reactions, and has common side effects such as nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, headache, and dizziness. The good news is that very little of the drug is absorbed into the body, so it’s considered safe enough to buy and use without a prescription. However, it’s best to get medical advice from a healthcare provider before taking this medicine.
4. Use a 340B provider to fill an Emverm prescription
340B clinics and hospitals can provide subsidized prescription medications like Emverm at a substantial discount to eligible patients. Call local health officials to find the 340B providers nearby. Enrollment and income eligibility may be required.