How much do inhalers cost?

Insurance coverage | Costs with insurance | Costs without insurance | Asthma inhalers price list | Savings | Additional asthma costs

Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by swelling and narrowing of the airways, which ultimately results in difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, and tightness in the chest. 

Approximately 25 million Americans, including 20 million adults and 5.1 million children, currently have asthma, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. In fact, it’s the leading chronic disease in children younger than 18 years of age. If not properly managed, asthma can drastically impact quality of life, causing frequent hospitalizations and even death. An average of 10 Americans die each day from unmanaged asthma. 

“It’s important to know that with proper management, your asthma doesn’t have to impact your daily life or keep you from doing the things you enjoy,” says Payel Gupta, MD, a triple board-certified Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology specialist of Mount Sinai Medical Center and SUNY Downstate Medical Center in New York City. “Asthma symptoms can be controlled by avoiding triggers and using asthma medication as prescribed, which most commonly includes asthma inhalers. In fact, everyone with diagnosed asthma should have an inhaler.” 

Asthma inhaler devices deliver medicine through your mouth into your lungs as you take a deep breath. This allows the medication to reach the lungs quickly, open the airways, and reduce swelling and mucus to allow for easier breathing.

In this article, we’ll discuss the different types of asthma inhalers, the cost of brand-name inhalers, and how to save money when purchasing your inhaler. 

Does insurance cover asthma inhalers?

In general, most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, will at least partially cover the cost of some asthma treatments. Coverage and costs vary by plan—not all inhalers will be covered by every plan and the out-of-pocket costs depend on the specific plan. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports national estimates of insurance coverage for children with asthma range from 89.3% in Arizona to 99.9% in Massachusetts and for adults from 77.8% in Texas to 96.7% in the District of Columbia. You should always check with your insurance provider prior to filling your prescription so you can plan accordingly.

Your healthcare provider will likely have to show that the prescribed asthma inhaler is medically necessary for your insurance to cover the drug costs. Your insurance plan might also require prior authorization for coverage. If your insurance plan’s formulary doesn’t include your prescribed asthma inhaler, talk to your healthcare provider about submitting an appeal. 

How much do inhalers cost with insurance?

The cost of an inhaler with insurance varies by provider, plan, and coverage stage. For example, even if your Medicare Part D plan covers your inhaler, you might have to pay 100% out of pocket until you reach your Part D deductible.

Another factor that affects inhaler prices with insurance is your plan’s formulary. Each insurance plan has its own drug formulary, which ranks drugs in a tier system. The lower the tier, the less you’ll pay for the drug. Generic inhalers like albuterol are usually low-tier drugs and, therefore, have a lower copay or coinsurance. Brand-name inhalers like Symbicort are usually placed on a higher tier and more expensive.

How much do inhalers cost without insurance?

According to Dr. Gupta, asthma inhalers can be separated into two different categories—quick-relief medications (short-acting inhalers) and control medications (long-acting inhalers).

Short-acting inhalers, or rescue inhalers, help when you’re experiencing asthma symptoms, or your asthma is not under control. This medication should only be used as needed—ideally, you’d never have to use it. Everyone with asthma, whether mild or severe, should be prescribed a rescue inhaler. Inhalers of this category include short-acting beta-agonists, such as albuterol inhalers. 

Long-acting inhalers, or maintenance inhalers, help with the inflammation in your airways in cases of moderate to severe asthma. These inhalers are not designed to provide quick relief in the event of an asthma attack. Instead, they should be used to help manage and control long-term asthma symptoms. 

These medications need to be taken daily to be effective. Depending on the prescribed medication, this may mean once daily or multiple times per day. Inhalers of this category include long-acting beta-agonists, inhaled corticosteroids (steroids), and combination inhalers that contain both a long-acting beta-agonist and corticosteroid.

The cost per inhaler will typically vary based on the type of inhaler that it is and whether it’s a brand-name or generic drug.

* Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at time of publishing.

Alvesco, a corticosteroid inhalant, is the cheapest asthma inhaler on the list at $37 per 1, 6.1 gm of 80 mcg/actuation. It’s an anti-inflammatory medication that helps prevent asthma attacks when taken regularly as part of a maintenance plan.

Advair HFA, a combination inhaler that has both corticosteroid and beta2-agonist medicines, is the most expensive asthma inhaler on the list at $545 per 1, 12 gm of 115-21 mcg/actuation. This inhaler is classified as an antiasthma drug, made up of an anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator combination, and is used in the prevention of asthma symptoms when taken regularly. 

In general, the cost of short-acting inhalers tends to be cheaper per inhaler than long-acting maintenance inhalers that are designed for everyday use, although this isn’t always the case. Despite their high cost, regular usage of a long-acting inhaler can drastically reduce the medical costs associated with asthma, including emergency room visits and hospitalizations. 

RELATED: 5 early signs of asthma

How to save on inhaler costs

Inhalers are an important part of the treatment and management of asthma. However, many come at a high cost as a result of the lack of generic drugs on the market, which is commonly due to patents on the brand-name versions.

Once these patents expire, pharmaceutical companies are able to start getting approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for new patents on generic versions. This will likely help drive down the cost of these inhalers and give people more affordable options. 

In the meantime, there are numerous ways to save on your inhaler costs, some of which require you to meet certain eligibility requirements, while others don’t. 

1. SingleCare coupons

SingleCare offers discounts on many prescription medications, including asthma inhalers, at no cost to you. These free discounts are available for use at thousands of participating pharmacies nationwide. In some cases, a SingleCare coupon will be cheaper than using your insurance, so you should always check the SingleCare price before picking up your prescription at your local pharmacy. Get your free SingleCare prescription discount card to save up to 80% on your prescription drugs. 

RELATED: How does SingleCare work?

2. Manufacturer coupons

Manufacturers sometimes offer coupons and rebates to help reduce the costs associated with brand-name prescription medications. Contact the manufacturer or pharmaceutical company directly to determine whether there are coupons available and if you meet their eligibility requirements. These can sometimes be paired with other cost-saving methods.

3. Patient assistance programs

Patient assistance programs are often offered by drug manufacturers and nonprofit organizations to provide discounted or free medications to patients making below a certain income. These programs generally have strict eligibility requirements, which vary by program.

4. Health insurance

Most insurance plans will cover the cost of some asthma inhalers, although the specific inhalers that are covered will vary. Your cost may also depend on whether you have met your deductible for the year. Check on your coverage prior to filling your prescription so you know what to expect. 

Keep in mind that your insurance company may require prior authorization for certain inhalers. If your insurance plan doesn’t cover your prescribed inhaler, talk to your healthcare provider about submitting an appeal. 

RELATED: How to get health insurance

5. Medicaid

Medicaid provides health insurance coverage to low-income Americans, including adults, children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and elderly adults. If you’re unable to afford commercial health insurance, you may qualify for Medicaid. Copays for asthma medications through Medicaid will vary. Eligibility requirements for Medicaid vary depending on the state you live in. Check with your state’s Medicaid office or website to determine whether you are eligible.

RELATED: Can I use SingleCare if I have Medicaid?

6. Medicare

Medicare is a health insurance program for adults 65 years and older and younger people with certain disabilities. In order to get your asthma inhaler covered, you will need to have Medicare prescription drug coverage through a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) with drug coverage or a stand-alone Medicare drug plan (Part D). 

Your Medicare costs for inhalers will vary depending on the plan you choose and the coverage stage you’re in. Be sure to review the plan’s drug formulary to ensure your prescribed inhaler is covered and to verify out-of-pocket costs before enrolling in a Medicare plan. 

RELATED: Are prescriptions covered by Medicare?

7. Medicare Part D Extra Help

Medicare Extra Help is an assistance program that helps people with limited income and resources pay Medicare prescription drug plan costs, such as monthly premiums, yearly deductibles, and prescription copays. To qualify for Extra Help, you must have Medicare prescription drug coverage and meet certain eligibility requirements based on your income and resources. 

RELATED: Who qualifies for Medicare Extra Help? How to apply

8. Compare pharmacy prices

The cost of prescription medications will fluctuate depending on the pharmacy. To find the lowest price, you can call several pharmacies and ask what their retail price is. If you plan to use your insurance, you will likely have to show the pharmacy your prescription before they will provide a price. 

For a quick price comparison, SingleCare’s website and app allows you to compare discounts at pharmacies near you. Just type in the name of your prescription drug and your zip code. It will provide a list of prices for pharmacies in your area. 

RELATED: How much do pharmacy prices really vary?

Other asthma costs to consider

“If you have moderate or severe asthma, you’ll need to see your doctor more regularly to check on your treatment plan. However, you should only need a yearly check-in if you have mild asthma,” shares Dr. Gupta. “In addition to the costs of your routine office visits and prescription medications, testing will also be done at least annually to see how your lungs are doing—this adds an additional cost to your asthma treatment plan.” 

According to one 2018 study by the CDC, the average annual medical cost of asthma was $3,266 per person. This total annual cost per person was then broken down into the following:

• Prescription medications accounted for an average of $1,830 of the total annual cost per person.
• Office visits accounted for approximately $640 of the total annual cost per person.
• Hospitalization accounted for approximately $529 of the total annual cost per person.
• Hospital-based outpatient visits accounted for approximately $176 of the total annual cost per person.
• Emergency room visits accounted for approximately $105 of the total annual cost per person.

Long-acting maintenance inhalers are effective in the long-term treatment and management of asthma when taken as prescribed. However, the high out-of-pocket costs can lead to poor adherence, ultimately leading to complications that require office visits, emergency room visits, and hospitalization. In fact, when taken regularly, long-acting maintenance inhalers can help lower the medical costs associated with your asthma treatment. On the other hand, short-acting rescue inhalers are crucial for quick treatment during asthma attacks. 

RELATED: Can you use an expired inhaler? | How to use an inhaler

Even with proper medication adherence and additional cost-saving methods, the total cost of asthma can be a financial burden for many. Talk to your healthcare provider about alternative inhaler options and possible side effects. They will help determine if a less expensive inhaler may work for the treatment of your asthma symptoms.