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Key takeaways
Azithromycin is an antibiotic used for treating various bacterial infections, and its cost without insurance averages around $36 for a five-day course.
Insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, often cover azithromycin, potentially lowering the out-of-pocket cost for patients.
Generic versions of azithromycin are available at significantly reduced prices, with SingleCare and other discount programs offering the medication for as low as $3.90.
Community health clinics may provide additional support for those struggling to afford azithromycin, including access to free or nearly free medications.
Is azithromycin covered by insurance | How much does azithromycin cost without insurance? | How to get azithromycin without insurance
Azithromycin is a generic prescription drug that treats a variety of bacterial and mycobacterial infections such as pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections, strep throat, ear infections, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and others. Like other antibiotics, azithromycin is not used to treat viral infections. As a macrolide antibiotic, azithromycin kills bacteria by preventing them from making the proteins they need to survive.
Azithromycin is administered as an oral tablet, oral suspension, intravenous injection, or eye drops, but the dosage and treatment duration will depend on the infection being treated. Most people given oral azithromycin, though, will take azithromycin tablets for five days. Side effects include stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, and sometimes allergic reactions. (Patients experiencing symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling around the face, lips, tongue, or throat, should get emergency medical help.) Many patients will be given a generic version of azithromycin, but a healthcare provider may prescribe brand-name Zithromax as a Zithromax Z-Pak or a Zithromax Tri-Pak.
RELATED: Antibiotics 101
Is azithromycin covered by insurance?
Azithromycin is covered by commercial health insurance plans, Medicare Part D, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid.
How much does azithromycin cost without insurance?
Although retail prices vary by pharmacy, uninsured patients will pay the full cash price for an azithromycin prescription, around $36 for six tablets (five days of treatment). That works out to about $6 per tablet. Health insurance can help reduce that cost, but actual out-of-pocket costs will depend on the dose prescribed, duration of treatment, and if any deductible has yet to be met. People on Medicare drug plans can expect to pay anywhere from $0 to $18 for a five-day course of generic azithromycin.
If necessary, and if approved by your doctor, other common, low-cost generic antibiotics may be able to substitute for azithromycin including penicillin antibiotics (such as amoxicillin), cephalosporins, tetracyclines, lincosamides, or fluoroquinolones. However, healthcare professionals use well-established guidelines for determining the most appropriate and effective drug based on the pathogen and its antibiotic resistance. In many cases, azithromycin may be the best treatment. However, if an azithromycin prescription is too hard to pay for, ask a healthcare professional for medical advice about other antibiotics.
Some over-the-counter medications and dietary supplements can help temporarily relieve symptoms of a bacterial infection but they are not effective at fighting off the infection.
Compare azithromycin prices to related drugs |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Price without insurance for brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Zithromax (azithromycin) | $178 per 6, 250 mg tablets |
$4 per 6, 250 mg tablets for generic Zithromax |
See updated prices |
| Generic Zithromax (azithromycin) |
$162 per 6, 250 mg tablets |
$4 per 6, 250 mg tablets for generic azithromycin |
See updated prices |
| Clarithromycin | $145 per 20, 500 mg tablets |
$12 per 20, 500 mg tablets for generic clarithromycin |
See updated prices |
| Ery-Tab (erythromycin) | $335 per 30, 250 mg tablets |
$35 per 30, 250 mg tablets for generic Ery-Tab |
See updated 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. The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs if available. Click the link under “Savings options” to see updated drug prices.
How to get azithromycin without insurance
It can be difficult to pay for prescription medications without insurance coverage. Fortunately, azithromycin is relatively inexpensive and usually only prescribed for a few days. Three to six tablets, depending on the dose, are usually all that’s needed to fight many bacterial infections. There are ways, however, to save money. As a generic, azithromycin will not have manufacturer coupons, copay savings cards, or patient assistance programs that often help defray the cost of brand-name drugs. Still, there are solid and dependable ways to make even a short course of azithromycin affordable.
1. Start by getting a SingleCare savings card
With a discount card from SingleCare, an azithromycin prescription will cost only $3.90 for a 250 mg dose (a five-day supply) or $9 for a 500 mg dose (a three-day supply). Free coupons can be selected based on discount or a local pharmacy on the azithromycin discount coupon page. A SingleCare savings card can then be printed, saved to a smartphone, or emailed for instant savings on prescription medications—and over-the-counter drugs and supplements with a doctor’s prescription.
2. Compare pharmacy prices
Believe it or not, the price of prescription medication can vary widely between pharmacies. A five-day supply of azithromycin could cost $17 at one pharmacy and over $50 at another. A good way to significantly save money on prescriptions is to use SingleCare’s pharmacy finder to get coupons for participating pharmacies near you.
3. Visit a community health clinic
If azithromycin is still hard to pay for even with steep discounts, visit a community health clinic. They may be able to offer free medications or direct you to organizations that offer free or nearly free medications. Talk to city or county health officials for the names and addresses of local community health clinics.