How much is Brilinta without insurance?

Is Brilinta covered by insurance?| How much does Brilinta cost without insurance? | How to get Brilinta without insurance

Brilinta is a brand-name prescription blood thinner. Healthcare professionals use it to prevent blood clots in order to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death in people who have recently experienced a heart attack, stroke, severe chest pain, or acute coronary syndrome (ACS), as well as those diagnosed with coronary artery disease or who have had a stent implanted. Ticagrelor, the active ingredient in Brilinta, prevents blood clots by blocking the ability of blood cells called platelets from clumping together to form a blood clot. The dose will be determined by the condition being treated, but people can expect to take either a 60 mg or 90 mg tablet twice a day along with a single daily dose of low-dose aspirin. Brilinta is an expensive medication. A generic version has been approved by the FDA, but it is currently unavailable. Until then, people have a variety of other ways to make Brilinta affordable.

Related: Brilinta side effects 

Is Brilinta covered by insurance?

Health insurance typically covers a Brilinta prescription. Most people with Medicare Part D drug coverage have Brilinta coverage and usually pay less than $45 for each month’s prescription.

People with health insurance may be eligible for a Brilinta savings card from AstraZeneca that could greatly reduce the cost. Health insurance can bring down its price, but the out-of-pocket cost will depend on the insurance plan’s formulary, coinsurance, copay cost, and deductible.

How much does Brilinta cost without insurance?

Without health insurance coverage, a 30-day supply (60, 90 mg tablets) of Brilinta averages $562, or about $9 per tablet. Depending on the condition being treated, Brilinta can be prescribed for 30 days to over a year. At full price, then, a year of Brilinta treatment will cost about $6,700. 

Fortunately, if Brilinta is too expensive, there are several commonly-used antiplatelet agents available as cheaper generic drugs. Some of these drugs, such as Plavix (clopidogrel) and dipyridamole, are often used to treat the same conditions as Brilinta. Some of these conditions are also treated by certain anticoagulants which are also available as cheaper generics such as Jantoven (warfarin). 

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 Brilinta without insurance

Getting brand-name medications without insurance can be challenging. With a monthly price tag averaging $560, Brilinta is no exception. Uninsured patients do, however, have options for making treatment more affordable. Manufacturer coupons, rebates, and patient assistance programs like AZ&ME Prescription Savings Program may help, but not everyone will be eligible. It’s often better to turn to more reliable ways to afford treatment, starting with a SingleCare discount card.

1. Rely on a SingleCare savings card

A free coupon from SingleCare’s discount program could reduce the price of a month’s supply of Brilinta by as much as $190. For people on long-term antiplatelet therapy, that adds up to over $2,000 in savings annually. A SingleCare savings card can be printed or sent to a smartphone and then be used to save on a variety of prescription medications at participating local pharmacies.

2. Consider buying health insurance

For serious and long-term medical conditions, a health insurance policy may be the surest way to save money over the long term. Start with your state’s health insurance marketplace to explore coverage options and pricing.

3. Enroll in Medicaid

If health insurance is unaffordable, you may be eligible for Medicaid health insurance plans. Premiums and copay costs are very low. Eligibility requirements, enrollment instructions, and additional information can be found online or by calling local health officials.

4. Shop around

As with everything else, prescription medications may cost more or less depending on where they’re purchased. Finding the best price for Brilinta, for instance, could land a discount of over $100 off the average retail price or as much as $190 when combined with a free coupon from SingleCare.

5. Ask your prescriber about alternative blood thinners

If all else fails, ask your prescriber for medical advice about generic antiplatelet agents. There’s a possibility that they won’t work as well and that common side effects or drug interactions may be a problem, but you won’t know unless you ask.