How much is Concerta without insurance?

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

Concerta (extended-release methylphenidate hydrochloride) is a brand-name prescription drug that improves many of the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in both adults and children. Methylphenidate is a powerful stimulant, but in people with ADHD, it helps activate parts of the brain responsible for attention, focus, and impulse control. As an extended-release medication, patients will typically take only one tablet per day in the morning. The dose for children ranges between 18 mg to 54, but adolescents and adults will take daily doses between 18 mg and 72 mg. Generic Concerta, extended-release methylphenidate hydrochloride, can be substituted as a lower-cost alternative.

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Is Concerta covered by insurance?

Insurance coverage of Concerta depends on the health insurance plan. Some plans may only cover lower-cost generic versions of Concerta. Others may cover both Concerta and its generic versions but require healthcare providers to start with the generic methylphenidate before approving Concerta. Medicare drug insurance plans typically do not cover Concerta. They do, however, cover generic extended-release methylphenidate hydrochloride.

How much does Concerta cost without insurance?

The price of a Concerta prescription will vary depending on the dose and the pharmacy. The average retail price of Concerta is $545 for thirty 54 mg tablets, enough to last 30 days. This works out to $6,624 for the entire year. However, the discount price on SingleCare can be as low as $313 for that same prescription. Even the out-of-pocket costs for people with insurance can be high. Because there is a cheaper generic version of Concerta, many healthcare plans will not cover brand-name Concerta. Others may charge prohibitive copays. 

Generic Concerta is available and typically sells for $236.35 for thirty 20 mg tablets, enough to fill a one-month prescription. Immediate-release methylphenidate HCl is even cheaper, about $65.99 per month, but doses must be given two or three times per day.

There are several other generic versions of both immediate- and extended-release methylphenidate along with generic amphetamines, another common class of stimulants used to manage the symptoms of ADHD. There are also other non-stimulant drugs that are FDA-approved as effective in treating the symptoms of ADHD and are available as lower-cost generics. ADHD is not treated with over-the-counter medications.

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

How to get Concerta without insurance?

Like all brand-name prescription drugs, Concerta can be hard to afford without health insurance coverage. Unfortunately, the manufacturer, Johnson & Johnson, does not offer manufacturer coupons or patient assistance programs for Concerta, though they do offer a savings program for insured patients. There are, however, more ways to save money on a Concerta prescription. 

1. Use a SingleCare coupon

A SingleCare savings coupon requires little more than selecting a SingleCare coupon for  Concerta. Take the SingleCare coupon, which can be printed or sent to your smartphone, and a Concerta prescription to your selected pharmacy to save as much as $240 on a one-month supply of Concerta. 

2. Ask the prescriber about generic Concerta

Another quick way to save hundreds of dollars on a Concerta prescription is to ask the prescriber about generic extended-release methylphenidate HCl. When a generic Concerta prescription is combined with a SingleCare discount card, the price can drop to as low as $30.99 for a one-month prescription. Generic Concerta is the same drug as Concerta and only differs in its price, dosage strengths, and some of its inactive ingredients. Because its dosage strengths differ from Concerta, a prescriber may have to adjust the prescription. 

3. Ask the prescriber about alternative generic medications

Concerta is a chemical variation of methylphenidate. Other types of methylphenidate and methylphenidate ER work the same way, but immediate-release methylphenidate will require dosing two or three times a day rather than one. Any of these methylphenidate medications can be substituted for higher-priced Concerta. Generic amphetamines also work like methylphenidate, though they have a different side effect profile and may carry a greater risk of abuse or dependence. They, too, are effective and affordable alternatives to Concerta. Ask the prescriber for medical advice concerning all of these options.

4. Ask for a free sample

A prescriber may have free samples of Concerta or its generic version. For people without insurance, it doesn’t hurt to ask. 

5. Do a price comparison

Pharmacies often charge different prices for prescription medications. Some are cheaper than others. The best deals are found at discount pharmacies, pharmacies associated with big-box retailers, and some online or mail-order pharmacies. However, anyone purchasing Concerta from an online or mail-order pharmacy should make sure the pharmacy is reputable. 

6. Consider Medicaid, CHIP, or the healthcare insurance market

While it may not seem so to many people, health insurance is always an option. It should be explored seriously with any diagnosis, such as ADHD, that requires years-long or lifelong treatment. Medicaid and CHIP are joint federal/state government programs that provide health insurance to U.S. citizens and permanent residents either for free or at a very low cost. Eligibility varies by state. There are also low-cost health insurance options in the health insurance marketplace. Keep in mind that neither Medicaid, CHIP, nor lower-priced health insurance programs are likely to pay for a Concerta prescription since there are generic versions of the drug. They will likely cover generic Concerta, however.

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