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Key takeaways
Durezol is a prescription eye drop used to prevent swelling and pain in the eye after surgeries like Lasik or cataract removal, and to treat swelling of the iris, but it can be expensive without insurance, costing around $261 for a 5 mL bottle.
Generic versions of Durezol’s active ingredient, difluprednate, are more likely to be covered by insurance and are less expensive, with insurance placing brand-name Durezol in a higher copay tier compared to generics.
Several strategies can reduce the cost of Durezol for those without insurance, including using SingleCare discount cards, shopping smartly to find lower prices, and asking your healthcare provider about less expensive corticosteroid alternatives.
Assistance programs, such as Medicaid, Medicare Extra Help, and community clinics, can provide financial aid or significantly lower the cost of Durezol for eligible individuals.
Is Durezol covered by insurance | How much does Durezol cost without insurance? | How to get Durezol without insurance
Prescription corticosteroids are widely used for several eye conditions, but Durezol eye drops are specifically prescribed to prevent swelling and eye pain after eye surgery such as Lasik or cataract removal. The FDA has also approved Durezol to treat swelling of the iris—the colored area at the front of the eye—a common eye condition healthcare professionals call “endogenous anterior uveitis.” The active ingredient in Durezol is difluprednate, a drug derived from prednisolone. When applied as eye drops, ophthalmic difluprednate blocks the ability of tissues in the front of the eye to start the process of swelling.
Patients will put one drop in the affected eye four times daily starting the day after surgery. Treatment will go on for two weeks after which time the number of daily doses will gradually decrease. For people paying out-of-pocket, Durezol is a costly medicine, so here are some tips for getting this drug at a more affordable price.
Is Durezol covered by insurance?
Durezol is usually covered by health insurance plans including Medicare and Medicaid, but generic difluprednate is more likely to be approved.
How much does Durezol cost without insurance?
The average retail price of Durezol ophthalmic emulsion is $261 for a 5 mL eye dropper bottle. At a standard estimate of 20 doses per mL, that should cover one entire cycle of treatment for one eye if used correctly. If both eyes require treatment either together or one after the other, expect to purchase two bottles for a total of $522. For ocular surgery, though, several additional prescription eye drops will be used along with Durezol including NSAIDs and antibiotics. These will add to the expense.
With health insurance, the out-of-pocket cost will vary depending on the insurance company’s formulary, copay cost, and any unmet deductibles. The out-of-pocket cost could be high even with insurance. Insurance plans typically place brand-name Durezol in their third drug tier, which has higher copay costs. However, generic difluprednate is typically classified as a Tier 1 drug, which is the tier with the lowest copay.
There are less expensive corticosteroid eye drops. People undergoing eye surgery are more typically prescribed prednisolone, the least expensive treatment. Although difluprednate is the only topical steroid FDA-approved for endogenous anterior uveitis, ophthalmologists often prescribe other steroid eye drops off-label, that is, without FDA approval. Before considering cheaper prescription medications, however, ask the prescribing healthcare provider for medical advice. Durezol has several advantages over other corticosteroid eye drops including dose consistency. There may be a good medical reason why it’s the most appropriate treatment.
Compare Durezol prices to related drugs |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Name | Price without insurance of brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Durezol (difluprednate) | $271 per 5 mL bottle of 0.05% emulsion | $31 per 5 mL bottle of 0.05% of generic difluprednate | See updated prices |
| Prednisolone acetate | $76 per 5 mL bottle of 1% suspension of generic prednisolone | $46 per 5 mL bottle of 1% suspension of generic prednisolone | See updated prices |
| FML Liquifilm (fluorometholone) | $214 per 5 mL bottle of 0.1% suspension | $26 per 5 mL bottle of 0.1% suspension of generic fluormetholone | See updated prices |
| Lotemax (loteprednol) | $275 per 5 gm of 0.5% gel | $68 per 5 mL bottle of 0.5% solution of generic Lotemax | 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 Durezol without insurance
At an average cash price of $261, a bottle of Durezol may be unaffordable without health insurance coverage, particularly when paying for other medicines prescribed along with it. Fortunately, there are ways to get treatment. A patient assistance program might help, but many people won’t meet the eligibility requirements. Manufacturer coupons and rebates, if offered, will also help. In their absence, people can utilize more reliable ways to save money. The first and most reliable is a discount card from SingleCare.
1. SingleCare
A SingleCare savings card unlocks prescription discounts on hundreds of medications including Durezol. With a Durezol coupon from SingleCare, people can enjoy a discount of over $200 at participating pharmacies.
2. Smart shopping
Just by finding the lowest price for Durezol or generic difluprednate can save $40 off the highest pharmacy price. Online mail-order pharmacies will offer even better Durezol discounts, as much as $170 less than the average retail price.
3. Less expensive treatments
Simply switching to a less expensive ophthalmic corticosteroid could save almost $180 if paying the full pharmacy price. With a discount coupon from SingleCare, an equivalent bottle of prednisolone can be purchased for as low as $46.
4. Health insurance
If there’s still some time before surgery, consider health insurance. All the costs of surgery including pre-op visits, tests, the surgery, post-op visits, and all the medications needed may cost more than all the costs of health insurance. Visit your state’s health insurance marketplace to see if any plans can save money on the procedure and its aftermath.
5. Medicaid or Medicare Extra Help
If income is tight, you may qualify for subsidized health insurance. People with Medicare Part D can apply for Medicare LIS (Low Income Subsidy). Premiums and other costs will be partly paid for. For those not on Medicare, Medicaid provides both low premiums and ultra-low drug costs. Both Medicaid and Medicare Extra Help have similar eligibility criteria, so visit your state’s Medicaid site for eligibility information, enrollment help, or additional information.
6. Community clinics and 340B providers
For people with low income, Durezol or generic difluprednate can be purchased for only a few dollars at community clinics and hospitals designated 340B providers. Contact a local health department for a list of these community health providers and their locations.