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Key takeaways
Emgality, a prescription medication for preventing migraines and cluster headaches, costs around $879 without insurance for a single monthly dose.
Many insurance plans cover Emgality, but for those without coverage, alternatives include using a SingleCare discount card to reduce the cost or asking the healthcare provider about cheaper, non-biologic CGRP antagonists.
Patients may find financial relief through manufacturer assistance programs, health insurance, Medicaid, or by discussing other less expensive treatments with their healthcare provider.
Comparing pharmacy prices and utilizing discount cards like SingleCare can significantly lower the out-of-pocket expenses for Emgality, potentially saving hundreds of dollars.
Is Emgality covered by insurance? | How much does Emgality cost without insurance? | How to get Emgality without insurance
Emgality (galcanezumab) is a brand-name prescription drug approved by the FDA to prevent migraine headaches or episodic cluster headaches. The active ingredient in Emgality is a monoclonal antibody called galcanezumab-gnlm. It works by blocking cranial blood vessels from widening, the primary cause of many of the symptoms of migraines and cluster headaches, including pain. Each Emgality dose—120 mg for migraine prevention and 300 mg for cluster headaches—is self-injected once per month using a pre-filled syringe or autoinjector pen. Emgality is an expensive drug with no generic or over-the-counter alternatives. However, there are ways to help manage the cost.
RELATED: Emgality side effects
Is Emgality covered by insurance?
Many commercial health insurance policies will cover an Emgality prescription, but the insurance provider may require prior authorization. Some Medicare Part D and Medicaid plans cover Emgality, but not all. The copay for people with Medicare Part D will vary, but 70% pay an average of $0 to $150 for their monthly prescription.
How much does Emgality cost without insurance?
For people without insurance coverage for Emgality, the retail price averages $879 for a single 120 mg autoinjector that provides a single monthly dose for migraine prevention. Emgality is a long-term treatment, so at the full cash price, Emgality treatment will cost almost $10,000 per year.
For patients with insurance coverage for Emgality, the out-of-pocket expense will depend on the plan’s formulary, deductible, copay cost, and any coinsurance. Some eligible patients can take advantage of the Emgality Savings Card which reduces the copay for commercially-insured patients.
Patients lacking Emgality insurance coverage have other options. They can take non-biologic CGRP antagonists such as Nurtec ODT (rimegepant) and Qulipta (atogepant). As tablets, they’re easier to take, but they are considerably more expensive than antibody injections.
RELATED: Emgality vs. Nurtec: Differences, similarities & side effects
If these treatments are still cost-prohibitive, there are many effective treatments for migraine and cluster headache prevention that are effective. Some may work better for some patients than CGRP antagonists. Prescription migraine prevention drugs include topiramate, nortriptyline, steroid injections, verapamil, botulinum toxin, and, less commonly, lithium and oral steroids. The standard cluster headache preventives are valproic acid, over-the-counter melatonin supplements, and repeated applications of intranasal capsaicin.
Compare Emgality prices to related drugs |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Price without insurance for brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Emgality (galcanezumab) | $879 for 1 mL of 120 mg/mL autoinjector (one month supply) | $530 for 1 mL of 120 mg/mL autoinjector for brand-name Emgality | See updated prices |
| Vyepti (eptinezumab) | $1,571 for 1 mL of 100 mg/mL vial (three month supply) |
No coupons at this time. Check back periodically. | More details |
| Ajovy (fremanezumab) | $829 for 1.5 mL of 225 mg/1.5 mL prefilled syringe (one month supply) |
$571 for 1.5 mL of 225 mg/1.5 mL prefilled syringe for brand-name Ajovy | See updated prices |
| Aimovig (erenumab) | $883 for 1 mL of 140 mg/mL autoinjector (one month supply) |
$679 for 1 mL of 140 mg/mL auto-injector for brand-name Aimovig | 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 Emgality without insurance
Paying for expensive brand-name prescription medicines like Emgality can be challenging. Even those with insurance coverage may find that out-of-pocket Emgality prices are too high to manage. The manufacturer does offer a patient assistance program, but not everyone can meet the eligibility requirements. For both insured and uninsured patients who cannot afford monthly Emgality injections, there are ways to save money and still get treatment.
1. Use a SingleCare discount card
A free coupon from SingleCare can reduce the monthly cost of Emgality by as much as $350 to cost a total of only $530. Print or download a SingleCare savings card.
2. Buy health insurance
At an annual cost approaching $10,000, paying full price for Emgality may be more expensive than health insurance. Start with your state’s health insurance marketplace. You will need a health plan that covers Emgality, but you will also need to understand the policy’s deductible, coinsurance percentage, and how they classify Emgality in their formulary. It helps to talk to an agent that understands these issues.
3. Enroll in Medicaid
If health insurance is too expensive, you may qualify for Medicaid. Emgality may be covered by Medicaid health insurance plans. The place to start is with your state’s Medicaid website to see if you are eligible. Again, it helps to talk to an agent because you’ll need to select a plan that covers Emgality.
4. Ask the prescribing healthcare provider about other drugs
There may be less expensive migraine or cluster headache treatments that work just as well or better than Emgality. They work differently, but they’re worth trying if Emgality is too expensive. Most are common generic drugs. However, before switching to drugs that haven’t been tried, make sure to get medical advice about the alternatives from a healthcare professional.
5. Compare pharmacy prices
Like all retailers, pharmacies charge different prices. Some charge a premium price for prescription medications, whereas others charge a discounted price. Finding the lowest price for Emgality could save $80 a month or more. Add a SingleCare coupon and the price could drop from an average of $879 per injection to less than $530. Start your price shopping with SingleCare’s pharmacy finder.