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Key takeaways
Entresto is a brand-name prescription drug used to treat chronic heart failure. It contains two ingredients, sacubitril and valsartan, and is the only member of its class (angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors or ARNIs).
Without insurance, Entresto costs about $817 for a 30-day supply. However, up to 80% of commercial and private insurance plans, and up to 99% of Medicare Part D plans cover Entresto, potentially reducing the cost to less than $50 per month for most insured patients.
Various saving strategies exist for those without insurance, including using SingleCare savings cards, patient assistance programs, free samples, and shopping around for the best pharmacy prices.
Alternatives to Entresto, while not from the same drug class, include cheaper, generic versions of other heart failure medications, which may be considered for patients unable to afford Entresto.
Is Entresto covered by insurance? | How much does Entresto cost without insurance? | How to get Entresto without insurance
Entresto is a brand-name prescription drug used to reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular events and hospitalization in people diagnosed with chronic heart failure. A combination of two drugs, sacubitril and valsartan, Entresto relaxes blood vessels and reduces blood pressure, slowing the progress of heart failure. While one of the drugs in Entresto, valsartan, is widely available in generic versions, sacubitril is only found in Entresto. Entresto is a one-of-a-kind drug and the only member of its class (angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors or ARNIs). Patients seeking an Entresto alternative will have to look to other drug classes such as diuretics, ACE inhibitors, and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs).
Is Entresto covered by insurance?
Up to 80% of commercial and private insurance plans cover Entresto and up to 99% of Medicare Part D plans cover Entresto, according to the manufacturer. Although an expensive, brand-name medication, most patients do not have prior authorization requirements for Entresto. The manufacturer states that 80% of Medicare Part D consumers pay less than $50 per month for Entresto. Health insurance can significantly reduce the cost of Entresto, but the out-of-pocket cost will depend on the plan’s deductible and the copay cost determined by the plan’s formulary. Additionally, Novartis (the drug manufacturer) offers copay cards for people on Medicare and commercial or private insurance.
How much does Entresto cost without insurance?
The average retail price for Entresto without insurance is $817 for 60, 24/26 mg tablets, which is a 30-day supply at the lowest dose as one Entresto tablet is taken twice a day. That’s about $14 per tablet or $28 per day. Heart failure medications like Entresto are prescribed for months or years, so people without insurance coverage should expect to pay $9,800 a year for Entresto.
Cost is a valid reason to seek Entresto alternatives. Other common reasons for switching medications is if you’re experiencing serious side effects, if you have a contraindication and cannot take Entresto (such as having an allergic reaction to one of its ingredients, kidney problems, or if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding), or if you take a drug that interacts with Entresto.
RELATED: Side effects of Entresto
There are no over-the-counter drugs or supplements that can effectively treat heart failure in place of prescription medications. And although there are no alternatives available within the same drug class as Entresto, other FDA-approved medications can treat heart failure and some of them are available in more affordable, generic versions. Before stopping Entresto, consult your healthcare provider about the following heart failure medications and whether they could work for you.
Compare Entresto prices to related drugs |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Price without insurance of brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan) | $817 per 60, 24/26 mg tablets of brand-name Entresto | $551 per 60, 24/26 mg tablets of brand-name Entresto | See updated prices |
| Diovan (valsartan) | $315 per 30, 160 mg tablets of brand-name Diovan | $7 per 30, 160 mg tablets of generic Diovan | See updated prices |
| Vasotec (enalapril) | $920 per 30, 20 mg tablets of brand-name Vasotec | $7 per 30, 10 mg tablets of generic Vasotec | See updated prices |
| Coreg (carvedilol) | $424 per 60, 25 mg tablets of brand-name Coreg | $4 per 60, 12.5 mg tablets of generic Coreg | See updated prices |
| BiDil (isosorbide dinitrate/hydralazine) | $430 per 90, 20/37.5 mg tablets of brand-name BiDil | $326 per 90, 20/37.5 mg tablets of brand-name BiDil | See updated prices |
| Aldactone (spironolactone) | $107 per 30, 25 mg tablets of brand-name Aldactone | $2 per 30, 25 mg tablets of generic Aldactone | See updated prices |
| Farxiga (dapagliflozin) | $743 per 30, 10 mg tablets of brand-name Farxiga | $335 per 30, 10 mg tablets of brand-name Farxiga | 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 Entresto without insurance
Paying for an Entresto prescription without insurance will be challenging. With a yearly cost of nearly $10,000, Entresto is not affordable for most people without insurance. Fortunately, there are a variety of ways to save money on Entresto.
1. Save instantly with a SingleCare savings card
In just a few minutes, people could save hundreds of dollars by using a free Entresto coupon from SingleCare. For example, a 30-day supply of Entresto costs $551 with SingleCare, which is $266 less than the retail price. Simply take your coupon or SingleCare discount card to a local pharmacy when you fill your prescription.
2. Ask the prescriber to help with patient assistance programs
Uninsured patients should ask their prescribing healthcare provider about patient assistance programs or rebates offered by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, the manufacturer of Entresto. Eligible patients may be able to receive Entresto for an entire calendar year at no cost. The prescriber can provide additional information and help with the enrollment process.
3. Request a free sample
Healthcare professionals may have free samples of expensive, brand-name drugs like Entresto. In addition, Novartis offers a free trial offer that provides a 30-day supply of Entresto to any person first prescribed Entresto. Note: This will only work if you’re in a pinch. You’ll still need to find a more sustainable savings method.
4. Enroll in health insurance
Chronic, life-threatening conditions like heart failure are a good reason to shop for health insurance. The combined cost of life-saving drugs, doctor’s visits, procedures, and hospitalization far exceeds the cost of a health insurance policy. The best place to shop for health insurance is your state’s health insurance marketplace. Before signing on to a policy, though, check that policy’s formulary and copay for heart failure drugs like Entresto.
5. Enroll in Medicaid or Medicare
You may be eligible for Medicaid health insurance. Check your state’s Medicaid website for eligibility requirements. Additionally, as people get older, they are more likely to develop heart failure or complications from heart failure. If you are 65 or older (or if you’re younger with certain health conditions), you qualify for Medicare. Both government programs can help people get affordable access to prescriptions.
6. Look for the lowest price
Entresto has a manufacturer’s list price, but the actual price charged by the pharmacy may be higher or lower. Check with several pharmacies before filling an Entresto prescription. Entresto may also be available through online mail-order pharmacies. Search singlecare.com for Entresto (or an Entresto alternative) and enter your zip code to compare prices at multiple pharmacies near you.
RELATED: Find a pharmacy near you
7. Ask the prescriber about alternative heart failure treatments
Entresto is the only prescription drug available that contains sacubitril, and there is no other drug that works like sacubitril. However, there are other drug combinations that are used to treat heart failure, drugs that can be purchased as lower-cost generics. If Entresto is too expensive, ask a healthcare provider for medical advice about more affordable drug combinations.
8. Compare the price of a 90-day supply
A 90-day supply of Entresto is not much cheaper than a 30-day supply. However, this is a great savings method for many other drugs. If your provider has approved an Entresto alternative, ask your pharmacist what the cost of a three-month supply would be. Even though this is more expensive upfront, the daily (or monthly) cost of the drug could be cheaper in the long run.