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Key takeaways
A one-month supply of Farxiga costs an average of $778 without insurance coverage. However, a generic version was approved in January 2024.
Farxiga’s manufacturer says most health insurance and Medicare Part D plans will cover Farxiga without prior authorization, but it depends entirely on the plan.
AstraZeneca’s AZ&Me prescription savings program can help uninsured patients get Farxiga for free if they meet certain income requirements.
SingleCare discounts, state-sponsored prescription assistance, and comparing prices can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Farxiga (dapagliflozin) is a versatile prescription drug used to reduce the risk of hospitalization and death in people with chronic kidney disease and heart failure and improve glycemic control in people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. But that versatility comes at a price since Farxiga can be expensive. Fortunately, there are ways to decrease your out-of-pocket costs, including the AstraZeneca (AZ&Me) Prescription Savings Program. Although not everyone is eligible, there are other ways to save on Farxiga.
RELATED: What is Farxiga used for?
How much does Farxiga cost?
A range of factors can affect the price of any medication. Even without insurance or Medicare coverage, the out-of-pocket cost of drugs like Farxiga fluctuates based on the pharmacy, location, availability, and more.
Farxiga’s average price before insurance is $778.00 for 30 10-mg tablets—a one-month supply. But prescription drug prices can vary by up to a few hundred dollars between pharmacies, so that price isn’t set in stone.
AZ&Me prescription savings program
AstraZeneca offers a savings program called AZ&Me, which provides eligible patients with AstraZeneca medications at no cost. However, it’s only available to qualified applicants without private or government-sponsored insurance (aside from Medicare) who aren’t receiving assistance from other programs.
In addition, anyone receiving a primary or specialty medication must have an income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level, and anyone who needs a rare disease drug must have an income at or below 500% of the federal poverty level.
Patients can apply for AZ&Me online or by printing and completing a paper application, then faxing or mailing it. The application asks for the name and formulation of the prescription medication, as well as personal information and details about health insurance, the prescribing healthcare provider, and income. After enrollment, AZ&Me will get the prescription directly from the prescriber and then send it to the pharmacy to process, fill, and ship the medication—all at no cost to the patient.
Other ways to save on Farxiga
The cost of prescription drugs can add up, but there are a few ways to save money on Farxiga.
Farxiga savings card
People with private insurance are ineligible for AZ&Me, but that doesn’t mean AstraZeneca has left them hanging. Farxiga also has a savings card that the company says can decrease the monthly copay to as little as $0. This card is only available to people with private insurance that covers some, but not all, of the medication’s price. Patients enrolled in state- or federal-funded prescription drug programs—including Medicare Part D, Medicaid, Medigap, Veterans Affairs (VA), and TriCare—are ineligible.
Eligible patients can download the card from the Farxiga website or download and complete a mail-in rebate form.
SingleCare prescription savings card
Drug manufacturers aren’t the only ones that can issue prescription savings cards. SingleCare negotiates directly with pharmacies to offer significant discounts on thousands of drugs—including Farxiga. For example, the average cash price for a 30-day supply of Farxiga is $778, but the SingleCare discount card can lower that price to around $390 at Albertsons, $400 at CVS, or $422 at Walmart.
You can’t use these discounts simultaneously with insurance coverage, so you’ll have to see which reduces the out-of-pocket expenses more. By comparison, people already receiving insurance coverage can combine that coverage with the Farxiga savings card. So, for people with coverage, that might be the better deal. However, for people who don’t have insurance—or whose insurance plan doesn’t cover Farxiga—SingleCare can still save hundreds.
Government-sponsored assistance programs
Medicare Part D beneficiaries can apply for Medicare Extra Help. This federal subsidy can further assist in paying for out-of-pocket prescription drug expenses. To qualify, you must be enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan and have an income of $22,590 for an individual or $30,660 for a married couple—and a “resource” limit of $17,220 for an individual or $34,360 for a married couple. Resources include stocks, bonds, and money in checking, savings, or retirement accounts.
RELATED: Average cost of Farxiga on Medicare
Many states have their own pharmaceutical assistance programs, which can provide additional coverage. Every program is different, so their eligibility requirements may vary.
Consider alternatives
Until generic dapagliflozin is available, generic Farxiga alternatives may be more affordable. Generic antidiabetic medications like glipizide and metformin are different from Farxiga, but they may provide similar beneficial health effects for people with Type 2 diabetes. Plus, they often cost a lot less. In fact, SingleCare discounts can bring the out-of-pocket costs for a one-month supply of either glipizide or metformin below $10. That said, they might not be viable options for people who are taking Farxiga for chronic kidney disease or heart failure. Ask your healthcare provider whether there are lower-cost alternatives to Farxiga for Type 2 diabetes.
Compare Farxiga prices at different pharmacies
Prescription drugs don’t have a set retail price, so different pharmacies may sell them for different amounts. Factors like the size, affiliation, and location of the pharmacy can cause price differences of up to a few hundred dollars between pharmacies. Costs can vary by about $200 from one pharmacy to another, so a little shopping around could save you a lot of money.
Does insurance cover Farxiga?
Farxiga’s manufacturer, AstraZeneca, says the medication is covered without prior authorization for most people who have private health insurance. A formulary finder tool on the Farxiga website allows you or your healthcare provider to check details about your coverage.
Every insurance company is different, as are individual plans, so it’s important to speak with a doctor and check your plan’s formulary to confirm. Some might not cover Farxiga for off-label uses like weight loss, and some might have prior authorization requirements that the patient or doctor must meet before issuing coverage. Others might not cover it at all.
Regardless, each plan has its own copayment, deductible, and co-insurance requirements, so even if it covers Farxiga, the out-of-pocket cost may vary.
Does Medicare cover Farxiga?
Anyone with original Medicare (Part A or Part B) may choose to add a standalone Medicare Part D plan, which covers certain prescription drugs. Many Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans will include a Part D plan as well. Although Part D plans vary in which drugs they include, many cover Farxiga.
“It depends on the specific plan an individual has. The good news is that, in my experience, it is frequently covered without prior authorization for the majority of commercial and Medicare Part D patients,” says Supriya Rao, MD, a quadruple board-certified physician and founder of GutsyGirlMD.
Like private insurance, each Medicare plan has its own copayments and deductibles, but AstraZeneca says the average out-of-pocket cost for people with Medicare Part D is $38.82 per month. Additionally, as of January 1, 2023, Medicare can negotiate directly with drug manufacturers on the prices of certain drugs, including Farxiga. That may help lower the price for Medicare beneficiaries in the future.
Does Medicaid cover Farxiga?
Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides additional assistance for low-income individuals. Many Medicaid plans cover Farxiga, although eligibility requirements, copays, and other details vary by state.
Sources
- Homepage, AZ&Me
- Savings and access support for your patients, Farxiga
- Help with drug costs, Medicare.gov
- State pharmaceutical assistance programs, National Conference of State Legislatures (2022)
- Saving money with the prescription drug law, Medicare.gov
- Medicaid, Medicaid.gov