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How much is ferrous sulfate (Ferosul) without insurance?

The generic version of Ferosul, ferrous sulfate, costs $10 without insurance. Learn how to get ferrous sulfate at a lower price, or find cheaper alternatives.
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By | May 23, 2023 Medically reviewed by Josephine Bawab, Pharm.D.
Rx pill bottles: How much does ferrous sulfate cost without insurance

Key takeaways

  • Ferrous sulfate is an affordable over-the-counter iron supplement used to treat iron deficiency anemia, with generic versions available for around $10 without insurance.

  • Although many health insurance plans and Medicare do not cover ferrous sulfate, Medicaid may cover it. The Affordable Care Act requires insurance to pay for prescribed preventive supplements like ferrous sulfate fully.

  • Using a SingleCare prescription discount card can significantly reduce the cost of ferrous sulfate, potentially to as low as 50 cents for 100 tablets.

  • There are alternatives to ferrous sulfate, such as ferrous fumarate and ferrous gluconate, which may cost more but have fewer side effects, though shopping around and considering generic options can help save money.

In this article:

Ferrous sulfate is an over-the-counter (OTC) iron supplement. The word “ferrous” means iron. Ferrous sulfate supplements are recommended or prescribed to people with an insufficient amount of iron to make enough red blood cells, a condition called iron deficiency anemia. People can have low iron levels for various reasons, including pregnancy, poor nutrition, and blood loss. Ferrous sulfate isn’t the only way to buy OTC iron. Iron supplements containing ferrous fumarate or ferrous gluconate can also be found on store shelves. All three types are commonly found in multivitamins. Ferrous sulfate iron supplements can be taken as a tablet or oral solution. The tablets are relatively low-priced. Slow-release iron, either delayed-release or extended-release ferrous sulfate tablets, is also an option, but these products may cost more.

What is the brand name for ferrous sulfate?

There are some brand-name ferrous sulfate tablets, including Feosol, Fe Tabs, Ferosul, and Fergon Iron Restore chewable tablets. Fe-Vite and Enfamil Fer-In-Sol are ferrous sulfate oral solutions that infants and toddlers take more easily. These brand-name iron supplements may cost slightly more than generic ferrous sulfate.

Most people will purchase ferrous sulfate tablets as “iron” under a well-known supplement or store brand name. Ferrous sulfate is also found in multivitamins or prenatal vitamin combinations, such as Bentivite (ferrous sulfate and folic acid) or OB Complete One.

Is ferrous sulfate covered by insurance?

Many health insurance plans do not include ferrous sulfate in their formularies, such as Aetna. Others might cover the drug, but have maximum age limits, such as Ambetter. Medicare drug plans, such as Humana, generally don’t cover iron supplements. Medicaid is more likely to cover an iron supplement purchase. Some states’ Medicaid plans include ferrous sulfate iron supplements and other dietary supplements in their preferred drug list.

The Affordable Care Act mandates that health insurance plans fully pay for preventive drugs or supplements, including ferrous sulfate. If a healthcare provider prescribes ferrous sulfate supplements to prevent anemia, insurance must pay for that prescription in full with a $0 copay.

How much does ferrous sulfate cost without insurance?

Without insurance, the average bottle containing 100 ferrous sulfate tablets costs about $10, or 10 cents per tablet. Ferrous sulfate supplements usually come in tablets containing 325 mg of ferrous sulfate, but that represents only 65 mg of iron. All the rest is sulfate. Keep this in mind. Most ferrous sulfate packages will be labeled “iron,” not “ferrous sulfate,” and the strength will be 65 mg, not 325 mg. Sometimes the bottle will say “ferrous sulfate” and the strength will be 325 mg. Don’t be confused; this is the same as 65 mg of iron. 

Ferrous sulfate is the cheapest form of OTC iron, but iron can be purchased without a prescription as ferrous fumarate, ferrous gluconate, and polysaccharide iron complex. While ferrous fumarate is priced comparably to ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate and polysaccharide iron complex are higher priced. People are willing to pay that higher price because these forms of iron usually have fewer side effects of nausea, vomiting, or constipation, especially if they’re taken on an empty stomach.

Perhaps the best way to save money is to use a SingleCare prescription discount card when purchasing iron supplements at a participating pharmacy or retailer. A bottle of 100 ferrous sulfate tablets can cost as little as 50 cents using a SingleCare prescription discount card, about half a cent per tablet.
Drug name Price without insurance of brand-name drug  SingleCare price Savings options
Ferrous sulfate $10 per 90, 325 mg (65 mg of iron) tablets of generic ferrous sulfate $0.50 per 90, 325 mg (65 mg of iron) tablets of generic ferrous sulfate See latest prices
Ferosul

(ferrous sulfate)

 $12 per 30, 325 mg (65 mg of iron) tablets $1 per 30, 325 mg (65 mg of iron) tablets of brand-name Ferosul See latest prices
Ferrous gluconate $8 per 30, 324 mg (37.5 mg of iron) tablets of generic ferrous gluconate $0.30 per 30, 324 mg (37.5 of iron) tablets of generic ferrous gluconate See latest prices
Slow FE $19 per 60, 142 mg (45 mg of iron) tablets $10 per 60, 142 mg (45 mg of iron) tablets of brand-name Slow FE See latest prices
Ferrous fumarate $15 per 30, 210 mg (69 mg of iron) tablets of generic ferrous fumarate $1 per 30, 210 mg (69 mg of iron) tablets of generic ferrous fumarate See latest prices
INFeD injection

(iron dextran)

 $47 per 2 mL of 50 mg/mL solution $33 per 2 mL of 50 mg/mL solution of brand-name INFeD injection
Feosol

(ferrous sulfate)

 $16 per 120, 325 mg (65 mg of iron) tablets $7 per 120, 325 mg (65 mg of iron) tablets of brand-name Feosol See latest 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 (unless otherwise specified). The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs if available. Click the link under “Savings options” to see the latest drug prices.

How to get ferrous sulfate without insurance

Ferrous sulfate is an OTC dietary supplement, so people with or without insurance coverage will probably have to pay the full cash price. Luckily, the price is lower than many other dietary supplements. Even better, there are numerous ways to reduce that low price to an even lower price. Here are a few ideas:

1. Use a SingleCare discount card

With a free coupon from SingleCare, 100 ferrous sulfate tablets can cost as little as 50 cents. That’s less than half a cent per tablet. Savings will vary by participating pharmacy or store, so first visit SingleCare’s ferrous sulfate coupon page to browse available discount prices at local pharmacies. Be sure to read the FAQs section on this coupon page for more savings and drug information.

2. Shop around for the lowest price

Ferrous sulfate iron supplements can be purchased practically anywhere: drugstores, grocery stores, other retailers, and online. Save money by shopping around for the lowest price. SingleCare’s pharmacy finder page is a good way to find local pharmacies or stores.

3. Purchase generic iron supplements

Brand-name iron supplements often cost more than generics, though sometimes they’re made by the same company at the same facilities as generic versions. If quality is a concern, get medical advice from a trusted healthcare professional.

4. Buy combination dietary supplements

If the concern goes beyond iron deficiency, consider buying multivitamins that contain other nutrients, such as vitamin C and calcium. Multivitamins will cost more than iron supplements, but they will save money if you’re buying more than one dietary supplement.