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How much is Jardiance without insurance?

Jardiance (empagliflozin) can be an expensive brand-name prescription drug. Here's how to save on Jardiance without insurance.
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By | Updated on Nov. 20, 2024 Medically reviewed by Marissa Walsh, Pharm.D., BCPS-AQ ID
Rx pill bottles: Jardiance without insurance

Key takeaways

  • Jardiance is a prescription medication for Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk reduction, but the list price can cost uninsured individuals over $10,000 annually due to the lack of a generic version.

  • Most insurance providers will cover Jardiance, but some may require prior authorizations or come with higher-tiered copays.

  • Alternatives to Jardiance include other high-cost SGLT2 inhibitors and a plethora of generic drugs. Healthcare professionals can assist uninsured patients in finding lower prices of Jardiance or more cost-effective alternatives that remain clinically efficacious.

  • The out-of-pocket cost of Jardiance may be reduced through SingleCare discount cards, the Boehringer Cares patient assistance program, and finding out if an individual is eligible for health insurance plans.

In this article:

Jardiance is a brand-name prescription drug that helps people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus control blood sugar levels. Jardiance has also demonstrated a reduction in cardiovascular outcomes when compared to placebo, including risk of heart attack, stroke, and risk of hospitalization for heart failure after a heart attack. Jardiance can also reduce the risk of worsening kidney disease. Jardiance belongs to a family of anti-diabetic medications called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2, or SGLT2, inhibitors. Jardiance’s active ingredient, empagliflozin, increases the amount of glucose and sodium eliminated in the urine, helping to lower blood sugar and, by lowering sodium levels, bringing down blood pressure—an additional benefit for people with heart disease. 

Most people will take a 10 or 25 mg tablet once daily. They may experience relatively common side effects such as low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), urinary tract infections, and yeast infections. Additional potential side effects include the development of diabetic ketoacidosis or allergic reactions. Unfortunately, Jardiance is only available as a brand-name drug. People without insurance are likely to pay the full retail price for Jardiance, but there are a few ways to reduce the drug cost. 

RELATED: Jardiance cost with Medicare

How much does Jardiance cost without insurance?

People without health insurance often need to pay the full cash price of $853 for a 30-day supply of 25 mg of Jardiance. This adds up to over $10,000 for one year of treatment. People with health insurance will pay less, though copay costs may vary based on the plan and formulary. 

There are other drugs that work like Jardiance, but they also are all brand-name drugs. While still carrying a premium price, they can be slightly less expensive alternatives to Jardiance. One member of the SGLT inhibitor class, Brenzavvy (bexagliflozin), is only available through an online pharmacy and at independent pharmacies. If these other SGLT2 inhibitors are still too expensive, ask the prescribing healthcare provider about alternative antidiabetic medications such as metformin, sulfonylureas, meglitinides, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, and bile acid sequestrants. These medications work much differently than Jardiance and related drugs, so they may not be suitable replacements depending on other chronic diseases. However, they all lower blood sugar and are available as lower-priced generics. Keep in mind that over-the-counter medications or supplements are not effective at lowering blood glucose and cannot substitute for prescription diabetes medications.

Compare Jardiance prices to related drugs
Drug Name Price without insurance  SingleCare price Savings Options
Jardiance (empagliflozin) $853 for

30, 25 mg tablets

 $483 for

30, 25 mg tablets

 See update prices
Steglatro (ertugliflozin) $468 for

30, 15 mg tablets

 $359 for 30, 15 mg tablets See updated prices
Invokana (canagliflozin) $806 for

30, 300 mg tablets

 $591 for 30, 300 mg tablets See updated prices
Farxiga (dapagliflozin) $800 for

30, 10 mg tablets

 $363 for

30, 10 mg tablets

 See updated prices

Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing.

How to get Jardiance without insurance

The long-term cost of Jardiance treatment can be a financial burden for the uninsured—over $10,000 a year at full price. The pharmaceutical company that manufactures Jardiance, Boehringer Ingelheim, has a patient assistance program called The Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation, or Boehringer Cares. This cost-saving option provides free Boehringer Ingelheim medications to patients in the United States who meet their program eligibility criteria. This is a good place to start, but not everyone will meet the eligibility requirements. There are additional ways to save from paying the wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) for brand-name prescription drugs like Jardiance.

1. Start with a SingleCare savings card

Your first step should be SingleCare. A Jardiance coupon from SingleCare can cut the actual cost of a Jardiance prescription almost in half to $482 per month, which can total approximately $5,000 in savings per year. Jardiance coupons can be selected based on the lowest price or the most convenient or trusted pharmacy. A free coupon will instantly save money on a Jardiance prescription, but the SingleCare discount card can be used for thousands of prescriptions.

2. Look for other discount programs

Some patient assistance programs are not sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. One such program is SimpleFill. Becoming a SimpleFill member is another avenue to accessing free or reduced-cost medications for the uninsured. Their eligibility requirements may vary from those of drug company-sponsored programs, so it’s never a bad idea to check. 

3. Sign up for health insurance

Health insurance is always an option for many people lacking health insurance. It is often more affordable than people think, particularly when compared to paying full price for brand-name prescription medications. High out-of-pocket costs could be significantly reduced with a health insurance medication benefit. Medicaid is an excellent option for those who can’t afford health insurance. Eligible patients pay $10 or less per month for their Jardiance prescription. Contact your state’s Medicaid office or fill out an enrollment application on your state’s Medicaid website to determine if you qualify. For those with Medicare health insurance coverage, Extra Help is a program that assists those with limited income or resources to pay for prescription medications. 

4. Get medical advice about other diabetes medications

Three other brand-name drugs are in the same SGLT2 inhibitor class as Jardiance, but their cash prices are less expensive. In particular, Steglatro (ertugliflozin) is half the cost of Jardiance, but it is only prescribed to people with Type 2 diabetes. If SGLT2 inhibitors are still too expensive, other antidiabetic medications may be just as effective at controlling blood sugar. Talk to your healthcare provider for other options to manage your Type 2 diabetes. 

5. Shop around

 Jardiance cash prices vary by pharmacy. It is always a good idea to price-shop prescription medications. In addition, some pharmacies may provide improved pricing when purchasing a 90-day supply of Jardiance over lesser amounts. 

6. Find local community health resources

If you live in a populated area, community health clinics and organizations may provide financial assistance for free or low-cost medications, health care, or even health insurance. Start by contacting your city or county’s health department for additional information about community healthcare organizations.

 

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