5 ways to save money on Linzess

In this article:

• How much does Linzess cost?
• Can I get Linzess for free?
• How to save
• Alternatives

In this article

• How much does Linzess cost?
• Can I get Linzess for free?
• How to save
• Alternatives

Linzess (linaclotide) is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C), chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC), and functional constipation. 

Linzess can be a pricey medication to pay for out of pocket, which is why it’s crucial to find ways to save money on it. Keep reading to learn about the different ways you can lower the costs of your Linzess prescription, ranging from patient savings programs to cheaper alternative medications.

How much does Linzess cost?

The average retail price for Linzess is $727 for 30, 145 micrograms (mcg) capsules if you pay out of pocket without discounts. Currently, there aren’t any generic versions of Linzess available, so people who are uninsured can expect to pay the full retail price for the medication.

According to the drug manufacturers AbbVie and Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, 86% of commercial health insurance and Medicare Part D drug plans cover Linzess prescriptions. The manufacturer reports that 10 10 of the top national commercial plans and 9 of 9 top Medicare Part D plans list Linzess as a preferred or covered brand for IBS-C and CIC.

Medicare recipients may also receive coverage for Linzess if they have Medicare Part C, also known as the Medicare Advantage plan.

When it comes to Medicare or private health insurance plans, you can always check whether or not Linzess or other medications are covered by looking at their formulary. A formulary is a list of prescription drugs covered by your health insurance or prescription drug plan.

For example, the Complete Drug List (Formulary) 2024 for AARP Medicare Plans from UnitedHealthcare lists Linzess as a Tier 3 approved drug with a maximum of one capsule per day. Tier 3 drugs are higher-cost, primarily brand-name drugs that are non-preferred by insurers. You can expect higher copays for medications in this tier than generic and/or preferred prescription medications at the lower tiers. 

Medicaid may also cover Linzess, but it may vary by state. According to the 2025 Medicaid Drug Formulary for the Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, Linzess is considered a Tier 2 drug, which is categorized similarly to Tier 3 Medicare drugs.

However, your insurance company may recommend trying a cheaper alternative before covering Linzess, which will be covered in a later section.

The manufacturer provides the following price ranges for people with commercial, Medicaid, Medicare, or other insurance:

• Commercial insurance: About 91% of people pay between $0 to $50 out of pocket.
• Medicaid: One hundred percent of Medicaid recipients pay between $0 and $10 per month for a Linzess prescription.
• Medicare Part D: About 84% of people with this insurance pay between $0 and $50 per month. 
• Other insurances (VA, DOD, TRICARE, others): Copays for these insurances can range from $0 to $43 per month, depending on whether you’re an active duty member, retired, or a family member, and where you pick up your prescriptions. The Linzess copay for VA is $11 per month. 

Can I get Linzess for free?

You may be able to get your Linzess prescription for free if you’re eligible for the myAbbVie Assist Program. This program is available for those who are uninsured, are receiving Medicare, or have commercial insurance that doesn’t provide enough coverage for the medication. You can complete an online or paper application to determine your eligibility for this program.

Below is the eligibility criteria for this patient assistance program:

• Are receiving treatment by a licensed U.S. healthcare provider on an outpatient basis and have been prescribed an AbbVie medication included in the assistance program.
• Have limited or no health insurance coverage
• Have demonstrated a qualifying financial need, such as meeting income criteria
• Live in the United States

How to save money on Linzess

If you’re uninsured or your insurance doesn’t provide enough coverage, here’s how to get Linzess cheaper or, in some instances, for free. 

1. Free Linzess coupons

You can lower the costs of Linzess with the SingleCare discount card. “[SingleCare] offers coupons that can bring down the price of prescriptions—sometimes even lower than your insurance copay,” says Sean Ormond, MD, a dual board-certified physician in anesthesiology and interventional pain management and owner of Atlas Pain Specialists of Phoenix, Arizona.

The SingleCare discount card can help you save up to 80% on your prescription drugs. For instance, the lowest Linzess price is as low as $492.71 for 30, 145 mcg capsules. This price can vary by the drug’s strength, form, and pharmacy from which you get the prescription. 

This prescription savings card is accepted at several major U.S. pharmacies, including CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, Safeway, Rite Aid, and Meijer.

What’s great about the SingleCare discount card is that you can use it whether or not you have insurance. You’ll pay a discounted price for Linzess, but it’ll be much cheaper than paying out of pocket without any discounts.

To get this discount card, search for your preferred pharmacy on the Linzess coupon page. Next, you’ll click “Get free coupon,” which will provide a coupon you can save to your phone or print out. You’ll show this coupon to your pharmacist to get your discount. 

2. Linzess Savings Card

The manufacturers of Linzess offer a savings card through which eligible patients can pay as little as $30 for a 30- or 90-day prescription. Patients enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, or other federal or state programs (e.g., TRICARE, VA, or state assistance programs) are ineligible for the Linzess savings card.
To get this savings card, text “LINZESS” to 59257, call 1-855-859-5614, or sign up for the LINZESS Savings Program online on the AbbVie website.

3. Non-profit organizations

“Organizations like NeedyMeds or the Patient Advocate Foundation are great resources,” Dr. Ormond says. “They help connect people to financial assistance programs that can reduce or cover the cost of medications.”

NeedyMeds offers patient assistance programs, coupons, rebates, savings cards, free trial offers, free samples, and other services to make healthcare more affordable for people in need. 

One of the programs offered at the Patient Advocate Foundation is the Co-Pay Relief Program. This program provides financial aid to insured patients who meet the eligibility requirements to help them pay for the prescriptions and/or treatments they need. You must have insurance and meet residential and income criteria to be accepted into the program.

You can reach out to these programs to get additional information on enrollment and other available resources to lower the costs of Linzess.

4. Extra Help

If you have a Medicare Part D plan, you may want to consider applying for the Extra Help program. This program is designed to help people with financial strain and limited resources pay their premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and other costs. You can apply for Extra Help if you have full Medicaid coverage, receive help from your state to pay your Part B premiums, and/or have Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments from Social Security. If you’re accepted into the program, you’ll pay up to $12.15 for brand-name drugs like Linzess. 

5. Mail-order or bulk

“If your insurance allows it, using a mail-order pharmacy for a 90-day supply can often save you money,” Dr. Ormond says. “Buying in bulk is typically cheaper than refilling every month.” You can reach out to your insurance provider to see if this option is available to you.

Is there a cheaper alternative to Linzess?

So, is there a cheaper alternative to Linzess? Fortunately, if you’re uninsured or your insurance doesn’t cover the costs of Linzess, with guidance from your healthcare provider, you can switch to an FDA-approved alternative at a lower price.
Here’s a look at the different medications available and their associated costs:

Drug name	Uses	SingleCare Price	Savings Options
Amitiza (lubiprostone)	IBS-C in women ages 18 years and older, CIC in adults, and opioid-induced constipation (OICD) in adults with chronic pain	$36 for 60, 24 mcg capsules of generic Amitiza	See latest prices
Lactulose (oral solution)	Chronic constipation	$6 for 1, 473 ml of 10 gm/15 ml bottle of generic lactulose	See latest prices
Motegrity (prucalopride)	CIC	$166 for 30, 2 mg tablets of generic Motegrity	See latest prices
Trulance (plecanatide)	IBS-C, CIC	$480 for 1, 30 tablet bottle of brand-name Trulance	See latest prices
Ibsrela (tenapanor)	IBS-C	$1,815 for 1, 60 tablet bottle of brand-name Ibsrela	See latest prices

Your healthcare provider can help you decide which alternative medication is best for treating your symptoms.