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Key takeaways
Livalo, a prescription statin used for lowering cholesterol, lacks a generic version, making it more expensive than many other statins, with a 30-day supply averaging $409 without insurance.
Insurance coverage for Livalo varies, with some plans requiring prior authorization or classifying it as a non-preferred drug, potentially leaving patients to cover the full cost.
Generic alternatives to Livalo, such as simvastatin or atorvastatin, offer similar efficacy at a significantly reduced cost, with some generics available for as low as $3 per 30-day supply with a SingleCare savings card.
Strategies to reduce the cost of Livalo without insurance include using SingleCare coupons, shopping for the lowest pharmacy prices, considering Medicaid, and discussing generic statin alternatives with a healthcare provider.
Is Livalo covered by insurance | How much does Livalo cost without insurance? | How to get Livalo without insurance
Livalo is a brand-name prescription statin, a type of drug that lowers serum cholesterol and fats by blocking an enzyme in the liver responsible for making cholesterol. Besides helping adults who have high cholesterol, Livalo is also FDA approved to treat children and teens (8 years and older) diagnosed with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH), a hereditary condition that can cause dangerously high cholesterol. Healthcare professionals may, however, prescribe Livalo for off-label medical conditions such as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or to reduce the risk of severe problems such as heart attack or stroke. No matter what the diagnosis, the standard dosage is a 1, 2, or 4 mg tablet taken once per day. Unlike many other statins, the active ingredient in Livalo, pitavastatin, cannot be purchased as a low-priced generic. There are, however, well-proven ways to bring down the cost of a Livalo prescription.
Is Livalo covered by insurance?
Livalo is sometimes covered by commercial health insurance, Medicare Part D, and Medicaid, but some insurance plans exclude Livalo from their list of covered drugs. Even insurance companies that do cover Livalo may require prior authorization before approval. Insurance plans classify Livalo as a Tier 3 drug or, worse, as a non-preferred drug in their formularies. Copay and coinsurance costs will probably be high, but the exact out-of-pocket costs will depend on the insurance plan. If the plan’s formulary excludes Livalo, the entire cost will likely be borne by the patient.
How much does Livalo cost without insurance?
A 30-day supply of Livalo will average $409 at full retail price, adding up to almost $5,000 annually.
There are many other generic statins available that are both cheaper than, and as effective as Livalo. If Livalo is too pricey, ask the prescribing healthcare provider about alternative generic statins: simvastatin, atorvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, fluvastatin, and rosuvastatin. The brand-name versions, of course, will be more expensive, but a pharmacist can substitute a generic version.
While some over-the-counter drugs, natural remedies, and dietary supplements may help improve cholesterol levels, they have not been proven as effective substitutes for prescription cholesterol medications like statins or fibrates like Lopid (gemfibrozil).
Compare Livalo prices to related drugs |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Name | Price without insurance of brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Livalo | $409 per 30, 2 mg tablets | $323 per 30, 2 mg tablets of brand-name Livalo | See updated prices |
| Zypitamag (pitavastatin magnesium) | $284 per 30, 2 mg tablets | $235 per 30, 2 mg tablets of brand-name Zypitamag | See updated prices |
| Zocor | $312 per 30, 20 mg tablets | $3 per 30, 20 mg tablets for generic Zocor | See updated prices |
| Pravastatin | $124 per 30, 40 mg tablets of generic pravastatin | $6 per 30, 40 mg tablets of generic pravastatin | See updated prices |
| Lipitor | $432 per 30, 10 mg tablets | $3 per 30, 10 mg tablets of generic Lipitor | See updated prices |
| Lovastatin | $129 per 90, 20 mg tablets of generic lovastatin | $6 per 90, 20 mg tablets of generic lovastatin | See updated prices |
| Fluvastatin | $148 per 30, 20 mg capsules of generic fluvastatin | $21 per 30, 20 mg capsules of generic fluvastatin | See updated prices |
| Crestor (rosuvastatin) | $346 per 30, 10 mg tablets | $6 per 30, 10 mg tablets of generic Crestor | See updated prices |
| Lescol XL | $416 per 30, 80 mg tablets | $36 per 30, 80 mg tablets of generic Lescol XL | 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 Livalo without insurance
Paying for certain brand-name prescription medications can be hard even with insurance coverage. Furthermore, considering that statin therapy typically lasts a lifetime, this can become a financial burden. Here are five suggestions to save on stain therapy.
1. Take advantage of SingleCare’s Livalo coupon
With SingleCare, a 30-day supply of Livalo could be discounted as much as $80 off the average retail price using a SingleCare free discount coupon, a savings of almost $1,000 a year. A 90-day supply could be discounted by as much as $160.
2. Take advantage of low pharmacy prices
By shopping local pharmacies for the lowest price, people without insurance could purchase Livalo for much less than the highest pharmacy price. (However, it is safest to get all your prescriptions at one pharmacy so the pharmacist has your full profile and can screen for drug interactions or other issues. So, once you find an affordable pharmacy, get all your prescriptions there if you can.)
3. Consider Medicaid
For people with limited income, Medicaid may be the best option. Visit your state’s Medicaid website for eligibility criteria, enrollment forms, and additional information.
4. Get medical advice about other statins
Insurance companies frequently balk at paying for Livalo because there are so many less expensive generic statins. All have proven track records at lowering bad cholesterol levels (LDL cholesterol), raising good cholesterol levels (HDL cholesterol), and reducing triglycerides. Common side effects are about the same. Patients should certainly ask their healthcare provider about alternatives. Simply switching to a generic statin could save $200–$300 a month, saving as much as $3,600 in a year. Even better, many generic statins cost between $3 and $6 when purchased with a SingleCare savings card, saving almost $4,500 a year.