How much is omeprazole without insurance?

Is omeprazole covered by insurance | How much does omeprazole cost without insurance? | How to get omeprazole without insurance

Omeprazole is a generic medication that reduces stomach acid. At prescription strengths, omeprazole and its brand-name version, Prilosec, are used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), damage to the esophagus (erosive esophagitis), stomach ulcers, duodenal ulcers, H. pylori infection, and to relieve excess stomach acid production (hypersecretory conditions). Purchased over-the-counter, omeprazole and its brand-name version, Prilosec OTC, are taken to prevent frequent heartburn and stomach pain caused by ulcers. All of these are conditions can be improved by decreasing stomach acid production. 

Belonging to a family of drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), omeprazole reduces the amount of Fh2 acid in the stomach by blocking the mechanism used by stomach tissues (pareital cells) to secrete acid into the stomach. For prescription omeprazole, doses range between 20 and 40 mg taken once per day, but OTC omeprazole is limited to 20 mg taken once per day.

RELATED: Omeprazole side effects

Is omeprazole covered by insurance?

Prescription omeprazole is covered by most commercial health insurance plans, Medicare, and Medicaid.

How much does omeprazole cost without insurance?

A 30-day supply of prescription 20 mg omeprazole tablets averages $93.01, but the retail cost may vary depending on the dosage prescribed and the pharmacy. Over-the-counter 20 mg omeprazole tablets, however, can be purchased at an average cost of $31.29 for 28 tablets. Most of the cost of omeprazole can be offset by health insurance, but the out-of-pocket expense will depend on the plan’s formulary, deductible, and copay costs.

Omeprazole is a proton-pump inhibitor, a family of drugs that includes at least six other prescription medications. All are effective, but both the brand-name and generic versions of all these drugs are more expensive than generic prescription omeprazole. However, omeprazole is available as a less-expensive over-the-counter drug, as are two other PPIs, lansoprazole and esomeprazole (as well as omeprazole plus sodium bicarbonate, which is Zegerid OTC). For some medical conditions, non-prescription PPIs may be a suitable substitute for prescription omeprazole. However, before switching to an OTC alternative, get medical advice from a healthcare professional.

Proton pump inhibitors are considered a first-line treatment for GERD and other conditions, but H2 receptor blockers are also effective at treating many of the same problems. They may be less expensive and some can also be purchased over-the-counter. Non-prescription antacids can also help, but they are not appropriate as monotherapy to treat some of the more severe stomach acid conditions.

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 omeprazole without insurance

Even moderately-priced generics such as omeprazole can be hard to pay for if budgets are limited. Unlike brand-name prescription drugs, generics don’t come with manufacturer coupons, copay savings cards, or manufacturer patient assistance programs. However, many of the best ways to save on brand-name drugs are to use generic versions, if available.

1. Take advantage of SingleCare discount prices

A SingleCare savings card can dramatically reduce the cost of generic omeprazole to as little as $5 for a one-month prescription. No enrollment is necessary. Choose a free coupon by the lowest price or local pharmacy. Print the SingleCare discount card, have it texted to a smartphone, or sent to an email address to instantly save money on an omeprazole prescription. 

2. Compare pharmacy prices 

Many people mistakenly believe that prescription drug prices are the same no matter where they’re purchased. They’re not. Patients could easily pay quite a bit more for an omeprazole prescription at one pharmacy than they would at another. View SingleCare’s pharmacy finder for drug availability and price differences.

3. Ask for a 90-day prescription

For most indications, omeprazole is only taken for a few weeks. Other conditions may have a longer duration of treatment. In those cases, the cash price for a 90-day supply of omeprazole may be less than three 30-day fills at some pharmacies, or even lower when combined with a SingleCare discount card.

4. Talk to the prescriber about over-the-counter PPIs

Omeprazole is available over-the-counter at a considerable discount. The dose is equal to a 20 mg prescription omeprazole dose.  Two other similar prescription stomach acid reducers: lansoprazole and esomeprazole, are available OTC at half the standard prescription dose. However, the FDA has approved these OTC medications only to relieve the symptoms of frequent heartburn and stomach pain, so they may not be effective against more severe stomach acid conditions. Talk first to a healthcare professional. The switch may be possible, but doses may need to be adjusted.

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