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Key takeaways
Symbicort is a prescription inhalant for asthma or COPD that combines a corticosteroid with a long-acting beta agonist. It costs around $476 without insurance for a 30-day supply.
Most commercial health insurance plans, Medicare, and Medicaid cover Symbicort, but uninsured patients can use a SingleCare coupon to reduce the cost to about $243.
There are cheaper alternatives to Symbicort, including generic versions of similar drugs and other effective asthma or COPD medications.
Uninsured patients can lower their medication costs through manufacturer coupons, patient assistance programs, shopping for better prices, and exploring health insurance options, including Medicaid or CHIP.
Is Symbicort covered by insurance? | How much does Symbicort cost without insurance? | How to get Symbicort without insurance
Symbicort (budesonide-formoterol) is a prescription oral inhalant used to control asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a medical condition that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Symbicort combines a corticosteroid (budesonide) with a long-acting beta-agonist (formoterol), also known as a bronchodilator. In combination, these two drugs reduce swelling and widen airway passages to help prevent asthma attacks or COPD flare-ups. Symbicort is usually taken as two puffs twice per day through a metered dose inhaler. The metered inhaler comes in two strengths: 80 mcg budesonide/4.5 mcg formoterol or 160 mcg budesonide/4.5 mcg formoterol per actuation (one puff). While there is no generic version of Symbicort, there are similar drugs that may be less costly.
RELATED: Symbicort side effects
Is Symbicort covered by insurance?
Symbicort is covered by most commercial health insurance plans, Medicare, and Medicaid.
How much does Symbicort cost without insurance?
People without insurance can expect to pay Symbicort’s full retail price which averages $476 for one inhalation canister containing 10.2 GM of budesonide/formoterol at a strength of 160 mcg/4.5 mcg. This is enough medicine for 30 days (120 inhalations). The retail price may be lower for a canister with a dosage strength of 80 mcg/4.5 mcg. Brand-name Symbicort can be purchased with a SingleCare coupon for about $243 a month.
Symbicort combines a low- to medium-dose corticosteroid and a long-acting beta agonist (LABA). There are similar corticosteroid-LABA inhalants that may be less expensive including Advair Diskus (fluticasone and salmeterol), Breo Ellipta (fluticasone and vilanterol), Dulera (mometasone and formoterol), as well as a generic version of Advair Diskus available as either Wixela Inhub or fluticasone/salmeterol.
People with asthma can also save money by asking the prescribing healthcare provider about other FDA-approved asthma maintenance treatments such as high-dose corticosteroid inhalants, long-acting beta-agonist inhalants (LABAs), oral leukotriene modifiers, and theophylline. Many are available as generics but may not be as effective as Symbicort at reducing attacks. Other less-expensive controlling treatments for COPD include anticholinergic inhalers, LABAs, and corticosteroid inhalers. It is important to remember that short-acting beta-agonists like albuterol-based inhalers are intended for short-term use as rescue inhalers for breakthrough symptoms. They are not adequate for long-term, chronic use for control of asthma or COPD.
Compare Symbicort prices to related drugs |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Price without insurance brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol fumarate inhalant) | $476 120 inhalations |
$243 for 120 inhalations for brand-name Symbicort |
See updated prices |
| Advair Diskus (fluticasone/salmeterol) | $525 for 60 blisters | $261 for 60 blisters for brand-name Advair Diskus | See updated prices |
| Breo Ellipta (fluticasone/vilanterol) | $170 for 28 blisters |
$150 for 28 blisters for brand-name Breo Ellipta |
See updated prices |
| Dulera (mometasone/formoterol fumarate) | $390 for 120 inhalations |
$315 for 120 inhalations for brand-name Dulera |
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 Symbicort without insurance
It can be difficult for an uninsured person to afford brand-name prescription medications, but it’s even harder for long-term treatments like Symbicort. The yearly cost of Symbicort treatment without insurance can easily surpass $5,000. Fortunately, there are ways to find prescription savings. Manufacturer coupons and patient assistance programs are available, but eligibility requirements have to be met first. If those don’t work, Symbicort patients have other, more foolproof ways to save money.
1. Use a SingleCare coupon
The first choice to save money on a Symbicort prescription is a SingleCare discount card. With SingleCare, the price of a 30-day Symbicort inhaler drops from $475 to only $243. A Symbicort coupon can be printed, texted, or emailed from the Symbicort discount page. It can be used the same day to fill a Symbicort prescription at participating local pharmacies.
2. Ask the prescriber about less expensive treatments
It is always a good idea to ask about less costly treatments when prescribed a brand-name drug. Unfortunately, healthcare professionals consider drugs like Symbicort that combine a low-dose corticosteroid with a long-acting beta-agonist to be one of the most effective maintenance treatments for asthma and COPD. If costs are too burdensome, ask for medical advice about less costly alternatives. These include at least one generic corticosteroid-LABA inhaler as well as other types of more affordable drugs.
3. Shop around
It pays to shop around for prescription drugs because prices do vary between pharmacies.
4. Shop for health insurance
Symbicort is a long term if not lifelong treatment that could cost more than $5000 a year for uninsured patients. For long-term conditions, it’s a good idea to explore health insurance options, which may be less expensive than you think. Start by comparing plans and prices at the online healthcare insurance marketplace for your state. An agent can help navigate the options.
5. Look into Medicaid or CHIP
Both Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are government-run health insurance programs. Not everyone, however, can meet the low-income requirements. However, patients on Medicaid typically pay $0.90 to $1.82 for a 30-day supply of Symbicort, so it’s an option worth exploring.
6. Explore available community resources
If you live in a populated area, county and municipal health departments are a valuable and often overlooked resource for finding affordable medical care and prescription medicines. They can direct people to low-cost or no-cost insurance, resources, or clinics that can help with expensive medications.