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Key takeaways
Utilizing the appropriate maintenance treatments for asthma and COPD will reduce the need for rescue inhalers containing albuterol. Long-acting asthma inhalers such as Advair (fluticasone/ salmeterol), Symbicort (budesonide/ formoterol), or QVAR (beclomethasone) may decrease your need for rescue medication as they use corticosteroids to control inflammation long-term.
There are many albuterol products available on the market today. While they all have the same intended clinical effect, they are not substitutable for one another.
Utilizing generic albuterol formulations is one way to save money compared to the brand name product’s retail price.
If you have insurance, knowing which albuterol sulfate product is preferred on your plan to get the best pricing will benefit you.
Ventolin HFA is a prescription-only, handheld inhaler for symptoms of bronchospasm, wheezing, and shortness of breath in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It can also be used in asthmatic patients and those who experience these symptoms with exercise. The average retail price of Ventolin HFA is $90 without insurance for one18 gm inhaler delivering 90 base mcg per actuation (pump). There are no over-the-counter substitutions to Ventolin HFA, but there are ways to save on your prescription.
What is the brand name/generic for Ventolin HFA?
Ventolin HFA has a generic in the marketplace known as albuterol HFA. Albuterol sulfate is the active ingredient in Ventolin. It is classified as a fast-acting bronchodilator because it provides quick relief by increasing airflow and opening your airway. For this reason, you will hear fast-acting bronchodilators referred to as “rescue inhalers.”. Airways can become constricted from inflammatory processes related to asthma, exercise, allergies, or chronic health conditions like COPD. Other branded albuterol inhalers are on the market but are not all interchangeable. These include Proair Digihaler, Proair Respiclick, and Proventil HFA. If your healthcare provider prescribes Ventolin HFA, your pharmacist can not automatically substitute one of the other branded inhalers without first getting permission from your prescriber to change the order. These branded albuterol inhalers are similar in content and have the same active ingredient, but there are some functional differences between the inhaler mechanisms with each branded product. Currently, Prasco Laboratories makes a substitutable albuterol HFA inhaler for Ventolin HFA.
Is Ventolin HFA covered by insurance?
Some insurance plans, including Medicare, may cover Ventolin HFA, but the coverage will vary by plan. Some plans may prefer the generic equivalent Ventolin HFA, or some may prefer that you try a different albuterol sulfate oral inhaler. Your out-of-pocket cost is subject to factors such as preferred drug status, deductibles, and copayments. Your pharmacist or insurance plan can help you understand your benefits more completely.
How much does Ventolin HFA cost without insurance?
Ventolin HFA is an 8.5 gm, 90 mcg/act inhaler. The average retail cost without insurance is $90. This 8.5 gm inhaler contains 200 actuations (doses). One inhaler will last a little over 2 weeks when using this at the maximum allowed dose. However, it will last longer if you do not have to use it regularly. The equivalent generic Albuterol HFA inhaler costs approximately $103 per inhaler for the same volume and number of doses, utilizing this savings card from SingleCare.
RELATED: Albuterol HFA alternatives: What can I take instead of Albuterol HFA?
Compare Ventolin HFA (albuterol sulfate HFA) prices to related drugs |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Price without insurance of brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Ventolin HFA | $90 per 1, 18 gm of 90 mcg/act inhaler | $53 18 gm of 90 mcg/act inhaler of brand-name Ventolin HFA | See latest prices |
| Generic Ventolin HFA (albuterol HFA) | $103 per 1, 8.5 gm of 108 mcg/act inhaler | $11 per 1, 8.5 gm of 108 mcg/act inhaler of generic albuterol HFA | See latest prices |
| ProAir Respiclick
(albuterol) |
$102 per 1, 0.65 gm of 108 mcg/act inhaler | $69 per 1, 0.65 gm of 108 mcg/act of brand-name ProAir Respiclick | See latest prices |
| Proventil HFA
(albuterol sulfate HFA) |
$107 per 1, 8.5 gm of 90 mcg/act inhaler | $11 per 1, 8.5 gm of 90 mcg/act inhaler of brand-name Proventil HFA | See latest prices |
| Albuterol nebulizer solution | $53 per 25, 2.5 mg/ 3 mL vials of solution | $5 per 25, 2.5 mg/ 3 mL vials of generic albuterol nebulizer solution | See latest 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 (unless otherwise specified). The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs, if available. Click the link under “Savings options” to see the latest drug prices.
How to get Ventolin HFA without insurance
If you do not have insurance coverage, paying for prescription medications can be challenging, especially when it is unexpected or in an emergency. Asthma symptoms can quickly escalate to an asthma attack, and if you are known to suffer from severe asthma or severe shortness of breath due to COPD, you do not want to wait until it is an emergency to get your medication. Manufacturer coupons or patient assistance programs from pharmaceutical companies may take some time and effort to attempt to qualify, and not everyone will be able to participate. Luckily, there are some options to help you save money that are easily accessible and can impact your out-of-pocket cost of inhalers quickly:
- You can use SingleCare’s database to find the pharmacy with the lowest out-of-pocket cost, saving your time and energy from pharmacy shopping.
- If you have insurance, your plan may offer a preferred price on a different FDA-approved albuterol oral inhaler. Work with your plan and healthcare provider to switch to the product your formulary prefers.
- If you have access to a nebulizer, using albuterol in solution form through the nebulizer may lower your out-of-pocket costs (starting at $8 for 25 doses). Unfortunately, nebulizers are not as portable as hand-held asthma inhalers.
- Check with local resources to see if your area has pharmacy programs for the uninsured. You may be able to get assistance with emergency medical needs and medical care.
- If you are one of many uninsured Americans, you may qualify for Medicaid coverage through your home state. Contact your local health department for more information.
Sources
- FDA Orange Book, FDA.gov (2024)
- Ventolin HFA, DailyMed NIH (2024)
- Bronchodilators – StatPearls, National Institutes of Health (2023)
