Androgel (testosterone) is a brand-name topical gel that’s prescribed for low testosterone due to certain medical conditions in adults. The cost of the drug with and without insurance can depend on several factors.
Specifically, Androgel is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in adults for:
- primary hypogonadism (a testicular problem)
- hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (a condition that affects how much testosterone your body makes)
As with all medications, the cost of Androgel can vary. Factors that may affect the price you’ll pay include:
- your treatment plan
- your insurance coverage
- the pharmacy you use
- whether Androgel has a savings program (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section below)
To find out what the cost of Androgel will be for you, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. Or look below in the next section to learn how much you can save by using an Optum Perks coupon.
To save money on your Androgel prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons.
Save on Androgel Pump with an Rx coupon from Optum Perks
No membership needed, anyone can use
Search and compare prices for your prescriptionFind the lowest price
Free, easy to use coupon cardDelivered digitally today
Redeem at a local pharmacyAccepted at 64,000+ pharmacies
Enter your information:
Location
47201
Dosage
75gm testosterone pump (1 Pump Bottle)
Save money without using insurance
Simply show the Optum Perks coupon at your preferred pharmacy or order online and instantly save up to 80% without using insurance. The coupon doesn’t expire, so be sure to save it for refills.
Retail price refers to the manufacturer’s published list price and is up to date as of 3/2023. Retail and discounted prices are U.S.-only and can vary based on region and pharmacy. We cannot guarantee that the discounted price listed here will exactly match the price at your pharmacy. Please contact your pharmacy for the exact price.
Optum Perks and Healthline are subsidiaries of RVO Health.
Pricing source:Perks.optum.com
The active ingredient of Androgel is testosterone. It’s available as the generic drug testosterone and comes as a topical gel. A generic drug is considered to be as safe and effective as the original drug. And generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.
If your doctor has prescribed Androgel and you’re interested in using testosterone instead, talk with your doctor. They may have a preference for one version or the other. You’ll also need to check with your insurance provider, as they may only cover one or the other.
To find out how the cost of this generic drug compares with the cost of Androgel, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
WHY ARE COSTS DIFFERENT FOR BRAND-NAME DRUGS VS. GENERIC DRUGS?Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the research needed to test their safety and effectiveness. The manufacturer of a brand-name drug can sell it for up to 20 years. When the brand-name drug’s patent expires, multiple manufacturers can create generic versions. This marketplace competition may lead to lower costs for generics. Also, because generics contain the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs, they don’t require the same costly testing.
If you take Androgel long term, you may be able to lower its cost in the following ways.
Getting a 3-month supply
You may be able to get a 90-day supply of Androgel. If approved by your insurance company, getting a 90-day supply of the drug could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost. If you’re interested in this option, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
Using a mail-order pharmacy
Androgel may be available through a mail-order pharmacy. Using this type of service may help lower the drug’s cost and allow you to receive your medication without leaving home. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order medications. You may also be able to get a 90-day supply of the drug via mail order.
If you don’t have health insurance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest online pharmacy options that could work for you.
If you need financial support to pay for Androgel, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available. For example:
- Some websites provide details about drug assistance programs, ways to make the most of your insurance coverage, and links to savings cards and other services. Two such websites are:
To learn more about saving money on prescriptions with or without insurance, check out this article.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about drug cost and Androgel.
How much does Androgel cost with insurance vs. without it?
What you pay for Androgel if you have insurance compared with what you’d pay without it depends on several factors.
Factors that could affect what you pay for this drug without insurance include:
- the quantity you’re prescribed (such as a 90-day or 30-day supply)
- whether you apply and qualify for any available savings programs
- your dosage and treatment plan
- the pharmacy you use
These same factors may affect your price for Androgel if you have insurance. But the price you pay with insurance will also depend on:
- your specific plan benefits
- any prior authorization requirements you have for drug coverage
To learn more about what you’d pay for Androgel with or without insurance, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider (if you have one).
You can also visit Optum Perks* for price estimates for this drug when using coupons from their site. However, Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance benefits or copays.
* Optum Perks is a sister site of Medical News Today.
Is Androgel covered by Medicare?
It may be. You can call your Medicare plan provider to learn whether your particular plan covers the cost of this drug. There are many types of Medicare plans, so your coverage and what you pay for prescriptions will be based on your particular plan’s benefits.
You may also need to obtain prior authorization before your plan will cover the cost of this medication.
Your doctor may also be able to provide information about your cost for Androgel if you have Medicare.
Below is information you may want to consider if you have insurance and receive Androgel.
If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers Androgel. This means the company and your doctor will discuss Androgel in regard to your treatment. The insurance company will then determine whether the medication is covered.
If a drug requires prior authorization but you start treatment without the prior approval, you could pay the full cost of the medication. You can ask your insurance company whether Androgel requires prior authorization.
Now that you’ve learned about cost and Androgel, you may still have some questions. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who can provide personalized guidance about cost issues related to Androgel. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you’d pay for Androgel.
Here are some other resources you may find helpful:
- Medicare drug coverage. To learn about Medicare coverage for drugs, see these articles about Medicare prescription drug plans, drug coupons and Medicare, and the Medicare drug list.
- Information about your condition. For more information about your condition and other conditions that affect mens health, see our Men’s health hub.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.