Boostrix is a brand-name booster vaccine that’s prescribed to help prevent tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. The cost of the vaccine with and without insurance can depend on several factors, such as whether Boostrix has a savings program.
Boostrix comes as a liquid suspension in a single-dose vial and single-dose prefilled syringe. It’s a biologic and belongs to a drug class called Tdap vaccines.* The active ingredients are tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis. Boostrix is not available in a biosimilar version.
Read on to learn about Boostrix and cost, as well as how to save money on prescriptions. If you’d like other information about Boostrix, refer to this article.
* Tdap is short for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. Specific bacteria cause these diseases.
As with all medications, the cost of Boostrix can vary. Factors that may affect the price you’ll pay include:
- your insurance coverage
- the pharmacy you use
- the cost of the visit to your healthcare professional to receive a dose of Boostrix
- whether Boostrix has a savings program (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section below)
To find out what the cost of Boostrix will be for you, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
Insurance considerations
Below is information you may want to consider if you have insurance and receive Boostrix.
Prior authorization. If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers Boostrix. This means the company and your doctor or pharmacist will discuss the importance of Boostrix for your health. The insurance company will then determine whether the cost of Boostrix is covered. If it requires prior authorization but you receive the vaccine without prior approval, you could pay the full cost. You can ask your insurance company whether Boostrix requires prior authorization.
Type of insurance coverage. Boostrix is given by your doctor, pharmacist, or another healthcare professional. If you have insurance, what you’ll pay for Boostrix may depend on your specific insurance plan and where you receive the vaccine. If you receive it at your doctor’s office, your doctor may bill the price through the medical coverage portion of your insurance plan. If you receive Boostrix at your pharmacy, they may bill the prescription drug portion of your insurance plan.
If you have questions about this process, contact your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about drug cost and Boostrix.
How much does the Boostrix vaccine cost without insurance?
The cost of Boostrix without insurance depends on where you’ll get the vaccine. You may be able to receive Boostrix at your doctor’s office or local pharmacy. If you don’t have insurance, ask your doctor or pharmacist how much it’ll cost.
Typically, the cost of medications without insurance is more than the cost with insurance. However, drug savings programs may help reduce the cost of Boostrix without insurance.
If you’ll need help paying for Boostrix, see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section below.
Does the manufacturer of Boostrix have a coupon for the vaccine?
No, there isn’t a manufacturer coupon for the vaccine. However, a program called GSK for You is available to help you manage your Boostrix cost. To learn more, visit the program website. You can also call 866-728-4368 for more information and determine whether you qualify for assistance.
For other cost support options, refer to the “Financial and insurance assistance” section below. You can also talk with your pharmacy or doctor’s office.
Is Boostrix covered by Medicare Part D?
Typically, Medicare Part D covers the cost of tetanus vaccines. This includes Tdap vaccines similar to Boostrix.* To find out whether your specific plan covers Boostrix, you’ll need to call your Medicare plan provider.
To learn more about Medicare, see the “Next steps” section below. For information about Medicare coverage of tetanus shots, you can read this article.
* Tdap is short for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, the diseases that Boostrix helps prevent.
Boostrix contains the active ingredients tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis. Boostrix is available only as a brand-name biologic drug and doesn’t come in a biosimilar version. A biosimilar medication is a drug that’s similar to a brand-name biologic drug (the parent drug). Also, biosimilars tend to cost less than brand-name medications.
WHY ARE COSTS DIFFERENT FOR BIOLOGIC DRUGS VS. BIOSIMILAR DRUGS?Biologic drugs can be expensive because of the research needed to test their safety and effectiveness. The manufacturer of a biologic drug can sell it for up to
12 years . When the biologic drug’s patent expires, multiple manufacturers can create biosimilar versions. This marketplace competition may lead to lower costs for biosimilars. Also, because biosimilars are very similar to biologic drugs, they don’t require the same costly testing.
If you need financial support to pay for Boostrix, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available. For example:
- A program called GSK for You is available for Boostrix. For more information and to find out if you’re eligible for support, call 866-728-4368 or visit the program website.
- 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. NeedyMeds is one such website.
To learn more about saving money on prescriptions with or without insurance, check out this article.
Now that you’ve learned about cost and Boostrix, you may still have some questions. It may be helpful to talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can provide personalized guidance about cost issues related to Boostrix. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you would pay for Boostrix.
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.
- More details. For details about other aspects of Boostrix, refer to this article.
- Boostrix compared to other Tdap vaccines. Learn how Boostrix compares with Adacel and Tenivac.
- Information about your condition. To learn more about the conditions that Boostrix helps prevent, see this list of infectious diseases articles.
- Information about vaccines. For more information about vaccines, see our list of preventive medicine articles.
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.