EpiPen (epinephrine) is a brand-name auto-injector that’s prescribed for serious allergic reactions including anaphylaxis in adults and children. The cost of the drug, with and without insurance, can depend on several factors.
As with all medications, the cost of EpiPen can vary. Factors that may affect the price you’ll pay include:
- your treatment plan
- your insurance coverage
- the pharmacy you use
- whether EpiPen has a savings program (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section below)
To find out what the cost of EpiPen 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 EpiPen prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons.
Save on EpiPen with Optum Perks
Save on Epipen 2-pak without insurance.
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Location
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Dosage
2 epinephrine (auto-injector) (1 Pen)
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Simply show the Optum Perks coupon at your preferred pharmacy and instantly save without using insurance. The coupon doesn’t expire, so be sure to save it for use with 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 EpiPen is epinephrine and it’s available as a generic drug. 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 EpiPen and you’re interested in receiving epinephrine 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 it may only cover one or the other.
To find out how the cost of this generic drug compares with the cost of EpiPen, 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 your doctor recommends keeping EpiPen on hand 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 EpiPen. 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
EpiPen 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 EpiPen, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available. For example:
- A program called the EpiPen Savings Card is available for EpiPen. For more information and to find out whether you’re eligible for support, call 800-657-7613 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. 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 EpiPen.
How much does EpiPen cost with insurance vs. without it?
What you pay for EpiPen 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 EpiPen 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 EpiPen 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 EpiPen 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 be able to provide information about your cost for EpiPen if you have Medicare.
Below is information you may want to consider if you have insurance and receive EpiPen.
If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers EpiPen. This means the company and your doctor will discuss EpiPen in regard to your treatment. The insurance company will then determine whether the medication is covered.
If your EpiPen requires prior authorization but you must fill the prescription to have on hand for emergencies prior to approval, you could pay the full cost of the medication. You can ask your insurance company whether EpiPen requires prior authorization.
Now that you’ve learned about cost and EpiPen, you may still have some questions. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who can provide personalized guidance about cost issues related to EpiPen. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you’d pay for EpiPen.
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 EpiPen, refer to this article.
- Dosage: Learn about EpiPen and dosage by viewing this article.
- Information about allergic reactions: For more information about allergic reactions, see our allergies and reactions 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.