Femara (letrozole) is a brand-name tablet that’s prescribed for certain types of breast cancer in adults. The cost of the drug with and without insurance can depend on several factors.
Femara belongs to a drug class called aromatase inhibitors. The drug is available in a generic version.
Read on to learn about Femara and cost, as well as how to save money on prescriptions. If you’d like other information about Femara, refer to this article.
As with all medications, the cost of Femara can vary. Factors that may affect the price you’ll pay include:
- your treatment plan
- your insurance coverage
- the pharmacy you use
- whether Femara has a savings program (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section below)
To find out what the cost of Femara will be for you, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
Note: If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers Femara. This means the company and your doctor will discuss Femara 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 Femara requires prior authorization.
Femara contains the active ingredient letrozole. It’s available as the generic drug letrozole. 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 Femara and you’re interested in taking letrozole 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 Femara, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. You can also check out this article on letrozole and cost.
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 Femara 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 Femara. 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
Femara 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 Femara, 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.
Now that you’ve learned about cost and Femara, you may still have some questions. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who can provide personalized guidance about cost issues related to Femara. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you would pay for Femara.
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 Femara, refer to this article.
- Dosage. Learn about Femara and dosage by viewing this article.
- Side effects. For details about Femara’s side effects, see this article. You can also look at the Femara prescribing information.
- Information about breast cancer. For more information about breast cancer, see our hubs on breast cancer and women’s health.
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.