Ibrance (palbociclib) is a brand-name prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to treat certain types of advanced or metastatic breast cancer in adults.

Ibrance is prescribed in combination with certain other drugs. For more information about Ibrance’s uses, refer to this article.

Drug details

Here are some details about Ibrance:

  • Drug forms: oral tablets and oral capsules*
  • Generic version: not available

Read on to learn about Ibrance and cost, as well as how to save money on prescriptions.

* The drug’s manufacturer plans to discontinue the capsule form. So Ibrance oral tablets may be the only available form in the future.

As with all medications, the cost of Ibrance can vary. Factors that may affect the price you’ll pay include:

  • your treatment plan
  • your insurance coverage
  • the pharmacy you use
  • whether Ibrance has a savings program (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section below)

To find out what the cost of Ibrance 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 Ibrance. This means the company and your doctor will discuss Ibrance 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 Ibrance requires prior authorization.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about drug cost and Ibrance.

Does Ibrance’s price vary by strength (75 mg, 100 mg, 125 mg)?

Typically, the average price of Ibrance doesn’t vary by strength. Factors likely to impact the price you’ll pay include the pharmacy you use and your insurance drug plan.

Your pharmacist, doctor, or insurance provider should be able to tell you the exact amount you’ll pay for your strength of Ibrance.

Can my pharmacist tell me Ibrance’s cost per month?

Yes, a pharmacist at a specialty pharmacy can tell you the cost of Ibrance per month. The medication is available only at specialty pharmacy providers, which stock drugs not typically found at your neighborhood pharmacy. These medications may be expensive or require help from healthcare professionals to be used safely and effectively.

If you have health insurance, you’ll need to provide the pharmacy with your insurance card so they can access your plan details for your drug pricing.

If you don’t have insurance, your pharmacist can tell you the cost of the drug per month at their location. The cost of medications can vary at different pharmacies.

What’s the cost of Ibrance with Medicare?

The cost of Ibrance with Medicare depends on the type of plan you have. Medicare does not cover all prescription drugs. And some drugs require a prior authorization before Medicare will cover the medication. (For more about prior authorization, see “Ibrance price” above.)

To learn whether your Medicare plan covers Ibrance, talk with your Medicare provider. They can tell you whether the drug requires a prior authorization and exactly how much your cost will be.

For other articles about Medicare, see “Next steps” below.

How do the costs of Ibrance with and without insurance compare?

Typically, medications cost less with insurance than without insurance. The cost of Ibrance can also vary depending on the type of insurance plan you have.

Whether or not you have insurance, your cost of Ibrance will depend on several factors. These may include your dose and treatment plan, whether you’re eligible for an Ibrance savings program, and the pharmacy you use.

To find out your specific cost for Ibrance with or without insurance, talk with your pharmacist or insurance provider.

If you need financial support to pay for Ibrance, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available. For example:

  • A Pfizer Oncology Together Ibrance copay savings card is available from the drug manufacturer. For more information and to find out if you’re eligible for support, call 844-9-IBRANCE (844-942-7262) or visit the program website.
  • A Pfizer Patient Assistance Program is available for some uninsured people. To learn more and to see if you’re eligible for support, call 877-744-5675 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.

Ibrance is available only as a brand-name drug. It doesn’t come in a generic version. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication.

Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

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 Ibrance 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 Ibrance. 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.

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.

Now that you’ve learned about cost and Ibrance, you may still have some questions. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who can provide personalized guidance about cost issues related to Ibrance. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you would pay for Ibrance.

Here are some other resources you may find helpful:

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.