Injectafer (ferric carboxymaltose) is a brand-name injectable solution prescribed for iron deficiency. The cost of the drug, with and without insurance, can depend on several factors, such as whether Injectafer has a savings program.

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

  • your treatment plan
  • your insurance coverage
  • the cost of the visit to your healthcare professional to receive your Injectafer doses [given by intravenous (IV) infusion or slow IV injection]
  • whether Injectafer has a savings program (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section)

To find out what the cost of Injectafer infusions 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 Injectafer prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons.

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

How much does Injectafer cost with insurance vs. without it?

What you pay for Injectafer 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:

  • whether you apply and qualify for any available savings programs
  • your dosage and treatment plan
  • the cost of the visit to your healthcare professional to receive your Injectafer infusion or injection

These same factors may affect your price for Injectafer if you have insurance. But the price you pay with insurance will also depend on:

  • your specific plan benefits, including the copay or cost for the visit to receive your Injectafer
  • any prior authorization requirements you have for drug coverage

To learn more about what you’d pay for Injectafer 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. Note that Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance benefits or copays. (Optum Perks is a sister site of Medical News Today.)

Optum Perks is owned by RVO Health. By clicking on this link, we may receive a commission. Learn more.

How does the cost of Injectafer compare with that of medications such as Venofer?

The price you’d pay for Injectafer versus Venofer depends on various factors, including:

  • whether there are payment assistance programs for your prescribed treatment
  • whether you’re paying out of pocket or have insurance (see “Insurance considerations”)

Injectafer and Venofer are prescribed to treat iron deficiency anemia in some adults and children. Also, both are given as an IV infusion (or slow IV injection) by a healthcare professional. However, they contain different forms of iron. The active ingredient is ferric carboxymaltose in Injectafer and iron sucrose in Venofer. In addition, these medications have slightly different uses. Your doctor will prescribe the drug that’s right for you.

To learn more about the cost of Injectafer compared with other iron infusions or treatments for your condition, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider (if you have one).

Is Injectafer 750-mg cost covered by Medicare?

Most likely. A commonly prescribed Injectafer dose is 1,500 milligrams (mg) total, given as two 750-mg doses spaced 7 days apart. (For details about Injectafer dosing by body weight, see this article.)

You can call your Medicare plan provider to find out whether your particular plan covers the cost of Injectafer 750-mg doses. 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.

The total price you pay for Injectafer may also depend on the cost to receive Injectafer at your doctor’s office or clinic. In addition, you may 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 Injectafer if you have Medicare.

Injectafer is only available as a brand-name drug. It doesn’t come in a generic version. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

Even though a generic for Injectafer isn’t available, some generic IV iron products are available. If your cost of Injectafer is more than you can afford, talk with your doctor. They can determine whether any of the other generic iron products may be an option for you.

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

  • A program called injectconnect is available for Injectafer. For more information and to find out whether you’re eligible for support, call 866-437-4669 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.

Below is information you may want to consider if you have insurance and receive Injectafer.

Prior authorization: If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers Injectafer. This means the company and your doctor will discuss Injectafer 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 Injectafer requires prior authorization.

Type of insurance coverage: Injectafer is given by your doctor or another healthcare professional. If you have insurance, the price of your Injectafer doses may be billed through your medical coverage instead of the prescription drug portion of your insurance plan. This depends on your specific insurance plan and where you receive your Injectafer doses, such as at your doctor’s office, an infusion clinic, or a hospital.

If you have questions about this process, contact your doctor or your insurance provider.

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.