Key takeaways

  • The price of Keytruda infusions can vary based on where you receive infusions, your insurance coverage, and other factors.
  • Financial assistance programs may help reduce your costs, such as The Merck Access Program and others.
  • To understand your costs with or without insurance, including Medicare, it’s best to consult with your doctor’s office or your insurance provider.

As with all medications, the cost of Keytruda 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 doses of Keytruda
  • whether Keytruda has a savings program (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section)

To find out what the cost of Keytruda will be for you, talk with your doctor or insurance provider.

Keytruda coupons

Keytruda doses are given at your doctor’s office or another healthcare facility, such as an infusion clinic. Because Keytruda is provided at a medical facility, there are no coupons for this drug that you’d use at a pharmacy. Ask your doctor’s office about the cost of the medication and whether Keytruda infusions are covered by your medical insurance.

Also, see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section for information about cost-savings programs you might be eligible for.

Keytruda’s cost with and without insurance

The cost of Keytruda with and without insurance varies from person to person. This is because Keytruda’s cost depends on several factors, including your treatment plan and your insurance coverage.

Brand-name drugs typically cost more without insurance. So, if you don’t have insurance, Keytruda’s cost may be higher for you.

If you’d like to learn more about what Keytruda may cost with and without insurance, talk with your insurance provider or your doctor.

Keytruda contains the active ingredient pembrolizumab, and it’s available only as a brand-name biologic drug. It 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). 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 Keytruda, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available. For example:

  • A program called The Merck Access Program is available for Keytruda. Depending on your insurance plan, this savings program might help you pay as little as $25 per infusion. For more information and to find out whether you’re eligible for support, 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:

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

How much does Keytruda cost with Medicare?

It depends. You can call your Medicare plan provider to learn whether your particular plan covers the cost of this drug. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, call the number on the back of your ID card for that plan.

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.

How can I determine the cost of Keytruda per dose, per month, and per year?

To determine the monthly or annual cost of Keytruda, talk with your doctor or insurance provider. They’ll be able to share more information about the costs of Keytruda. These costs can vary based on your treatment plan and insurance coverage, among other factors.

What’s the cost of Keytruda per vial?

Keytruda comes as a liquid solution in vials and comes in one strength: 100 milligrams (mg) per 4 milliliters (mL). You will receive the drug by intravenous (IV) infusion.

The cost of Keytruda per vial will vary due to factors such as your insurance coverage and the Keytruda dosage your doctor prescribes. To learn more about your cost of Keytruda per vial, talk with your doctor or insurance provider.

You may want to consider the following information if you have insurance and your doctor prescribes Keytruda.

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

Type of insurance coverage: Keytruda is administered by your doctor or another healthcare professional. If you have insurance, the price of your Keytruda 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 Keytruda doses, such as at your doctor’s office, an infusion clinic, or the 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.