Leqvio (inclisiran) is a brand-name injection that’s prescribed to lower high cholesterol in adults. The cost of the drug with and without insurance can depend on several factors, such as whether Leqvio has a savings program.
Leqvio belongs to a drug class called small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). The drug is not available in a generic version.
Read on to learn about Leqvio and cost, as well as how to save money on prescriptions. If you’d like other information about Leqvio, refer to this article.
As with all medications, the cost of Leqvio can vary. Factors that may affect the price you’ll pay include:
- your treatment plan
- your insurance coverage
- the pharmacy you use
- the cost of the visit to your healthcare professional to receive doses of Leqvio
- whether Leqvio has a savings program (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section below)
To find out what the cost of Leqvio will be for you, talk with your doctor or insurance provider.
Insurance considerations
Below is information you may want to consider if you have insurance and receive Leqvio.
Prior authorization. If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers Leqvio. This means the company and your doctor will discuss Leqvio 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 Leqvio requires prior authorization.
Type of insurance coverage. Leqvio is given by your doctor or another healthcare professional. If you have insurance, the price of your Leqvio 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 Leqvio 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.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about drug cost and Leqvio.
Does Leqvio cost more than Repatha?
It may cost more than Repatha. Leqvio and Repatha (evolocumab) are both drugs that may be prescribed to lower high cholesterol in certain people. However, Leqvio can only be given by a healthcare professional. Repatha can be self-injected at home.
The price of either drug can depend on different factors. For example, it may depend on your insurance coverage and how much it costs to receive the injection from a healthcare professional.
For more information about Repatha’s cost, see this article. For information about how the cost of each drug compares, contact your insurance provider.
Is Leqvio covered by Medicare?
It’s possible. Leqvio is given by a healthcare professional in their office. For this reason, Medicare Part B may cover some of the drug’s cost.
To find out whether your Medicare plan covers Leqvio treatment, contact your Medicare provider.
Leqvio 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 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 need financial support to pay for Leqvio, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available. For example:
- The drug’s manufacturer offers the Leqvio Co-pay Program for this drug. For more information and to find out if you’re eligible for support, call 833-537-8462 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.
Now that you’ve learned about cost and Leqvio, you may still have some questions. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who can provide personalized guidance about cost issues related to Leqvio. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you would pay for Leqvio.
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 Leqvio, refer to this article.
- Dosage. Learn about Leqvio and dosage by viewing this article.
- Side effects. For details about Leqvio’s side effects, see this article. You can also look at the Leqvio prescribing information.
- Information about cholesterol. For more information about high cholesterol, see our cholesterol 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.