Mestinon and cost

Mestinon cost

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

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

To find out what the cost of Mestinon 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.

Mestinon coupons and savings

To save money on your Mestinon prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons.

Brand-name vs. generic drugs

The active ingredient of Mestinon is pyridostigmine, and it’s available as a generic drug. Pyridostigmine comes as an oral tablet, extended-release oral tablet,* and oral solution. 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 Mestinon and you’re interested in taking pyridostigmine instead, talk with your doctor. They may prefer one version or the other. You’ll also need to check with your insurance provider, as it may cover only one or the other.

To find out how the cost of this generic drug compares with the cost of Mestinon, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

* Extended release means the drug is slowly released into your body over a period of time.

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.

Ways to reduce long-term drug costs

If you take Mestinon 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 Mestinon. 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

Mestinon 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.

Financial and insurance assistance

If you need financial support to pay for Mestinon, 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:

• Medicine Assistance Tool
• NeedyMeds

To learn more about saving money on prescriptions with or without insurance, check out this article.

Common questions about cost and Mestinon

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

What is the cost of Mestinon without insurance?

The price you’ll pay for Mestinon without insurance can vary based on several factors. But typically, the cost of prescription drugs is higher without insurance. Other factors that could affect your cost for this drug include:

• the pharmacy you use
• whether you apply and qualify for any available savings programs
• the quantity you’re prescribed, such as a 30-day or 90-day supply
• your dosage
• the form of the drug you’re prescribed*

To find out the cost of Mestinon without insurance, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You may also want to contact several pharmacies to compare their prices for Mestinon.

Check out Optum Perks† for estimates of Mestinon’s price when using coupons from the site. (Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance benefits or copays.)

* Mestinon is available as an oral tablet, extended-release oral tablet, and oral solution. (Extended release means the drug releases slowly into your body over time.)
† Optum Perks is a sister site of Medical News Today.

Is Mestinon covered by Medicare?

Medicare may cover the cost of Mestinon. Medicare plans such as Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage provide coverage for certain prescription drugs. Your coverage and what you pay for prescriptions will be based on your particular plan’s benefits. You may also need prior authorization before your plan will cover the cost of this medication. (For more information about this, see “Insurance considerations” just below.)

To learn whether your prescription drug plan covers the cost of Mestinon, call your Medicare plan provider. Your doctor may also be able to provide information about your cost for Mestinon with Medicare.

Insurance considerations

Below is information you may want to consider if you have insurance and receive a Mestinon prescription.

If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers Mestinon. This means the company and your doctor will discuss Mestinon in regard to your treatment. The insurance company will then determine whether to cover the medication. 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 Mestinon requires prior authorization.

Next steps

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

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 Mestinon, refer to this article.
• Side effects. For details about Mestinon’s side effects, see this article. You can also look at the Mestinon prescribing information.
• Information about your condition. For more information about myasthenia gravis (MG), see our list of generalized MG articles.

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.