Nplate (romiplostim) is a brand-name injection that’s prescribed for certain blood cell problems in adults and some children. The cost of the drug with and without insurance may depend on whether Nplate has a savings program.
Nplate belongs to a drug class called thrombopoietin receptor agonists. Nplate isn’t available in a biosimilar version.
Read on to learn about Nplate and cost, as well as how to save money on prescriptions. If you’d like other information about Nplate, refer to this article.
As with all medications, the cost of Nplate 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 Nplate
- whether Nplate has a savings program (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section below)
To find out what the cost of Nplate will be for you, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
Insurance considerations
Below is information you may want to consider if you have insurance and receive Nplate.
Prior authorization. If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers Nplate. This means the company and your doctor will discuss Nplate 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 Nplate requires prior authorization.
Type of insurance coverage. Nplate is given as a subcutaneous injection by your doctor or another healthcare professional. If you have insurance, the price of your Nplate 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 Nplate 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.
Nplate contains the active ingredient romiplostim, 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). Also, 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 Nplate, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available. For example:
- The Amgen SupportPlus Co-Pay Program is available for Nplate. For more information and to find out whether you’re eligible for support, call 866-264-2778 or visit the program website.
- If you don’t have insurance coverage, the Amgen Safety Net Foundation is available. To see whether you’re eligible for support, call 866-264-2778 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 Nplate, you may still have some questions. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who can provide personalized guidance about cost issues related to Nplate. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you would pay for Nplate.
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 Nplate, refer to this article.
- Side effects. For details about Nplate’s side effects, see this article. You can also look at the Nplate prescribing information.
- Information about your condition. For more information about your condition, see our list of blood and hematology 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.