Praluent and cost

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

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

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

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

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

Does Medicare cover Praluent?

Praluent may be covered by Medicare. It depends on your specific plan because coverage levels vary. For example, Medicare Part D covers the cost of drugs that you get at the pharmacy. Praluent comes as a prefilled autoinjector pen you’ll use at home. So if you have Medicare Part D, your plan may cover some of the cost of Praluent.

To find out your cost for Praluent, contact your Medicare plan representative. You can ask them about your Praluent coverage and any out-of-pocket costs such as a copay. For more information about Praluent and Medicare, see the “Next steps” section below.

You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to determine whether your Medicare plan will cover Praluent.

Does Praluent 75 mg/mL cost less than Praluent 150 mg/mL?

Possibly. Your pharmacist can help determine whether Praluent 75 milligrams (mg) per milliliter (mL) costs less than the 150 mg/mL strength. Your cost may depend on your dosage and treatment plan. For details about Praluent and dosage, see this article.

Other factors that can affect the cost include your insurance coverage. If you have insurance, ask your plan provider how the cost of Praluent 75 mg/mL and 150 mg/mL compares. To find out which strength is best for your condition, talk with your doctor.

Praluent contains the active ingredient alirocumab, 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 take Praluent 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 Praluent. 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

Praluent 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.

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

• A program called My Praluent Copay Card is available for Praluent. For more information and to find out if you’re eligible for support, call 844-772-5836 or visit the program website.
• The manufacturer of Praluent also has a patient assistance program. To learn more and find out if you’re eligible for assistance, call 844-772-5836 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:
  • Medicine Assistance Tool
  • NeedyMeds

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

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

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 Praluent, refer to this article.
• Dosage. Learn about Praluent and dosage by viewing this article.
• Side effects. For details about Praluent’s side effects, see this article. You can also look at the Praluent prescribing information.
• Drug comparison. To find out how Praluent compares with Repatha, read this article.
• Information about your condition. 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.