Taltz and cost

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

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

Taltz is given as a subcutaneous injection. Your doctor will inject your first dose of Taltz in their office. After this, you or a caregiver can give the dose at home on your own.

To find out what the cost of Taltz 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 Taltz. This means the company and your doctor will discuss Taltz 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 before prior approval, you could pay the full cost of the medication. You can ask your insurance company whether Taltz requires prior authorization.

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

Does Taltz have a copay assistance program?

Yes. The manufacturer of Taltz has a copay assistance program called Taltz Together. You may qualify for this program if you have insurance and meet certain eligibility requirements.

To learn more about this program, talk with your doctor or insurance provider. You can also call 844-825-8966 or visit the program website.

How does the cost of Taltz compare with the cost of Humira?

The cost of Humira (adalimumab) compared with Taltz can depend on certain factors.

Taltz and Humira are both biologic drugs. However, they have different active ingredients and work in different ways.

Humira and Taltz are both prescribed to treat psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and plaque psoriasis. Humira also has certain other approved uses for autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

The cost of each medication depends on whether you have insurance or you’re paying out of pocket. Typically, your cost for either medication will be higher without insurance.

Other factors that may affect the price you pay include:

• drug form and dosage
• the condition the drug is being used to treat
• whether you qualify for any cost savings programs (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section below)
• the specialty pharmacy you use

To find out the cost of Humira versus Taltz, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. Be sure to check with a few specialty pharmacies for cost comparisons if you don’t have insurance.

Taltz contains the active drug ixekizumab, 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.

Taltz is only available from a specialty pharmacy. If you take Taltz 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 Taltz. If approved by your insurance company, getting a 90-day supply of the drug could reduce your number of trips to the specialty pharmacy and help lower the cost. If you’re interested in this option, check with your doctor, specialty pharmacy, or insurance provider.

Using a mail-order pharmacy

Taltz may be available through a mail-order specialty 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 Taltz or help to understand your insurance coverage, help is available. For example:

• A program called Taltz Together is available for this drug. For more information and to find out whether you’re eligible for support, call 844-825-8966 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 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 Taltz, you may still have some questions. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who can provide personalized guidance about cost issues related to Taltz. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you’d pay for Taltz.

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 Taltz, refer to this article.
• Dosage. Learn about Taltz and dosage by viewing this article.
• Side effects. For details about Taltz’s side effects, see this article. You can also look at Taltz’s prescribing information.
• Information about conditions. For more information about conditions Taltz is used to treat, see our arthritis hub and psoriasis 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.