Tamoxifen is a generic oral tablet that’s prescribed for certain types of breast cancer in adults. It’s available as the brand-name drug Soltamox. The cost of tamoxifen with and without insurance can depend on several factors.
Specifically, tamoxifen is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the following in adults:
- metastatic estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer
- estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer that is treated with other therapies
- to lower the risk of invasive breast cancer when given after radiation and surgery
- to lower the occurrence of breast cancer in those at high risk
As with all medications, the cost of tamoxifen can vary. Factors that may affect the price you’ll pay include your treatment plan, your insurance coverage, and the pharmacy you use.
To find out what the cost of tamoxifen 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.
To save money on your tamoxifen prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons.
Save on tamoxifen with Optum Perks
Save on tamoxifen_citrate without insurance.
Enter your information:
Location
47201
Dosage
20mg tamoxifen citrate (30 Tablets)
Save on tamoxifen
Simply show the Optum Perks coupon at your preferred pharmacy and instantly save without using insurance. The coupon doesn't expire so be sure to save it for use with refills.
Retail price refers to the manufacturer’s published list price and is up to date as of 3/2023. Retail and discounted prices are U.S.-only and can vary based on region and pharmacy. We cannot guarantee that the discounted price listed here will exactly match the price at your pharmacy. Please contact your pharmacy for the exact price.
Optum Perks and Healthline are subsidiaries of RVO Health.
Pricing source:Perks.optum.com
Tamoxifen is a generic drug, which means it’s an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. 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.
Tamoxifen is available as the brand-name drug Soltamox. If your doctor has prescribed tamoxifen and you’re interested in using Soltamox, talk with your doctor. They may have a preference for one version or the other. You’ll also need to check with your insurance provider, as it may only cover one or the other.
To find out how the cost of this brand-name drug compares with the cost of tamoxifen, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
If you take tamoxifen 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 tamoxifen. 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
Tamoxifen 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 tamoxifen, consider looking into websites that offer cost resources and information. Two such organizations are:
These sites can provide details about drug assistance programs, ways to make the most of your insurance coverage, and links to savings cards and other services.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about drug cost and tamoxifen.
How much does tamoxifen cost with insurance vs. without it?
What you pay for tamoxifen if you have insurance compared to what you’d pay without it depends on several factors.
Factors that could affect what you pay for this drug without insurance include:
- the quantity you’re prescribed (such as a 90-day or 30-day supply)
- whether you apply and qualify for any available savings programs
- your dosage and treatment plan
- the pharmacy you use
These same factors may affect your price for tamoxifen if you have insurance. But the price you pay with insurance will also depend on:
- your specific plan benefits
- any prior authorization requirements you have for drug coverage
To learn more about what you’d pay for tamoxifen with or without insurance, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider (if you have one).
You can also visit Optum Perks* for price estimates for this drug when using coupons from their site. However, Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance benefits or copays.
* Optum Perks is a sister site of Medical News Today.
Is tamoxifen covered by Medicare?
It may be. You can call your Medicare plan provider to learn whether your particular plan covers the cost of this drug. There are many types of Medicare plans, so your coverage and what you pay for prescriptions will be based on your particular plan’s benefits.
You may also need to obtain prior authorization before your plan will cover the cost of this medication.
Your doctor may also be able to provide information about your cost for tamoxifen if you have Medicare.
Below is information you may want to consider if you have insurance and receive tamoxifen.
Prior authorization. If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers tamoxifen. This means the company and your doctor will discuss tamoxifen 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 tamoxifen requires prior authorization.
Now that you’ve learned about cost and tamoxifen, you may still have some questions. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who can provide personalized guidance about cost issues related to tamoxifen. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you would pay for tamoxifen.
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.
- Save money. Explore this article for tips about how to save money on prescriptions.
- Information about your condition. For more information about cancer, see our cancer 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.