Upneeq (oxymetazoline) is a brand-name eye drop that’s prescribed for droopy eyelids in adults. The cost of the drug with and without insurance can depend on several factors.
Specifically, Upneeq is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat droopy eyelids in adults. It’s not available in a generic version.
As with all medications, the cost of Upneeq can vary. Factors that may affect the price you’ll pay include:
- your treatment plan
- your insurance coverage
- the pharmacy you use
- whether Upneeq has a savings program (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section below)
To find out what the cost of Upneeq 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 Upneeq prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons.
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Simply show the Optum Perks coupon at your preferred pharmacy or order online and instantly save up to 80% without using insurance. The coupon doesn’t expire, so be sure to save it for 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
Upneeq is only available as a brand-name drug. It doesn’t come in a generic version. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication.
Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.
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.
If you take Upneeq 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 Upneeq. 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
Upneeq may be available through a mail-order pharmacy called RVL 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 medication via mail order.
For more details about this program, you can call RVL Pharmacy at 844-RVL-EYES (844-785-3937) or visit the program website.
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 Upneeq or help to understand 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:
To learn more about saving money on prescriptions with or without insurance, check out this article.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about drug cost and Upneeq.
What is the cost of Upneeq without insurance?
The price you’ll pay for Upneeq if you don’t have insurance can vary based on several factors. But typically, the cost is higher for those without insurance.
Other factors could affect what you pay for this drug. These 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
- the pharmacy you use
To learn the exact cost you’d pay for this medication without insurance, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You may also want to contact several pharmacies to compare their prices for Upneeq.
Check out Optum Perks* for estimates of Upneeq’s price when using coupons from the site. (Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance benefits or copays.)
* Optum Perks is a sister site of Medical News Today.
How does Upneeq’s cost compare with that of other similar medications?
There currently aren’t other drugs similar to Upneeq that treat droopy eyelids. The active drug in Upneeq, oxymetazoline, is available in over-the-counter (OTC) eye drops for treating red eyes. However, the OTC eye drops come in a lower strength than Upneeq. For this reason, they’re unlikely to be effective for treating droopy eyelids.
If you have questions about other treatment options for droopy eyelids, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Below is information you may want to consider if you have insurance and receive Upneeq.
If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers Upneeq. This means the company and your doctor will discuss Upneeq 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 Upneeq requires prior authorization.
Now that you’ve learned about cost and Upneeq, you may still have some questions. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who can provide personalized guidance about cost issues related to Upneeq. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you’d pay for Upneeq.
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.
- Information about eye health. For more information about eye health, including droopy eyelids, see our eye health 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.