How much does Yervoy cost?

Yervoy coupons and savings

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Brand-name vs. biosimilar drugs

Yervoy contains the active ingredient ipilimumab, and it’s available only as a brand-name biologic drug. It is not available in a biosimilar version. A biosimilar medication is a drug that’s similar to a brand-name biologic drug (the parent drug). Additionally, biosimilars tend to be less expensive 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.

Financial and insurance assistance for Yervoy

If you need financial support to cover the cost of Yervoy or require assistance understanding your insurance coverage, help is available. For example:

• A Co-Pay Assistance Program is available for Yervoy. For more information and to determine if you’re eligible for support, please visit the program website. There, you can schedule a call or chat with a representative to determine what financial assistance you may be eligible for.
• Some websites offer information about drug assistance programs, tips on maximizing your insurance coverage, and links to savings cards and other valuable resources. Two such websites are:
  • Medicine Assistance Tool
  • NeedyMeds

To learn more about saving money on prescriptions with or without insurance, you can also check out how to save more on prescription medications.

Common questions about cost and Yervoy

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

Will receiving Yervoy along with other medications increase my cost?

It’s very likely that your doctor will recommend that you receive Yervoy in combination with another medication, called nivolumab (Opdivo). In fact, Yervoy is always used with nivolumab (Opdivo) except in some cases when you’re using the drug to treat melanoma.

If you’re using both Yervoy and nivolumab (Opdivo), you may have additional questions about the costs of receiving two medications. You’ll need to be in your doctor’s office or hospital for a longer time period to receive two drugs, which may incur additional costs. In addition, two drugs will cost more than one drug.

You may wish to discuss the prices of ipilimumab (Yervoy) and nivolumab (Opdivo) with your doctor before starting treatment. If you have concerns about the nivolumab (Opdivo) price and are treating melanoma, it’s possible that your doctor may recommend using Yervoy alone.

Before starting treatment, your doctor will likely discuss the costs of your treatment options with you. Consider asking them the cost of Yervoy and nivolumab (Opdivo) per month and per dose. They can also help discuss any financial assistance that may be available.

Is the Yervoy 50 mg price less than the Yervoy 200 mg price?

Yervoy comes in one strength of 5 milligrams (mg) per milliliter (mL) of solution. However, the drug is available in two different vial sizes:

• 50 mg of drug in 10 mL of solution
• 200 mg of drug in 40 mL of solution

The cost of the 50 mg vial size will likely be less than the cost of the 200 mg vial size. However, your doctor or pharmacist will calculate your dose and determine the number of vials needed for your treatment.

If you have questions about your insurance coverage or how much your medication may cost, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is Yervoy covered by Medicare?

Yervoy may be covered by Medicare. You can contact your Medicare plan provider to determine whether your specific plan covers the cost of this medication. 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.

The total price you pay for Yervoy may also depend on the cost of receiving infusions at your doctor’s office or clinic. You may also need to obtain prior authorization to have your plan cover the cost of this medication. Additionally, you may need to receive Yervoy in combination with another medication called nivolumab (Opdivo), which may increase your overall cost.

Your doctor may also be able to provide information about the cost of Yervoy if you have Medicare.

Insurance considerations for Yervoy

Below is information you may want to consider if you have insurance and receive Yervoy.

Prior authorization for Yervoy

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

Type of insurance coverage for Yervoy

Yervoy is given by your doctor or another healthcare professional. If you have insurance, the price of your Yervoy 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 Yervoy doses, such as at your doctor’s office, an infusion clinic, or a hospital.

If you have questions about this process, your doctor or insurance provider may be able to assist you. Consider making a list of questions you can share with them ahead of time to ensure your pressing concerns and needs are covered.