Zoloft (sertraline) is a brand-name prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to treat:

For more information about Zoloft’s uses, refer to this article.

Drug details

Here are some details about Zoloft:

  • Drug forms:
    • oral tablet
    • oral solution
  • Generic version: sertraline

Read on to learn about Zoloft and cost, as well as how to save money on prescriptions.

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

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

To find out what the cost of Zoloft 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 Zoloft. This means the company and your doctor will discuss Zoloft in regard to your treatment. The insurance company will then determine whether the medication is covered. If a drug requires prior authorization and you start treatment without the prior approval, you could pay the full cost of the medication. You can ask your insurance company whether Zoloft requires prior authorization.

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

What’s the cost of Zoloft with and without insurance?

Typically, the average cost of Zoloft will be less with insurance and more without insurance.

If you don’t have insurance that covers prescription drugs, you can ask your pharmacist for the Zoloft tablet price, or “cash price.” This is the amount you’ll pay out of pocket without any discounts or insurance.

You can also ask for the cost of generic Zoloft without insurance. Sertraline is the generic version of the drug, and it may cost less than the brand-name version, Zoloft. (For more details, see the “Brand-name vs. generic drugs” section below.)

If you have questions about the cost of Zoloft with and without insurance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. If you have insurance, you can also talk with your insurance provider.

Note: Since Zoloft requires a prescription, there is no over-the-counter price for Zoloft.

Do the 50-mg and 100-mg strengths of Zoloft cost the same?

Zoloft’s strengths are measured in milligrams (mg). The cost of Zoloft 50 mg without insurance may be different than the cost of Zoloft 100 mg. And if you have insurance, your cost will depend on your specific insurance plan.

You can ask your pharmacist or insurance provider for more information about the cost of different strengths of Zoloft.

The active ingredient of Zoloft is sertraline, which is also the generic version of Zoloft. 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.

If your doctor has prescribed Zoloft and you’re interested in taking sertraline instead, 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 sertraline compares with the cost of Zoloft, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

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 Zoloft 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 Zoloft. 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

Zoloft 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 Zoloft, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available. For example:

  • A program called the Zoloft Savings Card is available for Zoloft. For more information and to find out whether you’re eligible for support, call 855-220-9547 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:

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

Now that you’ve learned about cost and Zoloft, you may still have some questions. For example, you may want to know the price of Zoloft per pill. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who can provide personalized guidance about cost issues related to Zoloft. However, if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you would pay for Zoloft.

Here are some other resources you may find helpful:

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.