Isotretinoin is a generic oral capsule that’s prescribed for severe acne. It’s available as the brand-name drugs Absorica, Absorica LD, and others. The cost of isotretinoin with and without insurance can depend on several factors.
As with all medications, the cost of isotretinoin 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 isotretinoin 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.
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Isotretinoin is a generic drug, which means it’s an exact copy of the active ingredient 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.
Isotretinoin is available as the brand-name drugs Absorica, Absorica LD, Amnesteem, Claravis, Myorisan, and Zenatane. If your doctor has prescribed isotretinoin and you’re interested in using one of these drugs 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 costs of these brand-name drugs compare with the cost of isotretinoin, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
If you need financial support to pay for isotretinoin, 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 isotretinoin.
How much does isotretinoin cost with insurance vs. without it?
What you pay for isotretinoin 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:
- 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 isotretinoin 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 isotretinoin 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 isotretinoin 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 what you’ll pay depends on whether you have Medicare prescription coverage and 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 be able to provide information about your cost for isotretinoin if you have Medicare.
Below is information you may want to consider if you have insurance and receive isotretinoin.
If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers isotretinoin. This means the company and your doctor will discuss isotretinoin 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 isotretinoin requires prior authorization.
Now that you’ve learned about cost and isotretinoin, you may still have some questions. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who can provide personalized guidance about cost issues related to isotretinoin. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you would pay for isotretinoin.
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.
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.