How much is donepezil without insurance?

Is donepezil covered by insurance? | How much does donepezil cost without insurance? | How to get donepezil without insurance

Donepezil HCl is a generic prescription drug used to improve cognitive function in people with mild to severe dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease. As a cholinesterase inhibitor, donepezil improves the symptoms of Alzheimer’s by increasing nerve activity in the brain. Taken as a single five to 23 mg dose once daily at bedtime, donepezil is frequently taken with Namenda (memantine), a drug that slows the progress of Alzheimer’s. Although paying for donepezil may be difficult for some people who lack insurance, donepezil treatment can be surprisingly affordable by knowing a few cost-savings tips.

Related: Donepezil side effects

What is the brand/generic for donepezil?

The brand-name version of donepezil is Aricept. People purchasing Aricept will pay a premium price that averages about $500 more per month than generic Aricept.

Is donepezil covered by insurance?

Donepezil is usually covered by health insurance plans. Most Medicare prescription drug plans will cover a generic donepezil prescription, but there may be quantity limits. People with Medicare prescription drug coverage will pay varying prices throughout the year depending on coverage stages. However, not all Alzheimer’s drugs may be included in an individual health plan’s formulary, so check the plan carefully. Brand-name Aricept is unlikely to be covered by Medicare.

How much does donepezil cost without insurance?

Without insurance, a 30-day supply of donepezil tablets or orally disintegrating tablets will average $170. A full year of treatment, then, will cost around $2,000. The dosage prescribed or the pharmacy markup may affect the final cash price. Brand-name Aricept costs more: about $660 for a 30-day supply. That’s $7,900 for a full year of Aricept. People without insurance can also opt to use a lower-priced drug similar to donepezil called galantamine. 

Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing. The listed price without insurance references the price of brand-name drugs (unless otherwise specified). The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs if available. Click the link under “Savings options” to see updated drug prices.

How to get donepezil without insurance

At an annual cost of around $2,000, donepezil can be a financial burden without health insurance coverage. That burden is increased by the cost of other necessary prescription drugs—not only Alzheimer’s drugs, but drugs needed for other medical conditions. Caregivers do, however, have options that can help manage these drug costs, starting with a SingleCare savings card.

1. Reduce the cost of donepezil to $1 with a SingleCare discount card

Visit SingleCare’s donepezil coupon page to find substantial donepezil discounts available at SingleCare participating pharmacies. Though discount prices vary by pharmacy, the lowest SingleCare price for a 30-day supply of donepezil tablets is less than $1, a price that may be lower than many insurance copays. That works out to $12 per year as opposed to the full retail price of $2,000 per year.

2. Find the lowest price for donepezil

Pharmacies can charge dramatically different prices for the same prescription of the same generic drug. Shopping for the lowest price can unlock significant savings, particularly when using a SingleCare prescription discount card.

3. Ask the prescribing healthcare provider about alternative drug treatments

There are at least two alternative FDA-approved generic prescription medications that can be used in place of donepezil: rivastigmine and galantamine. Both are cholinesterase inhibitors like donepezil. A 30-day supply of galantamine (60 tablets) costs $80 on average, or $90 less than the equivalent prescription for donepezil. With a SingleCare coupon, that 30-day supply of galantamine can cost as little as $8. Rivastigmine is more expensive than donepezil but can be administered as a skin patch rather than tablets or capsules, which may be easier for some patients. Unfortunately, there are no low-cost over-the-counter alternatives to donepezil. Before switching to other treatment options, however, ask for medical advice from the prescribing healthcare professional.

4. Enroll in Medicaid

For uninsured people with Alzheimer’s who are younger than 65, enroll in Medicaid if paying for medicine is too burdensome. Generic donepezil is usually covered by both state Medicaid and managed Medicaid plans, but check before signing up for a plan. Start with your state’s Medicaid website to research eligibility requirements, the enrollment process, and any additional information.

5. Consider finding help for other financial obligations

The financial burden of medical care and prescription drugs can also be managed by finding resources that can help with other related care costs. If the person with Alzheimer’s is younger than 65, consider Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Dementia is a qualifying disability. People older than 65 may qualify for supplemental security income (SSI). In addition, there may be community groups or resources to help with other costs of care such as transportation or food costs.