Key takeaways
Ventolin HFA is an albuterol rescue inhaler that rapidly opens airways and improves airflow during an asthma attack or COPD exacerbation.
Some health insurance plans cover Ventolin HFA, but nearly all cover generic albuterol HFA.
Without insurance, Ventolin HFA costs $88 for 1, 18 gm of 90 mcg/act inhaler, but there are ways to save money.
Ventolin HFA is a prescription handheld inhaler that rapidly relieves symptoms of bronchospasm, wheezing, and shortness of breath due to asthma, exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The average price of a Ventolin inhaler without insurance is $88. People without insurance have several ways to save on their prescriptions, including SingleCare coupons, generic Ventolin, and other strategies.
RELATED: COPD coupons & resources
What is the generic for Ventolin HFA?
Ventolin HFA has a generic in the marketplace known as albuterol HFA. Albuterol sulfate is the active ingredient in Ventolin.
Albuterol is classified as a fast-acting bronchodilator because it provides quick relief by increasing airflow and opening the airways. For this reason, you will hear fast-acting bronchodilators also called “rescue inhalers.” Airways can become constricted by inflammatory processes related to asthma, exercise, allergies, or chronic health conditions such as COPD.
The other branded albuterol inhaler on the market is ProAir RespiClick, a powder inhaler. It is not interchangeable with Ventolin HFA. If your healthcare provider prescribes Ventolin HFA, your pharmacist can not automatically substitute ProAir Respiclick without first getting permission from your prescriber to change the order.
ProAir RespiClick and many generic albuterol inhalers are similar in composition and share the same active ingredient, but there are some functional differences in their mechanisms of action. Many are not interchangeable with Ventolin HFA. Currently, Prasco Laboratories and Cipla manufacture generic albuterol HFA inhalers that are fully interchangeable with Ventolin HFA.
RELATED: Top albuterol HFA alternatives: What can I take instead of albuterol HFA?
Is Ventolin HFA covered by insurance?
Some insurance plans, including Medicare, may cover Ventolin HFA, but coverage varies by plan. Those that cover Ventolin HFA usually place it in higher copay tiers. These plans may also prefer the prescription be filled with generic Ventolin.
Most health insurance plans cover generic Ventolin (albuterol sulfate HFA) at the lowest copay tiers, and some may prefer that you try a different albuterol sulfate oral inhaler.
For both Ventolin and generic Ventolin, the out-of-pocket cost depends on factors such as preferred drug status, deductibles, and copayments. Your pharmacist or insurance plan can help you better understand your benefits.
How much does Ventolin HFA cost without insurance?
Ventolin HFA is an 18 gm, 90 mcg/act inhaler. The average retail cost without insurance is $88. This 18 gm inhaler contains 200 actuations (inhalations). One inhaler will last a little over two weeks when used at the maximum recommended dosage. However, it will last longer if you use it less often. With a SingleCare savings coupon, the equivalent generic albuterol HFA inhaler costs approximately $21 at Walmart, for the same volume and number of doses.
RELATED: Albuterol HFA alternatives: What can I take instead of albuterol HFA?
Compare Ventolin HFA (albuterol sulfate HFA) prices to related drugs |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Price without insurance of brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Ventolin HFA | $88 for 1, 18 gm of 90 mcg/act inhaler | $58 for 18 gm of 90 mcg/act inhaler of brand-name Ventolin HFA at Kroger | See latest prices |
| Generic Ventolin HFA (albuterol HFA) | $101 for 1, 8.5 gm of 90 mcg/act inhaler | $21 for 1, 8.5 gm of 90 mcg/act inhaler of generic albuterol HFA at Walmart | See latest prices |
| ProAir RespiClick
(albuterol) |
$105 for 1, 0.65 gm of 108 mcg/act breath-activated aerosol powder | $71 for 1, 0.65 gm of 108 mcg/act breath-activated aerosol powder of brand-name ProAir RespiClick at Kroger | See latest prices |
| Xopenex HFA
(levalbuterol tartrate) |
$116 for 1, 15 gm of 45 mcg/act inhaler | $62 for 1, 15 gm of 45 mcg/act inhaler of generic Xopenex at Kroger | See latest prices |
| Albuterol nebulizer solution | $69 for 25, 2.5 mg/3 mL vials of inhalation solution | $9 for 25, 2.5 mg/3 mL vials of generic albuterol nebulizer solution at Walmart | See latest prices |
RELATED: How much do inhalers cost?
How to get Ventolin HFA without insurance
If you do not have insurance coverage, paying for prescription medications can be challenging, especially when it is unexpected or in an emergency. Asthma symptoms can quickly escalate to an asthma attack, and if you are known to suffer from severe asthma or severe shortness of breath due to COPD, you do not want to wait until it is an emergency to get your medication. Manufacturer coupons or patient assistance programs from pharmaceutical companies may require some time and effort to qualify, and not everyone will be eligible to participate. Luckily, there are some options to help you save money that are easily accessible and can impact your out-of-pocket cost of inhalers quickly:
1. Use a SingleCare discount card
With a free SingleCare Ventolin HFA coupon, you can purchase a generic albuterol sulfate 8.5 gm, 90 mcg/actuation inhaler for only $21 at Walmart, a savings of over $60 off brand-name Ventolin HFA. SingleCare is free to use and available to everyone. Registered members can save even more, and it’s fast and free to join.
Save up to 80% on Ventolin HFA with SingleCare
Different pharmacies offer different prices for the same medication. SingleCare helps find the best price for you.
2. Find the lowest pharmacy price
You can use SingleCare’s database to find the pharmacy with the lowest out-of-pocket cost, saving you time and energy from pharmacy shopping.
3. Switch to generic Ventolin HFA
If you have insurance, your plan may offer a preferred price for a different FDA-approved oral albuterol inhaler. Work with your plan and healthcare provider to switch to the product your formulary prefers. If you don’t have insurance, use a SingleCare savings card to purchase a generic Ventolin HFA 90 mcg inhaler for as little as $21 at Walmart.
4. Use community resources
Check with local resources to see if your area has pharmacy programs for the uninsured. You may be able to get assistance with emergency medical needs and medical care.
5. Consider Medicaid
If you are one of many uninsured Americans, you may qualify for Medicaid coverage through your home state. Go to Medicaid.gov and choose your state. Follow the state’s link to apply online, or use the listed phone number for help applying.
The SingleCare prices in this article are the most accurate at the time of publishing in ZIP code 23666 as of Sep. 24, 2026. Prices vary by pharmacy. Visit our coupon page for updated drug prices at pharmacies near you.
- GSK announces availability of authorized generic albuterol sulfate Inhaler for treatment or prevention of bronchospasm, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (2019)
- Cipla receives U.S. FDA approval for first AB-rated generic of Ventolin HFA, Cipla (2026)
- Ventolin HFA albuterol sulfate aerosol prescribing information, DailyMed (NIH National Library of Medicine) (2024)
- Medically accurate: SingleCare’s Medical Review Board analyzes all of our content to confirm it’s in line with current medical advice.
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