Advair savings guide

In this article:

• Advair Diskus cost
• Adviar HFA cost
• Does insurance cover Advair?
• How to save
• Alternatives
• Bottom line

In this article

• Advair Diskus cost
• Adviar HFA cost
• Does insurance cover Advair?
• How to save
• Alternatives
• Bottom line

Advair Diskus and Advair HFA are two forms of the same medication, both containing fluticasone propionate (an inhaled steroid that reduces airway inflammation) and salmeterol (a long-acting bronchodilator that helps keep airways open). Advair Diskus delivers medication as a dry powder, while Advair HFA delivers it as a pressurized spray. Without insurance, either form can cost more than $500 per fill. For many people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), breathing easily depends on daily medication like Advair. Fortunately, there are several ways to lower that cost.

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How much does Advair Diskus cost?

Without insurance, Advair Diskus costs an average of $502 for one 60-dose inhaler. Prices vary by pharmacy and location.

How much does Advair HFA cost?

Advair HFA costs an average of $511 for one 12 g inhaler without insurance. Prices also vary by pharmacy and location.

Does insurance cover Advair?

Advair coverage varies by insurance plan. As a brand-name medication, insurance companies are more likely to cover generic versions such as fluticasone-salmeterol or Wixela Inhub, a trademark generic equivalent of Advair Diskus. VA health benefits, for example, cover generic fluticasone-salmeterol but not brand-name Advair.

Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage coverage vary by plan. Many plans, including those from United Healthcare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Humana, and Kaiser Permanente, may cover both brand-name Advair and its generics, albeit usually with higher copays on brand-name options. Some plans, such as certain Aetna plans, cover only the generic versions.

Medicaid coverage for Advair varies by state. In New York, for example, Advair Diskus and Advair HFA are not only covered under the 2026 Medicaid formulary but are preferred over the generic versions.

Even if Advair is not listed in your plan’s formulary (its list of covered drugs), it may still be covered if medically necessary. This typically requires your healthcare provider to submit prior authorization documentation about your medical history and why Advair is the most appropriate treatment for you.

How to save money on Advair Diskus and Advair HFA

If your insurance plan doesn’t fully cover Advair Diskus or Advair HFA, there are several other ways to save.

1. Free Advair coupons

A free SingleCare coupon can significantly reduce the cost of Advair. With a SingleCare Advair Diskus coupon, you could pay as little as $193 at Kroger for a 60-dose inhaler, a savings of more than $300. Switching to the generic fluticasone-salmeterol or Wixela Inhub can lower the cost further, to as little as $58 at CVS Pharmacy.

For Advair HFA, a SingleCare coupon can bring the price down to $314 at Kroger instead of the average retail price of $511. The generic version of Advair HFA costs as little as $289 at CVS Pharmacy with a SingleCare coupon.

You can compare prices at pharmacies near you by searching for your prescription on singlecare.com or the SingleCare app and entering your ZIP code. Signing up also gives you access to a loyalty program with additional savings on future purchases.

RELATED: Advair generic: options for asthma and COPD

2. Medicare or Medicaid

If you have Medicare or Medicaid coverage, you may be able to save significantly on Advair. People enrolled in Medicare Part D may qualify for Medicare Extra Help, a low-income subsidy that helps cover prescription drug costs. Some people are automatically enrolled, while others can apply through the Social Security Administration. Some states also offer State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs) that can help lower prescription costs for people with Medicare or Medicaid. Contact your insurance provider directly for the most accurate information about your specific plan’s Advair coverage and costs.

3. Advair savings card

GSK, the maker of Advair, offers a “Pay No More Than $35” copay card for eligible commercially insured patients. With this card, eligible patients pay no more than $35 for Advair Diskus or Advair HFA. Visit the GSK for You website for eligibility requirements and current terms.

GSK also offers a Patient Access Program (PAP) for some of its medications, but Advair is not included. The PAP is designed for people with low income who are uninsured or have Medicare.

Is there a cheaper alternative to Advair?

Advair is one of many medications prescribed for asthma or COPD. Alternatives to Advair include its generic forms, drugs from the same class, and drugs from other classes, such as leukotriene receptor antagonists (medications that block chemicals that cause airway inflammation). Healthcare providers can prescribe an individualized treatment regimen that might require more than one respiratory medication, according to Joao Lopes, MD, assistant professor of pediatric allergy and immunology at Case Western Reserve University.

“It involves a deep comprehension of the severity of the asthma (and its impacts on the ability to breathe) and how well controlled it has been, regardless of severity,” Dr. Lopes says. “Some patients who require high use or high doses of the inhalers, or do not get better despite those, need to go on medications called biologics, injectable medications that help control their asthma.”

Kara Wada, MD, founder and physician at the Immune Confident Institute, explains that when prioritizing affordability, healthcare providers may first consider generics. “Wixela is a direct generic equivalent to Advair Diskus, offering the same active ingredients at a significantly lower cost,” she says.

Advair alternatives and their costs

Advair combines fluticasone propionate, an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) that reduces airway inflammation, with salmeterol, a long-acting beta agonist (LABA) that helps keep airways open. Medications with similar ICS and LABA combinations include Symbicort (budesonide-formoterol), its trademark generic Breyna, and Breo Ellipta (fluticasone furoate-vilanterol).

Dr. Wada explains that healthcare providers may also prescribe a short-acting bronchodilator, also known as a rescue inhaler, which may be the only therapy for those with mild, intermittent asthma. Albuterol HFA is a short-acting beta agonist (SABA) and can cost as little as $21 at Walmart with a free SingleCare coupon. It is typically used in addition to Advair and not as an alternative for those with persistent, moderate, or severe asthma. Your healthcare provider will help to assess your asthma severity and determine the proper treatment regimen.

Bottom line

If you’re concerned about the cost of Advair or wondering whether another medication might be right for you, talk to your healthcare provider. They can help guide you toward the most effective and affordable treatment. “We always work with the patient to get them the best medication that can help them if covered, including going frequently through processes of prior authorization and additional discussion with insurance companies to get those approved,” Dr. Lopes says.