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Key takeaways
Armour Thyroid is a thyroid replacement medication.
Insurance coverage is not predictable and may require prior authorization and documentation.
Some ways to reduce the out-of-pocket cost of Armour Thyroid are alternative therapies, synthetic thyroid hormone drugs, and prescription discount cards.
Armour Thyroid is a prescription thyroid hormone that treats low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism). It is made from dried and powdered pig thyroid glands, called natural desiccated thyroid (NDT) or desiccated thyroid extract (DTE). Because Armour Thyroid was available before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) implemented its drug approval process, it is not approved for hypothyroidism and its use is considered off-label.
RELATED: Amour Thyroid coupon | Armour Thyroid details
How much does Armour Thyroid cost without insurance?
The average retail price of Armour Thyroid is $150 for 90, 60 mg tablets. That’s 90 daily doses, so the average price per oral tablet is about $1.67. Thyroid hormone replacement is a long-term or lifelong treatment, so one year of Armour Thyroid will cost $600.
Thyroid hormone replacement is medically necessary for people with low thyroid hormones. The only options are desiccated thyroid glands like Armour Thyroid, or synthetic thyroid hormone, commonly levothyroxine tablets. Synthetic hormones like levothyroxine are the standard treatment because the drug is FDA-approved, predictable, and safe. Not only is levothyroxine the preferred treatment, but it also costs less than thyroid extract. A 90-day supply of generic levothyroxine will cost $70, less than half the price of Armour Thyroid. Brand-name versions of levothyroxine, like Synthroid, may cost more than Armour Thyroid.
How much does generic Armour Thyroid cost?
There are no generic versions of dessicated thyroid extract. However, there are no premium-priced brand-name versions, either, since the drug itself is not patented.
Brands similar to Armour Thyroid include Nature-Throid, Adthyza, and NP Thyroid. Some may be lower-priced than Armour Thyroid.
| Drug name | Price without insurance for brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings Options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armour Thyroid (desiccated porcine thyroid) | $152 per 90, 60 mg tablets | $101 per 90, 60 mg tablets for brand-name Armour Thyroid | See latest prices |
| Adthyza (desiccated porcine thyroid) | $112 per 90, 60 mg tablets | $83 per 90, 60 mg tablets for brand-name Adthyza | See latest prices |
| NP Thyroid (desiccated porcine thyroid) | $133 per 90, 60 mg tablets | $83 per 90, 60 mg tablets for brand-name NP Thyroid | See latest prices |
| Levothyroxine sodium tablets | |||
| Levothyroxine sodium | $70 for 90, 75 mcg tablets | $7 for 90, 75 mcg tablets for generic levothyroxine | See latest prices |
| Synthroid (levothyroxine sodium) | $203 for 90, 75 mcg tablets | $148 for 90, 75 mcg tablets for brand-name Synthroid | See latest price |
| Euthyrox (levothyroxine sodium) | $30 for 30, 50 mcg tablets | $6 for 30, 50 mcg tablets for brand-name Euthyrox | See latest prices |
| Levoxyl (levothyroxine sodium) | $45.00 for 30, 100 mcg tablets | $8 for 90, 75 mcg tablets for brand-name Levoxyl | See latest prices |
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 the latest drug prices.
RELATED: Armour Thyroid alternatives
Armour Thyroid costs by dose
The cost of Armour Thyroid is affected by the dosage strength. The recommended dose for underactive thyroid is 60–120 mg once daily, but treatment typically begins at 30 mg once a day. Higher doses are used to suppress the thyroid gland (TSH suppression) to manage thyroid cancer, thyroid nodules, or goiters.
| (per 90 tablets) | |
|---|---|
| Strength | SingleCare price of brand-name Armour Thyroid |
| 15 mg of Armour Thyroid | $78 |
| 30 mg of Armour Thyroid | $91 |
| 60 mg of Armour Thyroid | $101 |
| 90 mg of Armour Thyroid | $157 |
| 120 mg of Armour Thyroid | $183 |
| 180 mg of Armour Thyroid | $137 |
| 240 mg of Armour Thyroid | $167 |
| 300 mg of Armour Thyroid | $196 |
| See our lowest price for Armour Thyroid without insurance |
Is Armour Thyroid covered by insurance?
Even though it is not FDA approved, health insurance companies and Medicare may cover Armour Thyroid or other types of desiccated thyroid in certain circumstances. Medicaid coverage varies by state. On the other hand, all health insurance plans, Medicare drug plans, and Medicaid cover synthetic thyroid hormone drugs like levothyroxine.
When levothyroxine does not work, insurance providers may agree to cover the cost of natural desiccated thyroid. Copay costs will vary, but some insurance companies place Armour Thyroid and similar products in non-formulary or non-preferred drug tiers. The final out-of-pocket cost may include deductibles, co-insurance, and similar fees.
How to get Armour Thyroid covered by insurance
Armour Thyroid or other desiccated thyroid products are only covered by insurance when levothyroxine treatment fails. Some people prefer natural thyroid because it better improves their symptoms or contributes to weight loss, but that may not mean that levothyroxine isn’t successful at restoring normal hormone levels.
If an insurance provider denies a claim, it is either because prior authorization is required or because prior authorization has been rejected. A patient’s first step is to talk to the prescriber. To get approval, the prescriber usually has to submit sufficient documentation of treatment failure and, sometimes, evidence that a hormone specialist (endocrinologist) is involved. If the drug is classified as non-formulary, it may be necessary to submit a formulary exception to the payer. The process is very similar to prior authorization.
How to get Armour Thyroid without insurance
Armour Thyroid is a moderately priced drug, but it may be challenging to continually pay for monthly refills. Even people with insurance may find themselves paying out-of-pocket for a prescription. Manufacturer coupons or patient assistance programs may help, but they aren’t common and have strict eligibility requirements. There are other ways to save money.
1. Use an Armour Thyroid coupon from SingleCare
A SingleCare discount card may help reduce the cost of Armour Thyroid from an average cost of $50 a month to about $33 per month. Choose a free coupon based on the lowest price or the most convenient local pharmacy. SingleCare members can earn additional bonus savings on refills and future purchases by signing up for the SingleCare loyalty program.
2. Ask the prescriber about levothyroxine
Desiccated porcine thyroid extract is not prescribed as often as levothyroxine. Instead, healthcare professionals are likely to prescribe levothyroxine for hypothyroidism. Not only is levothyroxine safer, more reliable, and less hazardous than Armour Thyroid, but it is also lower-priced. Ask your prescribing healthcare provider for medical advice about switching to levothyroxine if it hasn’t been tried already.
3. Compare pharmacy prices
The same 90-day Armour Thyroid prescription could cost $150 at one pharmacy and $123 at another, so a savvy consumer could save almost $10 a month—$120 a year—simply by shopping around for a good price.
4. Use a compounding pharmacy
At this time, it can be difficult to find porcine thyroid tablet brands in pharmacies due to shortages and recalls. Instead of using another porcine tablet brand, you may be able to get an alternative thyroid medication at a compounding pharmacy, a type of pharmacy that can mix and prepare prescription medications onsite. The compounded alternative may also come at a lower price than Armour Thyroid.
- AllCare prior authorization criteria summary: desiccated thyroid, AllCare
- Armour Thyroid porcine thyroid tablet, DailyMed (NIH National Library of Medicine)
- Hypothyroidism, American Thyroid Association (2024)
- Natural desiccated thyroid for the treatment of hypothyroidism, Frontiers in Endocrinology (2024)
- Older therapies aren’t necessarily better for thyroid hormone replacement, Food and Drug Administration Consumer Updates (2023)
- Patient experiences and perceptions associated with the use of desiccated thyroid extract, Medicina (2020)
- Thyroid drug shortages creating consternation, confusion, U.S. Pharmacist (2021)