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Is benzonatate covered by insurance? | How much does benzonatate cost without insurance? | How to get benzonatate without insurance
Benzonatate is a generic prescription drug that relieves coughing due to a dry cough, a cold, flu, pneumonia, or bronchitis. A single capsule should provide cough relief for three to eight hours. Benzonatate acts in a similar same way as local anesthetics such as lidocaine and tetracaine. Unlike other prescription or over-the-counter cough medicines, benzonatate desensitizes nerves in the respiratory system, stopping the cough reflex at its source. Although benzonatate is widely prescribed, healthcare professionals are cautious because of potentially severe side effects. Benzonatate is a lower-cost prescription medication that is usually prescribed for a week or slightly more. Still, there are ways to reduce the cost, even for those without insurance.
Related: Benzonatate dosage | Benzonatate side effects
What is the brand name for benzonatate?
The brand-name versions of benzonatate were called Tessalon Perles and Zonatuss, but both brands have been discontinued. Only generic versions of benzonatate can be purchased in the U.S.
Is benzonatate covered by insurance?
Many health insurance plans such as Aetna, Optima, and Blue Shield cover benzonatate as well as some Medicare and Medicaid plans. It is not, however, universally covered by health insurance, so contact a representative of the insurance company or consult the plan’s formulary before filling a prescription.
Most insurance plans put benzonatate in their lowest drug tiers. The copay could be low, but the final out-of-pocket cost will depend on other factors such as coverage gaps or coinsurance.
How much does benzonatate cost without insurance?
For uninsured patients, 30, 100 mg capsules of benzonatate will cost about $36. This is enough medicine for 30 days. However, benzonatate is generally prescribed over the short term. While there is no FDA-mandated time limit for benzonatate treatment, most healthcare providers prescribe about a week’s worth. Considering that the average price per capsule is $1.20, a seven-day prescription should cost only a fraction of the 30-day price.
If cost is an issue, ask the prescribing healthcare provider about other types of cough medicines. Benzonatate is a unique cough suppressant. It’s similar to drugs like lidocaine. It blocks nerve conduction among the specific nerves that trigger a cough reflex. Because of this, it has potentially serious side effects, such as severe allergic reactions. Other types of cough suppressants may be less costly without the risk of severe side effects. These include over-the-counter or prescription cough suppressants with dextromethorphan as well as prescription antitussives.
Compare benzonatate prices to related drugs |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Price without insurance of brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Benzonatate | $46 per 30, 100 mg capsules | $6 per 30, 100 mg capsules of generic benzonatate | See latest prices |
| Promethazine Dm | $20 per 1, 473 ml of 6.25-15 mg/5 ml bottle | $2 per 1, 473 ml of 6.25-15 mg/5 ml bottle of generic promethazine Dm | See latest prices |
| Delsym | $17 per 1, 89 ml of 30 ml/5 ml bottle | $4 per 1, 89 ml of 30 ml/5 ml bottle of brand-name Delsym | See latest prices |
| Mucinex-DM | $24 per 20, 12-hour tablets | $9 per 20, 12-hour tablets of brand-name Mucinex-Dm | See latest prices |
| Promethazine with codeine | $24 per 118 ml, 6.25/10 mg/5 ml bottle | $6 per 118 ml, 6.25/10 mg/5 ml bottle of generic promethazine with codeine | See latest prices |
| Cepacol Sore Throat & Cough | $8 per 1, 16 lozenge box | $2 per 1, 16 lozenge box of brand-name Cepacol Sore Throat & Cough | 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.
How to get benzonatate without insurance
A full month’s worth of benzonatate costs about $46 at the average retail price. A week or 10 days of benzonatate will cost considerably less. Even with a moderate price, the benzonatate price can be reduced. Unfortunately, there usually aren’t manufacturer coupons available for generic drugs like benzonatate.
1. Visit SingleCare’s benzonatate coupon page to find instant savings
SingleCare’s lowest discount price for a 30-day supply of benzonatate is $6. That’s an instant savings of $40 just by using a SingleCare savings card. For long-term benzonatate use, that savings adds up to $240 in six months and $480 in a year. Read the FAQs on this page for additional savings and drug information.
2. Find the lowest price
Look for a pharmacy in your area with SingleCare’s pharmacy finder to find the lowest cash price. For example, you could get one month of benzonatate tablets for $18 depending on your local pharmacy.
4. Get medical advice about other cough suppressants
If even SingleCare prescription savings are not sufficient, ask the prescriber about alternative cough suppressants. Unlike benzonatate, other cough suppressants prevent coughing by slowing down the part of the brain responsible for coughing. Except for cough drops and supplements, almost any cough reliever purchased off the shelf works this way. Some may come in formulations that include other medications that treat symptoms like a stuffy nose or fever. If over-the-counter cough suppressants don’t work well enough, there are more powerful prescription medications. These may be less expensive than benzonatate. However, they may be more likely to cause side effects such as drowsiness or constipation.
