How much does buprenorphine cost without insurance?

In this article:

• Forms of buprenorphine
• How much does buprenorphine cost without insurance?
• Buprenorphine brand-name versions
• Compare buprenorphine prices to brand-name versions
• Is buprenorphine covered by insurance?
• How to get buprenorphine without insurance

In this article

• Forms of buprenorphine
• How much does buprenorphine cost without insurance?
• Buprenorphine brand-name versions
• Compare buprenorphine prices to brand-name versions
• Is buprenorphine covered by insurance?
• How to get buprenorphine without insurance

Buprenorphine is a generic prescription opioid approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat acute or chronic pain and opioid addiction. As a generic medication, buprenorphine is administered as sublingual tablets, dissolvable film, transdermal patches, and injections. Although most insurance companies cover buprenorphine in some form or another, purchasing the drug without insurance could be costly. Here’s what you should know if you need to budget for the cost of buprenorphine without insurance.

Forms of buprenorphine

Buprenorphine comes in several forms, including transdermal patches placed on the skin, films dissolved in the mouth, tablets dissolved under the tongue, and injections given by a healthcare professional. In some forms, buprenorphine is combined with another opioid treatment drug, naloxone, to discourage abuse. 

The form and dosage strength will depend on the condition being treated. Sublingual buprenorphine tablets and extended-release buprenorphine injections are FDA approved for opioid use disorder (OUD). Buprenorphine patches, buprenorphine injections, and Belbuca buccal films are lower-dose buprenorphine formats FDA-approved for chronic or severe pain.

Transdermal patches contain only buprenorphine and are sold as either generic buprenorphine or brand-name Butrans. Patches are usually applied once a week and are prescribed for pain in different dosages. 

Buprenorphine is often combined with the opioid receptor blocker naloxone, such as in buprenorphine-naloxone buccal films, when used for OUD. The sublingual tablets, either with or without naloxone, are widely used in opioid dependence treatment. 

According to Chad Elkin, MD, addiction medicine physician and founder and president at National Addiction Specialists, buprenorphine is most commonly prescribed to reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for opioid use disorder. 

How much does buprenorphine cost without insurance?

Without insurance, the average cost for 60, 8 mg sublingual tablets is around $431. At the target daily maintenance dosage of 16 mg per day, 60 tablets are a 30-day supply. The annual buprenorphine cost could be over $5,000. This is an important factor for people considering buprenorphine, as many people receiving treatment for OUD need to be on buprenorphine for several months or years before they are able to taper off this medication.

Dr. Elkin says several factors can influence your out-of-pocket expense for buprenorphine, including:

• Brand-name versus generic formulations (like Butrans versus buprenorphine)
• The daily dosage
• Your pharmacy’s cash pricing
• Any manufacturer discount programs or coupons available to you

Buprenorphine brand-name versions

Generic buprenorphine is available in the form of transdermal patches, sublingual tablets, buccal film when combined with naloxone, or injections. Brand-name versions of buprenorphine include: 

• Butrans, a transdermal patch FDA approved to treat pain
• Belbuca, a form of buprenorphine dissolved against the inside of your cheek (buccal film) that is FDA approved to treat pain
• Brixadi, a weekly or monthly extended-release buprenorphine injection, FDA approved to treat opioid use disorder
• Sublocade, a monthly injectable extended-release form of buprenorphine for OUD treatment
• Suboxone, a buccal film containing buprenorphine and naloxone used to treat opioid dependence  

Is buprenorphine covered by insurance?

Buprenorphine is typically covered by most commercial insurance plans and Medicare Part D, according to Dr. Elkin. However, coverage details depend on the specific formulation you’re prescribed, your dosage, and whether your medication is included in your plan’s drug formulary. 

“Brand-name products like Suboxone or Sublocade may have higher copays or require prior authorization,” Dr. Elkin explains, “while generic buprenorphine-naloxone tablets or films are usually more affordable and accessible.”

We recommend checking with your insurance provider if you aren’t sure whether buprenorphine is covered under your plan and, even if it is, how much of the drug’s cost you would be responsible for paying. 

How to get buprenorphine without insurance

Paying out of pocket for medications can be a financial hardship for many people. Even though buprenorphine is a generic drug, it still might not be affordable for you to get without insurance coverage. Thankfully, there are ways to access buprenorphine without having to pay full price. Not everyone is eligible for every type of cost savings, but here are some ways to get buprenorphine cheaper without insurance: 

Use a SingleCare buprenorphine coupon

SingleCare negotiates drug discounts with pharmacies across the country. Just search for a buprenorphine coupon on the SingleCare website or app, and you’ll see coupons you can use at pharmacies in your area. When it’s time to pick up your prescription, show your pharmacist your coupon, whether you’ve printed it or have it saved on your phone. You can also show your pharmacist your free SingleCare prescription discount card if you haven’t had time to compare prices at local pharmacies. 

With your SingleCare card or coupon for buprenorphine, you could pay $51 instead of the average buprenorphine price of $431 for 60, 8 mg sublingual tablets. This will save you about $380 per month and over $4,000 per year. Sign up for SingleCare’s free bonus loyalty program and earn even greater discounts on future refills and purchases.

Note that the exact amount of money you’ll save depends on which pharmacy you use. Different pharmacies offer different cash prices, so take some time to compare costs at your local pharmacies before using your discount card to fill your prescription.

Switch to another formulation 

As we’ve noted, different forms of buprenorphine are available, and it might be more cost-effective to use another form of the drug instead of generic sublingual tablets, depending on your insurance plan. Insurance companies have different criteria for putting drugs on their formulary (the list of medications they’ll cover). If generic buprenorphine tablets are not covered under your plan, or your copay or coinsurance is too high, see if another dosing format would be more affordable. If so, talk to your healthcare provider about switching. Remember: Some dosing formats are only used to treat pain, and others may only be used for opioid dependence.

Use a patient assistance program

Some manufacturers of brand-name buprenorphine formulations have patient assistance programs (PAPs) that allow you to fill your prescription for no cost or with a low copay. Unfortunately, there are no PAPs for generic buprenorphine or Butrans, but some of the buccal film and injectable forms of buprenorphine have PAPs that you may be eligible for, like the Belbuca copay card and the Suboxone copay card. Only people with commercial insurance are eligible for these programs.

Find a local health center

Dr. Elkin says some federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and community-based addiction treatment clinics offer buprenorphine at a reduced cost or on a sliding scale. This could make the drug more affordable. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) maintains a database where you can search for an HHS-funded health center in your area. You can contact one near you to ask if they include treatment for OUD as one of their services and if they provide financial assistance with buprenorphine.

Check your state’s health department

Dr. Elkin also recommends checking with your state’s health department because some states have public health programs or grant-funded clinics that provide free or low-cost access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction. If you aren’t sure where to start, you can refer to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for more information on what’s available in your state.