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Is Combigan covered by insurance? | How much does Combigan cost without insurance? | How to get Combigan without insurance
Combigan (brimonidine-timolol) is a brand-name glaucoma drug that combines two topical drugs that reduce fluid pressure in the eye. Intended as a second-line or add-on treatment, for people with open-angle glaucoma or high fluid pressure in the eye (intraocular hypertension or IOH), Combigan causes the eye to produce less fluid while at the same time draining more fluid from the eye. Fluid levels in the eye go down, so eye pressure (intraocular pressure or IOP) goes down, as well. As an ophthalmic solution, Combigan is taken as eye drops, one drop on the affected eye or eyes every 12 hours. Although newly available as a generic, it remains an expensive drug. However, both ingredients can be taken separately in generic versions. This will make dosing more complex but will save money. Read on for more cost-saving suggestions.
Is Combigan covered by insurance?
People with commercial health insurance, Medicare Part D, or Medicaid will typically have coverage for a Combigan prescription. Some insurance plans, though, may require prior authorization.
People with insurance will pay less than paying the cash price. How much less will depend on the insurance company’s formulary, copay cost, coinsurance, and deductible policy. Combigan, as a brand-name drug, is typically classified as a Tier 2 or Tier 3 drug, meaning the copay cost might be slightly more than Tier 1 medications.
How much does Combigan cost without insurance?
The average retail price of a 5 mL bottle of Combigan eye drops—either brand or generic —costs over $200 at the full cash price. Most pharmacists will estimate that 5 ml of eye drops represents 100 doses, though some will figure that 5 mL is only 75 doses. If it is determined that 5 mL of Combigan is a 30-day supply if both eyes are being treated, then at that price one year of Combigan treatment will cost over $2,400.
People without insurance could ask for medical advice about cheaper alternatives for treating ocular hypertension. Generic Combigan recently became available and its two active ingredients, brimonidine and timolol, can be purchased individually as cheaper generics. Apraclonidine is an alpha-adrenergic agonist similar to brimonidine, but cheaper. Timolol could be replaced by another beta blocker such as levobunolol or carteolol eye drops, though all three are comparably priced. Side effects and drug interactions will be about the same, but generic versions may have different inactive ingredients that provoke allergic reactions in some people.
Compare Combigan prices to related drugs |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Price without insurance of brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Combigan | $260 per 5 mL of 0.2%-0.5% ophthalmic solution | $118 per 5 mL of 0.2%-0.5% ophthalmic solution of generic Combigan | See updated prices |
| Alphagan P
(brimonidine ophthalmic solution) |
$231 per 5 mL of 0.1% solution | $56 per 5 mL of 0.1% solution of generic Alphagan P | See updated prices |
| Timoptic
(timolol maleate ophthalmic solution) |
$255 per 5 mL of 0.5% solution | $7 per 5 mL of 0.5% solution of generic Timoptic | See updated prices |
| Lopidine (apraclonidine) | $92 per 5 mL of 0.5% solution of generic apraclonidine | $58 per 5 mL of 0.5% solution of generic apraclonidine | See updated prices |
| Carteolol ophthalmic solution | $27 per 5 mL of 1% solution of generic carteolol | $16 per 5 mL of 1% solution of generic carteolol | See updated prices |
| Levobunolol ophthalmic solution | $30 per 5 mL of 0.5% solution of generic levobunolol | $19 per 5 mL of 0.5% solution of generic levobunolol | See updated 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. The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs if available. Click the link under “Savings options” to see updated drug prices.
How to get Combigan without insurance
As a brand-name drug, Combigan can stretch the budgets of the uninsured, particularly when needed month after month. Allergan’s patient assistance program may help, but there are strict eligibility requirements. Manufacturer coupons or rebates? They’re nice but rarely offered. If insurance is a problem, here are three ways to save money when prescribed Combigan without having to switch to different drugs. A SingleCare discount card should be the first strategy to try.
1. A SingleCare savings card can save almost $50
Simply bringing a free SingleCare Combigan coupon to a participating pharmacy could reduce the cost of a Combigan eye dropper. Savings could add up to as much as $600 in a single year.
2. Combigan will have a lower price at some pharmacies
Pharmacies charge different prices for the same prescription medications, and those prices can vary dramatically. Visit SingleCare’s pharmacy finder to compare prices at pharmacies near you.
3. The healthcare provider could prescribe cheaper alternatives
A healthcare professional could prescribe each active ingredient separately as a generic. Using a SingleCare savings card, the two drugs—timolol and brimonidine—can be purchased separately for as little as $7 total per month, cutting out $180 off the cost of Combigan. In addition, taking the drugs separately for some patients may be slightly more effective at treating ocular hypertension than using Combigan. However, get medical advice first and think carefully about the decision. This will only work if you can faithfully and correctly take up to five doses every day rather than two.
