Key takeaways
The cost of a statin depends on many factors, including insurance coverage and which statin is selected.
While the cost of a statin may be a hurdle to a patient for lowering their cholesterol, the long-term costs and health risks of not treating high cholesterol are much worse.
Other costs, both direct and indirect, associated with treating high cholesterol must be considered in the financial impact of high cholesterol.
Elevated blood cholesterol levels are a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Healthcare professionals monitor risk factors such as cholesterol levels in the blood and make appropriate recommendations to reduce the risk of major events such as stroke and heart attack. While reducing cholesterol starts with a healthy diet and exercise, many Americans will need pharmaceutical therapy to lower their cholesterol levels and risk of heart disease. The American Heart Association recommends statin therapy to lower cholesterol for most people because there is a direct correlation to the reduction of risk for stroke and heart attack. According to the CDC, over 93% of adults on cholesterol-lowering drugs will be on a statin. Approximately 30% of adults aged 40 and older currently take a statin. Statins cause side effects, and some are more likely to be associated with side effects than others, so this should be an important consideration. Despite this, it is apparent that statins play a significant role in the health and longevity of many Americans.
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Different pharmacies offer different prices for the same medication. SingleCare helps find the best price for you.
How much do statins cost without insurance?
The term “statin” refers to a class of drugs more formally known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Statins decrease your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by slowing hepatic production of LDL cholesterol while also increasing its clearance from your bloodstream. LDL is referred to as the “bad” cholesterol because it is responsible for the buildup of plaques in the arteries (atherosclerosis), which can lead to blockage of the arteries. Statins also increase the high-density lipoprotein (HDL). HDL is the “good” cholesterol because it helps remove cholesterol from the bloodstream and prevents buildup in the arteries.
Statins are dosed once daily. Many prescribers and pharmacists will recommend taking the dose at bedtime because most cholesterol is generated while you sleep. The most important thing is that you take it every day at the same time. You can take a statin with or without food.
Statin retail prices |
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Drug name | Price without insurance | SingleCare price | Savings options |
Lipitor (atorvastatin) | $670 per 30, 40 mg tablets | $8 per 30, 40 mg tablets of generic Lipitor | See latest prices |
Crestor (rosuvastatin) | $360 per 30, 10 mg tablets | $9 per 30, 10 mg tablets of generic | See latest prices |
Zocor (simvastatin) | $340 per 30, 20 mg tablets | $8 per 30, 20 mg tablets of generic | See latest prices |
Livalo (pitavastatin) | $442 per 30, 2 mg tablets | $46 per 30, 2 mg tablets of generic | See latest prices |
Pravachol (pravastatin) | $345 per 90, 40 mg tablets | $8 per 30, 40 mg tablets of generic | See latest prices |
Lescol XL (fluvastatin) | $483 per 30, 80 mg tablets | $46 per 30, 80 mg tablets of generic | See latest prices |
Mevacor (lovastatin) | $105 per 30, 20 mg tablets | $6 per 30, 20 mg tablets | See latest prices |
Altoprev (lovastatin) | $568 per 15, 40 mg tablets | $575 per 15, 40 mg tablets of generic | See latest prices |
* Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing.
Pricing on prescription drugs can vary and change often. Currently, the most expensive option is Altoprev, the brand-name product containing lovastatin in an extended-release formulation. There is currently no generic Altoprev on the market, and just 15 tablets will cost at least $575. However, lovastatin in the immediate release formulation previously marketed as Mevacor will cost you only $6 for a one-month supply. Pravastatin is a low to moderate-intensity statin depending upon the dose prescribed. Fortunately, if you need a high-intensity statin, you can still access the generic formulations of both Crestor and Lipitor for under $10 per month with a SingleCare discount card.
Does insurance cover statins?
Most Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial plans cover statins. However, each plan may have different preferred agents or require the use of generic statin products to obtain the lowest possible price.
Some insurance plans have implemented $0 copay statin options within their formulary. Statins can only be effective at reducing cholesterol and cardiovascular risk if patients are compliant with their treatment. A significant factor in compliance is the cost of a medication. Higher copays and out-of-pocket costs are associated with lower adherence to therapy. By offering at least one option for $0 on a plan, insurance companies hope to increase adherence to the statin. In turn, the goal is to avoid higher long-term health costs down the road related to cholesterol and cardiovascular disease risk. There is data to support that $0 copay options have at least a modest effect on increasing treatment adherence.
How to save on statins costs
There are several methods to save money on statin medications, whether you are covered by insurance or not. Some helpful tips to save money on statins include:
- Utilize SingleCare as a primary reference for finding the lowest possible statin cash price in your area. You can compare different statins and different pharmacies from the convenience of your device at home. Signing up for free SingleCare savings cards can save you up to 80% on some prescriptions.
- Utilize a generic drug whenever possible, as this can lead to significant savings. Brand-name medications are more expensive.
- If you are covered by insurance, be familiar with your formulary and the list of drugs covered. Bring that list to your appointment so your prescriber can factor in cost when choosing the right therapy.
- Compare your copay to the cash price listed on SingleCare. Sometimes it is cheaper to utilize a savings card versus insurance.
- Check into available savings if you get more than a 30-day supply at a time. If your prescriber allows a 90-day supply to be dispensed, there could be savings involved.
- Some manufacturers or other organizations offer patient assistance programs. Eligibility requirements are often based on income or other factors. Please contact the program for more details.
- If you are uninsured, check into qualifications for subsidized insurance plans, Medicaid, or Medicare. You may be eligible for low-cost coverage that can help you save significantly on medications like statins.
Other high cholesterol costs to consider
Hypercholesterolemia has more costs associated with it than just statin treatment. There are other direct costs associated with the treatment of high cholesterol. These can include:
- Regular appointments with your healthcare professional
- Blood work and cholesterol testing
- Diagnostic procedures to rule out cardiovascular disease or assess the severity
- Other supplements or prescription cholesterol medications your prescriber recommends or deems necessary to reduce LDL or triglycerides or manage cardiovascular risk
- Potential costs associated with hospitalizations due to other medical complications and the long-term effects of high cholesterol.
Cholesterol testing must be done regularly to ensure you are on the appropriate medication and dose to bring your cholesterol to a healthy range. Out-of-pocket costs for a blood cholesterol test at a national provider such as LabCorp currently start at $59 each. Your cost may be lower with insurance. There are now at-home testing kits as well, which may be cheaper. Your healthcare provider may prefer one type of test over another.
There are also indirect costs associated with high cholesterol. These are the effects that high cholesterol and its treatment can have on your daily life. These can include:
- Time away from work to keep medical appointments
- Lost productivity as CVD progresses, making you less productive at work and in your personal life
- Decreased quality of life due to restrictions associated with high cholesterol and CVD
- Cholesterol medications | American Heart Association, American Heart Association (2024)
- Prescription cholesterol-lowering medication use in adults aged 40 and over: United States, 2003–2012, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014)
- Zero-dollar copayment impact on adherence scores for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services star ratings generic medications, The Permanente Journal (2024)
- Cholesterol and lipid panel test, LabCorp (2024)