Does Aetna cover Symbicort?

In this article:

• Does Aetna cover Symbicort?
• How much is Symbicort without insurance?
• How much does Symbicort cost with Aetna?
• How to check whether your Aetna plan covers Symbicort
• How to save on Symbicort

In this article

• Does Aetna cover Symbicort?
• How much is Symbicort without insurance?
• How much does Symbicort cost with Aetna?
• How to check whether your Aetna plan covers Symbicort
• How to save on Symbicort

Symbicort is a brand-name prescription inhaler that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat asthma in adults and children six years and older. It is also FDA approved for maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Symbicort, which contains the active ingredients budesonide (an inhaled corticosteroid) and formoterol (a long-acting beta agonist), also has an off-label use. It is commonly used as Single Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (SMART)—which means patients on this regimen use Symbicort every day for asthma control, and also as a relief inhaler when needed. If your healthcare provider has prescribed Symbicort, you’ll want to know if your Aetna plan will cover this drug. 

Does Aetna cover Symbicort?

Typically, Aetna will not pay for brand-name Symbicort, but the good news is that most plans should provide coverage for generic versions of this drug. 

Symbicort is a brand-name drug. The first generics of this drug were approved in 2022, and now generic versions are widely available. Because of this, Aetna does not typically pay for brand-name Symbicort but will provide coverage for generic budesonide-formoterol or Breyna. 

We checked some Aetna formularies (list of covered drugs) for coverage of brand-name Symbicort versus generic versions and discovered the following:

• The 2025 Aetna Standard Plan lists Symbicort as a non-formulary drug, meaning it is not covered under this plan, unless an exception request is granted. Breyna and other generic budesonide-formoterol products are listed as covered generics on this plan. 
• For this same Aetna Standard Plan, there is a published 2025 Formulary Exclusions Drug List. On this list, brand-name Symbicort is listed as a non-covered drug, with preferred alternatives Breyna and other budesonide-formoterol products listed as covered drugs.
• If you have Medicare prescription coverage, you can use the plan finder search function to see that brand-name Symbicort is not covered, while generics are covered in most cases. 
• Aetna Medicaid plans will vary by state; however, you can expect coverage to be similar to other Aetna plans. For example, Aetna Better Health of New Jersey does not list brand-name Symbicort on its formulary, but it does list generic versions. 

Although many Aetna plans cover generic instead of brand-name Symbicort, there are many plans, and there is a lot of variation between plans. The only way to know for sure whether your specific Aetna plan covers Symbicort is to contact your plan directly for more information. 

How much is Symbicort without insurance?

Without insurance or discounts, brand-name Symbicort costs about $488 for one 10.2-gram inhaler (160-4.5 mcg/actuation). You can use a SingleCare Symbicort coupon to pay as low as $231 for a brand-name Symbicort inhaler. 

To further increase your savings, choose generic Symbicort and use your SingleCare discount to pay as little as $140 per month on this prescription. 

SingleCare is accepted at over 35,000 pharmacies in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. You can use the discount on your initial prescription as well as on refills. 

How much does Symbicort cost with Aetna?

The price will vary by plan. As mentioned above, many Aetna plans do not cover brand-name Symbicort. However, if you fill your prescription with a generic version of Symbicort, you will likely pay a generic copay for this medicine. 

Your out-of-pocket price is subject to other factors—such as whether you have a deductible, or if you have Medicare Part D, what phase of coverage you are in. The best way to find out your exact cost is to contact your plan directly for more information. 

How to check whether your Aetna plan covers Symbicort 

Filling your prescription for a generic version of Symbicort will be more likely to result in insurance coverage and a lower out-of-pocket cost than brand-name Symbicort. Since Symbicort coverage is dependent on your specific Aetna plan, the best way to find out more about your coverage is to check the formulary for your exact plan. To do this, you can do one of the following:

• Visit the Aetna website and log in or register to find drug coverage information specific to your plan. 
• Call the member services phone number on your ID card to get more information over the phone. If you call, have your member ID card handy, since the representative will ask for your ID and group number. 
• Have your healthcare provider send the prescription to your preferred pharmacy. The pharmacy staff will process the prescription and tell you right away whether the drug is covered, not covered, or requires prior authorization first. 

How to save on Symbicort

One of the best ways to save money on your prescription drugs is by using your free SingleCare prescription discount card or the SingleCare app. You can use your discount at a participating pharmacy every month to save about $250 on brand-name Symbicort or up to $325 on a generic version. 

Save on COPD inhalers

Here are some other ways to save on Symbicort:

• Call different pharmacies in your area to ask about the prices of generic versions of Symbicort. You can also ask about the price difference for a one-month or three-month supply. Some pharmacies may charge less when you purchase a larger quantity.
• Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if they know of any local resources in your area, such as health departments or clinics that may offer discounted or free medicines.

If your price for Symbicort, or generic Symbicort, is still expensive, talk to your healthcare provider about Symbicort alternatives you can try that are just as effective but may cost less with your insurance plan.