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Key takeaways
Fenofibrate is a generic prescription drug used to help manage triglyceride levels, as well as HDL and LDL cholesterol levels. It goes by the brand names Antara and Lipofen.
Many insurance and Medicare prescription plans will cover fenofibrate, although it’s not a guarantee, and they might require prior authorization.
Without insurance, the average out-of-pocket cost for fenofibrate is around $268. With insurance, prices can vary based on the plan’s specific policies.
Even without coverage, there are several reliable ways to save on fenofibrate, including SingleCare coupons, alternative drugs, and patient assistance programs.
Around 71 million Americans have high cholesterol—according to Johns Hopkins Medicine—and fenofibrate is one potential treatment. It is a generic prescription drug that goes by the brand names Antara and Lipofen. Fenofibrate typically costs around $268 for 90, 160 mg tablets. While there aren’t any over-the-counter alternatives, there are some reliable ways to get help paying for it.
Is fenofibrate covered by insurance?
For people hoping to save money on prescription drugs, insurance coverage is often the go-to method. David Nazarian, MD, founder of My Concierge MD, says that Medicare and most insurance policies cover generic fenofibrate as tier 1 or tier 2 drugs. However, he says that brand name fenofibrates—such as Antara or Lipofen—may not be covered by some insurance policies. The only way to be sure is to check your drug formulary.
Even if they offer coverage, some insurance plans might make you jump through a few hoops first, primarily so they can determine whether fenofibrate is medically necessary. This is a process called prior authorization, and it might require a healthcare provider to submit evidence of diagnostic tests or other paperwork. Sometimes, it can also include step therapy—trying other drugs before moving to fenofibrate.
How much is fenofibrate with insurance?
It’s difficult to put an exact number on the cost of fenofibrate without insurance since there are so many variables. For example, it might depend on your dosage, your condition, and even where you live. But most of all, it depends on your specific insurance or Medicare prescription plan. Some will cover it completely, while others might not cover it at all, and many will fall somewhere in between.
The question often comes down to how a specific insurance provider and plan classifies fenofibrate. Every plan has a unique formulary—a list that shows how it covers certain drugs. Typically, formularies group drugs into two to five different tiers, with generics near the bottom and brand-name or specialty drugs near the top. The higher the tier, the higher the coinsurance and copays usually are. As a generic drug, fenofibrate will often fall into lower tiers, so it might receive more coverage, but you’ll need to check your plan’s formulary to find out.
How much does fenofibrate cost without insurance?
If you don’t have health insurance, or if you have insurance that doesn’t fully cover fenofibrate, you’ll have to pay out of pocket. Without insurance or coupons, fenofibrate costs an average of $268 for 90, 160 mg generic fenofibrate tablets. That price comes out to around $3 per tablet, and over the course of an entire year, it could add up to more than $3,200.
This price is just an average, though. Your cost depends on several factors, such as your dosage, the pharmacy you go to, and even where you live. Drug prices can vary significantly even within a relatively small geographic area.
Prices might also be higher for any of fenofibrate’s brand-name alternatives. For example, Lipofen’s average retail price is $366—around $100 more than its generic equivalent.
As a generic, fenofibrate is already pretty affordable, but there are plenty of other cholesterol drugs on the market. Some might be more affordable or work better with certain insurance plans.
Compare fenofibrate prices to related drugs |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Price without insurance of brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Generic fenofibrate | $268 for 90, 160 mg tablets | $13 for 90, 160 mg tablets of generic fenofibrate | See latest prices |
| Lipitor (atorvastatin) | $460 for 30, 10mg tablets | $3 for 30, 10 mg tablets of generic atorvastatin | See latest prices |
| Crestor (rosuvastatin) | $355 for 30, 20 mg tablets | $8 for 30, 20mg tablets of generic rosuvastatin | See latest prices |
| Lopid (gemfibrozil) | $269 per 60, 600 mg tablets | $9 per 60, 600 mg tablets of generic gemfibrozil | See latest prices |
| Zetia (ezetimibe) | $488 for 30, 10 mg tablets | $5 for 30, 10 mg tablets of generic ezetimibe | See latest prices |
| Repatha (evolocumab) | $739 for 2, 1 mL of 140 mg/mL syringes | $484 for 2, 1 mL of 140 mg/mL syringes of brand-name Repatha | See latest prices |
| Lovastatin | $105 for 90, 20 mg tablets | $10 for 90, 20 mg tablets of generic lovastatin | 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 fenofibrate without insurance
There are several reliable ways to get a discounted price on fenofibrate. Here are some of the ones we recommend.
Get free fenofibrate coupons
With a SingleCare prescription discount card, you can save on thousands of prescription drugs, including fenofibrate. These discount coupons can drop fenofibrate’s average $268 out-of-pocket price all the way down to $13 for 90, 160 mg tablets. All you have to do is sign up and then present the card at a participating pharmacy.
Ask about a 90-day supply
Getting a larger prescription of fenofibrate can sometimes save money. “The benefits of a 90-day prescription compared to a 30-day prescription are a possible lower cost per month and less frequent refills,” Dr. Nazarian says. “However, a 90-day prescription has a higher upfront cost, and some insurance plans only allow 30-day refills.”
One study showed that patients saved an average of 18% on total drug costs with 90-day prescriptions compared to 30-day prescriptions, but it also depends on your insurance coverage.
Consider alternatives
There’s no shortage of cholesterol drugs out there, and some might come cheaper or with better insurance coverage. Just be sure to get medical advice from a healthcare professional to determine the best option for your specific condition and circumstances.
Look into Medicaid
Funded by federal and state governments, Medicaid is a program that helps people pay for their healthcare and drug costs. If you’re eligible, you can enroll, even if you don’t have insurance or Medicare. Eligibility is typically based on household finances, but each state has its own requirements.
Research patient assistance programs
Some third-party organizations, like the Patient Advocate Foundation, provide additional assistance to people who need help paying for their prescription drugs. Additionally, many states have their own assistance programs, which can help as long as you meet their requirements.
Shop around
As we mentioned above, drug prices can vary significantly between pharmacies in the same general area. SingleCare.com makes it easy to compare prices at local pharmacies. Just type the drug name in the search bar, hit Enter, and compare prices at participating pharmacies near you.
- Cholesterol: 5 truths to know, Johns Hopkins University
- Understanding drug tiers, Patient Advocate Foundation
- Cost savings associated with filling a 3-month supply of prescription medicines, Value in Health (2009)