4 ways to save on Entresto

Entresto is a brand-name prescription drug that helps reduce serious cardiovascular events in people diagnosed with chronic heart failure. It is especially effective in treating heart failure involving lowered ejection fraction—a measurement of how much blood the left ventricle pumps out each time it contracts. An ejection fraction of 60% means that 60% of the blood in the left ventricle is pushed out with each heartbeat. Normal ejection fraction is between 55% and 70%.

Entresto is a combination of two drugs, sacubitril and valsartan. It relaxes blood vessels and reduces blood pressure, which helps slow the progress of heart failure. While valsartan is widely available in generic versions, sacubitril is only found in Entresto. This makes Entresto a unique drug and the only one of its class of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs). 

“Entresto is recommended as a first-line treatment to treat heart failure in adults,” explains Richard Linsky, MD, a concierge physician in New York City. ”Entresto has been shown to lower the risk of cardiovascular-related deaths and heart failure-related hospitalization.”

If your healthcare provider has prescribed Entresto, you may be worried about how you can afford it. Read on for all the ways to get Ernesto at a lower cost so you can continue your treatment without breaking the bank.

How much does Entresto cost?

The average retail cost of Entresto is around $922 for 60, 24–26 mg (sacubitril/valsartan) tablets, which is a 30-day supply of the lowest dose. The price you pay, however, depends on various factors, such as your choice of pharmacy and whether you’re using insurance. The typical dosage is one tablet taken twice daily. Because heart failure medications are prescribed for months to years, patients without insurance should expect to pay around $11,000 annually for Entresto without insurance benefits or coupons.

How to save money on Entresto

Here are four ways to save on your Entresto prescription: 

1. SingleCare coupons: To save on Entresto and many other brand-name and generic medications, SingleCare is an easy, free option. To use an Entresto coupon from SingleCare, look up the medication, dosage, and number of tablets you’re prescribed. Then, choose your pharmacy and click the “Get free coupon” button for a coupon that you can text to yourself or print to show your pharmacist. You can also download the SingleCare app, which is available on iOS and Android. Depending on your choice of pharmacy, you can save up to $250 on a month’s supply—that’s $3,000 savings per year.

Remember that SingleCare prices vary depending on dosage and pharmacy. 

2. Health insurance and Medicare: Up to 80% of commercial and private insurance plans cover Entresto, and up to 99% of Medicare Part D plans cover Entresto, according to the manufacturer, Novartis. Health insurance can reduce the cost of Entresto, but the out-of-pocket cost depends on the plan’s deductible and the copay cost determined by the plan’s formulary. 

3. Entresto copay offer: With Entresto’s copay offer, the copay can be as low as $10 for a 30-, 60- or 90-day supply. The annual limit of this savings is $4,100. However, you must have health insurance to be eligible for the copay offer. It is not available to those with government-sponsored health insurance. Ineligible government-sponsored plans include:

• Medicare, such as Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and Medigap plans
• Medicaid
• Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense plans
• TRICARE

4. Medicare Extra Help: The Medicare Extra Help program helps people with limited income and resources pay for prescriptions like Entresto. Some people qualify for the Extra Help program automatically, while others need to apply. 

Individuals who receive any of the following qualify for Extra Help automatically: 

• Full Medicaid coverage
• State assistance for Part B premiums 
• Social Security Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits 

Once you’re eligible for Extra Help, you’ll receive a letter with details. If you don’t automatically qualify, you can apply online or call the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 or 800-325-0778 (TTY) Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.

Can I get Entresto for free?

Entresto’s manufacturer, Novartis, offers a free 30-day trial offer for patients with a prescription, regardless of whether they have insurance or need financial assistance. This is a pre-activated offer that’s available to everyone and good for one-time use for a 30-day (maximum 60 tablets).

Novartis also has a patient assistance program for patients with limited or no prescription coverage and who cannot afford the cost of their medications. As long as a patient meets eligibility requirements, they can receive Entresto for free for a year, after which they can re-enroll in the program as long as they’re financially eligible.

Is there a cheaper alternative to Entresto?

Entresto is the only ARNI medication, and there are no available alternatives within the same drug class. There are, however, some Entresto alternatives to consider for heart failure. These include some ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), beta blockers, aldosterone antagonists, isosorbide dinitrate/hydralazine, ivabradine, and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. Consult your healthcare provider for more information and medical advice about your treatment.

Whether through alternative medications, patient assistant programs, rebates, SingleCare coupons, or free trials, there are ways to make treatment for heart failure more affordable. Take advantage of all the possibilities available to reduce the cost of your Entresto medication.