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Key takeaways
Before insurance kicks in, Adderall can cost more than $800 per month.
Adderall is often covered by insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid.
Many insurance policies cover generic Adderall but not the brand-name drug version.
Adderall is a brand-name prescription drug best known for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, Adderall and its generic version (the active ingredients amphetamine and dextroamphetamine) are also FDA-approved for the treatment of narcolepsy. Both brand-name and generic Adderall are also available in immediate-release (IR) and extended-release (ER) forms.
Adderall isn’t as expensive as some prescription medications, but ADHD treatment costs can still add up over time. Fortunately, many insurance plans help cover the cost of Adderall. Ultimately, the person’s out-of-pocket price for Adderall depends on several factors set by the insurance provider.
Does insurance cover Adderall?
Most insurance policies cover Adderall, though some require prior authorization first, according to Blair Gingerich, Pharm.D., BCMTMS, a member of the SingleCare Medical Review Board and a clinical care pharmacist in northern Indiana. “That means your doctor needs to provide more information to the insurance company to explain why you need this medication,” she explains. It’s essential to determine medical necessity because Adderall is a controlled stimulant medication due to its high potential for abuse and misuse.
Exact health insurance coverage varies by policy and state, as some state regulations do not allow step therapy, according to Sid Khurana, MD, DFAPA, DFAACAP, a board-certified psychiatrist and medical director of Nevada Mental Health. Step therapy is a process that requires patients to try preferred lower-cost drugs before moving on to expensive brand-name medications.
Dr. Khurana says that health insurance plans are more likely to cover generic drugs when a generic version is available. That means your insurance policy might cover generic Adderall but not brand-name Adderall. Most insurance plans “require failure of the generic medications as well as prior authorization,” he says.
Generic Adderall is widely covered by health insurance. Some plans cover brand-name Adderall if the generic form is ineffective for you.
How much does Adderall cost with insurance?
The cost of Adderall with insurance depends on your plan’s drug formulary, copay, and whether you have met your deductible. You must contact your health insurance company for an accurate estimate of your copay and additional charges.
Every insurance plan has a drug formulary, which is a list of covered drugs. The formulary categorizes the drugs into tiers, and the higher the tier, the more expensive the copay. Some drug formularies have three tiers, and others have four or five. In many cases, generic Adderall is considered a Tier 1 drug. Brand-name Adderall might fall into a middle tier. For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield’s (BCBS) FEP Blue Basic formulary lists generic Adderall as Tier 1 and brand-name Adderall as Tier 3.
Copays, which are fixed amounts an individual pays for prescription refills, also vary by plan. Individuals enrolled in the BCBS plan referenced above pay $7.50 for a one-month supply of generic Adderall or 50% of the drug’s list price for brand-name Adderall.
Another factor affecting your out-of-pocket cost is whether you have met your insurance plan’s deductible. The cost of Adderall will likely be higher before you reach the deductible. Once the deductible has been met, some insurance policies completely cover the cost of Adderall for the rest of the calendar year.
How much does Adderall cost without insurance?
The cost of Adderall without insurance can vary depending on the type (brand-name vs. generic), form (Adderall vs. Adderall XR), and local pharmacy.
The current list price of short-acting Adderall is $828 for 60, 20-mg tablets. By comparison, Adderall XR costs $346 for 30, 30-mg extended-release capsules. Generic Adderall, or amphetamine-dextroamphetamine, is currently priced at $123 per 60, 20-mg tablets or $256 per 30, 30-mg extended release (ER) capsules.
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Does Medicare/Medicaid cover Adderall?
Medicare and Medicaid usually cover at least part of the cost of Adderall, but prescription drug coverage varies by plan.
Medicare and Medicaid have drug formularies just like commercial and private insurance plans. And like other health plans, these federal plans prefer to cover generics over brand-name drugs. You can check your plan’s formulary to determine whether Adderall or its generic equivalent is listed as a Tier 1 or preferred drug. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Medicaid often requires prior authorization for Adderall for children.
Ways to save on Adderall
There are several ways to save on Adderall if you are uninsured or underinsured. Cash payers can lower their ADHD treatment plan by using a SingleCare savings card. It’s also a good idea to talk to your doctor, other medical provider, or pharmacist if you’re facing financial obstacles with your Adderall prescription. A healthcare professional familiar with your medical history, health conditions, and other medications may help determine a lower-cost Adderall alternative or connect you with information about patient assistance services.
- Dextroamphetamine and amphetamine, MedlinePlus (2024)
- Impact of 3-Tier formularies on drug treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in children, Archives of General Psychiatry (2006)
- FEP Blue Standard formulary, Caremark Blue Cross Blue Shield (2025)
- State Medicaid policies, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Takeda’s co-pay assistance program, Takeda Pharmaceuticals