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Is Januvia covered by insurance? | How much does Januvia cost without insurance? | How to get Januvia without insurance
Januvia (sitagliptin) is a brand-name prescription drug prescribed to people with Type 2 diabetes to help lower blood sugar levels. Januvia’s active ingredient belongs to a recently-invented family of antidiabetic drugs called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4 inhibitors) or “gliptins.” These drugs go to work after a person eats a meal, increasing insulin levels in the body and reducing the body’s natural production of glucose.
People taking Januvia will usually take a 100 mg tablet once per day. Because Januvia works only after a meal, low blood sugar is not a common side effect as it is with other diabetes drugs. Currently, there is no generic version of Januvia on the market, so people without insurance will pay the full retail price of this brand-name medication.
Is Januvia covered by insurance?
Januvia is covered by most commercial and employer health insurance plans, Medicare plans, and Medicaid, but some plans may require that the healthcare provider prescribe less-expensive treatments first.
How much does Januvia cost without insurance?
The cash price for a 30-day supply of brand-name anuvia averages $664, but Januvia prices vary by pharmacy and location. Because Type 2 diabetes is a long-term, if not lifelong, medical condition, it means uninsured patients can expect to pay more than $7,500 a year for Januvia treatment. Health insurance can lower that cost, but out-of-pocket copay costs will vary by plan. SingleCare can help lower the cost of Januvia at many pharmacies.
If Januvia costs are too prohibitive, people without insurance can get medical advice from the prescriber about substituting other FDA-approved antidiabetic drugs. These include metformin, sulfonylureas, meglitinides, alpha glucosidase inhibitors, and bile acid sequestrants. Keep in mind, however, these drugs work very differently than gliptins and may not be suitable replacements. There are no effective or safe over-the-counter medications or supplements that can substitute for prescription antidiabetic treatments.
| Januvia price compared to other drugs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Name | Price without insurance for brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Januvia (sitagliptin) | $727 for 30 tablets | $353 for 30 tablets of brand-name Januvia | Savings options |
| Nesina (alogliptin) | $513 for 30, 25 mg tablets | $200 for 30, 25 mg tablets of generic Nesina | Savings options |
| Onglyza (saxagliptin) | $589 for 30, 5 mg tablets | $460 for 30, 5 mg tablets of brand-name Onglyza | Savings options |
| Tradjenta (linagliptin) | $673 for 30, 5 mg tablets | $490 for 30, 5 mg tablets of brand-name Tradjenta | Savings options |
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. The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs if available. Click the link under “Savings options” to see updated drug prices.
How to get Januvia without insurance
Januvia is an expensive medication that can be hard to pay for month after month without health insurance coverage. Merck, the manufacturer, does offer a patient assistance program for low-income uninsured patients, a savings program, and rebates and coupons for commercially and privately insured patients. Unfortunately, not every patient will qualify for these programs. Still, there are more readily-available ways to save money on a Januvia prescription.
1. Use a SingleCare discount card
SingleCare members can save as much as 50% on their monthly Januvia prescription. The Januvia discount coupon page lists all available coupons by discount price and participating pharmacies. The free coupon can be printed, emailed, or sent to a smartphone and used right away to pay as little as $339 for a 30-day supply of Januvia.
2. Consider health insurance
For long-term medical treatment such as diabetes, often one of the best ways to save money is to purchase commercial insurance or explore government-run insurance such as Medicaid. The annual cost of Januvia exceeds $7,000 a year, and that doesn’t include other medications, doctor’s visits, and various procedures. Health insurance may be less expensive than paying out-of-pocket. The easiest place to start is shopping the various plans in your state’s online health insurance marketplace.
3. Consider Medicaid health insurance
If commercial health insurance is unaffordable, you may meet the income requirements of your state’s Medicaid program. You may not know that Medicaid has been expanded and eligibility requirements loosened in many states. Many Medicaid programs do cover brand-name Januvia, and the cost to patients can be as low as $0.
4. Ask the prescriber about other DPP-4 inhibitors
Three other brand-name drugs work like Januvia. All of them are less expensive, but not by much. However, one of them, Nesina (alogliptin), is available as a generic, so the cost is about one-third that of a Januvia prescription. That’s approximately $400 per month. It can certainly be worth asking the prescribing healthcare professional about this option.
5. Always comparison-shop prescription drugs
Relying on one pharmacy is a great way to pay too much for prescription medications. Believe it or not, pharmacies charge consumers different prices for the exact same medication, so price shopping is a reliable way to save money. Search SingleCare’s pharmacy finder for the best prices near you.
6. Use online mail-order pharmacies
If shopping around is too time-consuming, the biggest prescription savings are often found at online pharmacies. The downside, however, is that drugs will need to be shipped, so there will be a time delay. However, before using an online pharmacy, make sure that it is legitimate and safe.
7. Get help from city or county government
Another way to save money is to use community health clinics and organizations. These often can provide at least some medications for free or at a low cost. Start by talking to your city or county’s health department. They have a wealth of community resources that can help defray healthcare costs for the uninsured or underinsured.
