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Key takeaways
Nurtec ODT is a premium-priced brand-name medication that treats active migraine headaches and prevents episodic migraines.
Most insurance plans cover Nurtec ODT, but there may be restrictions, and the out-of-pocket cost may be high.
Eligible patients with commercial health insurance can reduce the Nurtec copay to as low as $0 with a Nurtec copay card.
Nurtec ODT (rimegepant) is a prescription medication used to prevent and treat migraine headaches. Belonging to a relatively new family of medications called CGRP inhibitors, Nurtec ODT is only available as a brand-name drug. The price can be challenging to afford, even for people with insurance coverage. However, a Nurtec copay card can reduce out-of-pocket costs to as low as $0 for eligible patients with commercial insurance. But first, people must meet the eligibility requirements. They aren’t difficult, but anyone with federal- or state-subsidized health insurance can’t qualify. Fortunately, there are other ways to get Nurtec ODT at a discount.
Save up to 80% on Nurtec with SingleCare
Different pharmacies offer different prices for the same medication. SingleCare helps find the best price for you.
RELATED: Migraine financial assistance and resources
How much does Nurtec cost?
People without insurance could end up paying the full retail price of $1,395 for eight orally disintegrating 75 mg tablets. This is an average price, so the actual cost will vary by pharmacy.
Does insurance cover Nurtec?
According to the manufacturer, 97% of people with commercial insurance are covered for Nurtec. “You need to call your prescription plan to determine whether they will cover Nurtec,” says Adria Goldman Gross, a medical bill advocate and CEO and president of MedWise Insurance Advocacy in Monroe, New York. “Your prescription program might have you try less expensive medications before it will cover you for Nurtec.”
Your health insurance company may also have rigid guidelines you must meet to get a prescription approved and may require your healthcare provider to ask for prior authorization before approving it. If you have an insurance card, you should be able to call the number on the back of the card for details about your plan’s coverage for Nurtec.
Does Medicare cover Nurtec?
Certain Medicare plans will cover Nurtec. “The majority, around 75%, of Medicare prescription drug plans cover this medication,” says Michael Yudelevich, MD, an independent patient advocate at My Personal Health Advocate in New York City. “The deductible must be met before the plan begins paying for the medication. If covered, and the deductible has been met, copays can range from as little as $0 and up to $1,149.”
All Medicare drug plans have a list of drugs they cover, known as formularies. They include brand-name prescription drugs and generic drugs. If the formulary doesn’t cover Nurtec, the Medicare plan may provide a suitable alternative.
Also, in some cases, your Medicare plan may decide to stop covering the drug at any time. “Medicare prescription plans, as well as all prescription plans, might cover you for one medication and decide at any moment if they are not going to continue to offer that medication on their prescription plan,” Gross explains.
You can contact the Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage insurance provider to learn more information about the program’s eligibility criteria for prescribing Nurtec.
Does Medicaid cover Nurtec?
Medicaid coverage for Nurtec varies by state. “Each state will have different requirements to get this medication approved through their state-sponsored Medicaid plans,” Dr. Yudelevich says. “Typical requirements include having first tried and failed other medications that are listed as preferred before any nonpreferred medications can be approved.”
Why is Nurtec so expensive?
Nurtec is expensive because there are currently no generic alternatives to Nurtec. Rimegepant was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2020, so it is a fairly new drug. The pharmaceutical company that makes Nurtec, Pfizer Inc., holds a patent that prohibits others from making and selling copies of the drug, including less expensive generic versions, until 2039.
Nurtec copay assistance and other financial help
If you’re having difficulty paying for Nurtec, several options are available to help you lower out-of-pocket costs.
Nurtec copay card
Pfizer Inc. offers a Nurtec ODT copay card for eligible patients with health insurance. If eligible, you can access the prescription medicine for as little as $0 from your pharmacist or directly from the manufacturer. The benefits, however, max out at $7,000 per year. After exceeding that annual limit, patients will have to pay the full copay cost until the end of the year.
To get the Nurtec savings card, sign up on the manufacturer’s website and download the savings card. To be eligible for a Nurtec ODT savings card, patients must be covered by commercial or employer-provided health insurance. They cannot be enrolled in a state or federally funded insurance program, like Medicare or Medicaid. Other eligibility requirements are outlined on the site.
When first approved for the card, patients can have one-time access to Nurtec ODT at no cost while benefits are being verified, to a maximum of 16 tablets. After that, the insurance company must begin covering the prescription to continue using the copay card.
SingleCare prescription savings card
The SingleCare prescription savings card can also help you save money on Nurtec. This discount card works at several major U.S. pharmacies. With the SingleCare card, you’ll simply pay a discounted price for your prescription medications at your local pharmacy. In some instances, you can get up to 80% off your prescription prices.
Unlike the Nurtec copay card, the SingleCare discount card can be used by people regardless of whether they have insurance or are covered by Medicare or Medicaid. Some people with insurance choose to use the SingleCare prescription savings card when their drug copays are too high.
With a SingleCare Nurtec coupon, you can reduce the price of your medicine to as low as $923 at Kroger for one box of eight disintegrating tablets, but prices vary by participating pharmacy. Discounts could be even higher for people who sign up for SingleCare’s bonus loyalty program and routinely use their SingleCare savings card.
- Biohaven reports second quarter 2021 financial results and recent business developments, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
- Nurtec, Pfizer
- Nurtec HCP, Pfizer
- Nurtec ODT – rimegepant sulfate tablet, orally disintegrating prescribing information, Daily Med (NIH National Library of Medicine) (2026)
- What Medicare Part D drug plans cover, Medicare.gov