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Is tamsulosin covered by insurance? | How much does tamsulosin cost without insurance? | How to get tamsulosin without insurance
Tamsulosin hydrochloride is a generic prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to provide symptom relief for men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH or enlarged prostate). These symptoms include trouble urinating, trouble starting to urinate, frequent urination, nighttime urination, weak stream, and incontinence. As a selective alpha-1 blocker, tamsulosin relaxes muscles at the “bladder neck,” where the bladder opens to drain, allowing more urine to move from the bladder when urinating freely. Common side effects of tamsulosin include lightheadedness, abnormal ejaculation, and drowsiness. Allergic reactions are the most common serious side effects. Men with a tamsulosin prescription will take one or two 0.4 milligram (mg) oral capsules once per day. The capsule should be taken 30 minutes after the same meal daily, so if it’s taken after breakfast, it should always be taken after breakfast.
Related: Tamsulosin dosage
What is the brand name for tamsulosin?
Flomax is the brand-name version of tamsulosin. As a brand-name prescription drug, Flomax prices are higher than generic tamsulosin. Compared to $108 for generic tamsulosin, the Flomax cost is $260 for a 30-day supply.
Is tamsulosin covered by insurance?
Most people with health insurance, Medicare Part D drug coverage, and Medicaid are covered by a tamsulosin prescription. The same applies to active military service members or veterans on VA benefits. However, coverage may vary across insurance plans. Most insurance plans put tamsulosin in their lowest copay tiers, so the out-of-pocket cost should be low. However, other factors, such as coverage gaps, coinsurance, or deductibles, may affect the final cost.
How much does tamsulosin cost without insurance?
The retail price of tamsulosin without insurance averages $108 for 30, 0.4 mg capsules, about three to four dollars per capsule. At the starting dosage, 30 capsules are a 30-day supply, but for patients using a 0.8 mg dose, it will only last 15 days. The yearly cost will average between $1,300 and $2,600 without insurance coverage.
Are there cheaper prescription medications? Other alpha-blockers commonly used to treat the symptoms of BPH, such as alfuzosin, doxazosin, prazosin, and terazosin, cost about the same, so uninsured patients won’t save much money by switching to another alpha-blocker
Other drugs used to treat the signs of BPH include 5-alpha reductase inhibitors such as finasteride and dutasteride. Again, the generic versions of these drugs are either close in price or more expensive than generic tamsulosin. Also, these drugs work differently than alpha-blockers and will have different side effects and drug interactions. There are over-the-counter medications and dietary supplements that may help some men, but they are likely to be ineffective. Ask a healthcare professional for medical advice before switching to lower-priced alternatives.
The best way to save money on tamsulosin or similar BPH treatments is to use a SingleCare prescription discount card. With a free coupon from SingleCare, 30 capsules of tamsulosin can cost as little as seven dollars, just over 20 cents per capsule.
RELATED: Tamsulosin alternatives: What can I take instead of tamsulosin?
Compare tamsulosin (Flomax) prices to related drugs |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Price without insurance of brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Tamsulosin | $108 per 30, 0.4 mg capsules | $7 per 30, 0.4 mg capsules of generic tamsulosin | See latest prices |
| Brand-name tamsulosin
(Flomax) |
$850 per 90, 0.4 mg capsules | $20 per 90, 0.4 mg capsules of brand-name Flomax | See latest prices |
| Alfuzosin | $112 per 30, 10 mg tablets | $6 per 30, 10 mg tablets of generic alfuzosin | See latest prices |
| Jalyn | $478 per 30, 0.5-0.4 mg capsules | $60 per 30, 0.5-0.4 mg capsules of brand-name Jalyn | See latest prices |
| Silodosin | $248 per 30, 8 mg capsules | $18 per 30, 8 mg capsules of generic silodosin | See latest prices |
| Dutasteride | $169 per 30, 0.5 mg capsules | $10 per 30, 0.5 mg capsules of generic dutasteride | See latest prices |
| Finasteride | $109 per 30, 1 mg tablets | $6 per 30, 1 mg tablets of generic finasteride | 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 tamsulosin without insurance
As a moderately-priced generic drug, tamsulosin prices may be challenging for some people, particularly when the cost is added over a year. Unfortunately, no patient assistance programs or manufacturer coupons help. On the other hand, there are ways to substantially reduce the retail price, starting with a SingleCare savings card.
1. Take advantage of SingleCare discount prices
With a SingleCare prescription discount card, a 30-day supply of tamsulosin costs only $7. That’s just a little more than 20 cents per capsule. SingleCare discounts will vary by participating pharmacy. Read the FAQs section for more savings and drug information.
2. Find the lowest price for tamsulosin
SingleCare can make price-shopping for prescription tamsulosin easier than calling dozens of pharmacies. Visit SingleCare’s price history for tamsulosin. The lowest pharmacy price for tamsulosin is only $23, almost $110 less than the highest.
3. Consider enrolling in Medicaid or subsidized Medicare
Another alternative is to sign up for Medicaid or Medicare Low Income Subsidy. Both programs have minimal premiums and charge astonishingly low out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs. They both have similar eligibility requirements, so visit your state’s Medicaid website for eligibility information, enrollment process, and additional information.
4. Use community resources
Most communities have public health clinics and 340B providers that may be able to provide medications like tamsulosin at a steep discount. To get started, call a municipality or county health department representative. They can provide information about public clinics, 340B providers, and other resources to help get needed medications.
