Key takeaways
Ubrelvy is an effective and expensive migraine medication, averaging around $1,439 for 10 tablets without insurance. While insurance may help, many plans require prior authorization or step therapy before covering the cost.
Several savings options exist, including the Ubrelvy Complete Savings Card, SingleCare discount coupons, AbbVie’s patient assistance program, 90-day prescriptions, nonprofit support, and comparing pharmacy prices.
Cheaper alternatives to Ubrelvy include other CGRP inhibitors, triptans, beta blockers, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and NSAIDs, though their effectiveness and suitability vary by individual. Always consult a healthcare provider before switching medications.
Anyone who has spent an afternoon couch-ridden from throbbing head pain, fatigue, nausea, and light sensitivity knows what a burden migraines can be. That’s why migraine drugs like Ubrelvy (ubrogepant) are so popular. By blocking a protein called calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), Ubrelvy can reduce the frequency and symptoms of migraine attacks, offering some much-needed relief. As a brand-name prescription drug, it can be expensive for people paying entirely out of pocket, but there are also ways to save. Here are some of the most reliable methods.
How much does Ubrelvy cost?
The average retail price of Ubrelvy—without insurance coverage or any other savings—can be around $1,439 for 10 100 mg tablets, which is around $144 per dose. Fortunately, the dosage is typically one tablet as needed, so 10 tablets might last for a while, depending on the frequency of your migraines. If you are a frequent migraineur, it may last one month.
Health insurance can help cover part of the cost, but it depends on the plan. “Some insurers will cover Ubrelvy right away, but many require you to try (and fail) a cheaper option first — what we call ‘step therapy.’ If that medication does not work or causes side effects, then your doctor can often get Ubrelvy approved,” says Dr. Michael Genovese, MD, physician and chief medical advisor at Ascendant New York. “With Medicare or Medicaid, things can be trickier. Some plans may not cover it at all, while others have strict prior authorization requirements in place.”
Prior authorization is how the insurance company determines whether a particular drug is medically necessary. It might include additional documentation, step therapy, or other extra steps.
Can I get Ubrelvy for free?
They say there’s no such thing as a free lunch, but there might be such a thing as free Ubrelvy. However, it’s only in very specific circumstances.
The most common method is by using the Ubrelvy Complete Savings Card. The drug’s manufacturer, AbbVie, says that eligible commercially insured patients could potentially pay $0 for their prescription refills. These patients must have private insurance that covers part of the cost, and they cannot receive benefits from Medicare, Medicaid, or any other government-funded programs. The program’s savings, however, top out at $7,000 per calendar year, which may be about 60 pills.
Additionally, AbbVie offers free samples to healthcare providers, which they can give to appropriate patients. Technically, asking your healthcare provider for one of these samples could get you some free Ubrelvy, but it’s usually just a couple of doses.
How to save money on Ubrelvy
To those who don’t have insurance, or whose insurance plans won’t cover Ubrelvy: You’re not out of luck. There are still ways to bring down the cost of your prescription.
1. Get a free Ubrelvy coupon card
By signing up for SingleCare, you can get discounts on Ubrelvy that immediately drop the price by hundreds. So instead of paying the usual $1,400 or more for 10 pills, you can pay around $970 for 10, 100mg tablets. It’s free to sign up, and you can use the discounts at any of the 35,000+ partnering pharmacies. The actual savings, however, may vary by quantity, strength, and pharmacy.
You can use SingleCare coupons even if you have insurance or Medicare. However, you can’t use these discounts on top of your insurance coverage—it has to be one or the other, as the discounts are not additive.
Save up to 80% on Ubrelvy with SingleCare
Different pharmacies offer different prices for the same medication. SingleCare helps find the best price for you.
2. Enroll in myAbbVie Assist
On top of their Ubrelvy savings program, AbbVie has a patient assistance program specifically for uninsured or underinsured people, and they say they helped 235,000 people pay for their drugs in 2024. To qualify, patients must have a Ubrelvy prescription from a U.S. healthcare provider and limited or no insurance coverage. They must also meet the following income thresholds:
- Household of 1: $62,600 or less
- Household of 2: $84,600 or less
- Household of 3: $106,600 or less
- Household of 4: $128,600 or less
You can apply on the myAbbvie Assist website or download a paper application.
3. Consider a new health insurance plan
Some alternatives might be available even if your insurance plan doesn’t cover Ubrelvy. For employer-sponsored plans, talk to the Human Resources department to see if any other plans your company offers offer coverage. If so, switch plans at the next Open Enrollment Period. A new plan might come with higher premiums or deductibles, but it might save money in the long run if you pay much less for Ubrelvy.
For anyone who doesn’t have access to a health plan or an HR department, the Health Insurance Marketplace has many plans that include some type of prescription drug coverage.
4. Look into Medicaid
Medicaid is a program designed to assist people who need help paying for medical treatments, procedures, and drugs. You don’t need to have Medicare or any other insurance to qualify. You just need to meet certain income requirements. Since it’s funded by state and federal governments, the eligibility requirements vary by state, so look at your state government’s website to see what they are.
5. Ask about a 90-day prescription
Many doctors write 30-day prescriptions, but many are also open to writing 90-day prescriptions instead, which can save money and time. One study found that patients who used 90-day prescriptions had a 29% decrease in out-of-pocket costs and an 18% decrease in total prescription costs compared to those who got 30-day prescriptions. On top of that, you’ll only need to go to the pharmacy once every three months.
6. Research nonprofit assistance programs
Some third-party organizations have patient assistance programs, too. For example, the Patient Advocate Foundation’s Copay Relief program can connect you to potential prescription discounts. Another good place to find assistance is needymeds.org, a nonprofit that helps patients access savings on their medical care.
7. Shop around
Different pharmacies can have different prices, even ones right down the street from each other. In fact, a 2019 study from the U.S. Public Interest Research Groups found patients could save up to $5,400 per year by paying minimum drug prices instead of median ones. So it could be worth your time to call around and see how much Ubrelvy might cost.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Ubrelvy?
Ubrelvy isn’t the only migraine medication out there, and it’s certainly not the cheapest. While there are plenty of ways to reduce how much you pay, sometimes you might save the most by simply using a different drug. Some common alternatives to Ubrelvy include:
- Other CGRP Inhibitors: Drugs like Aimovig (erenumab), Emgality (galcanezumab), Nurtec ODT (rimegepant), and Qulipta (atogepant) might not be a lot cheaper than Ubrelvy, but sometimes they might be. Or in some cases, your insurance plan might provide better coverage for a different CGRP inhibitor.
- Triptans: These drugs, like Imitrex (sumatriptan) and Zomig (zolmitriptan), are often less expensive than CGRP inhibitors. For example, the generic version of sumatriptan is usually around $540, and generic zolmitriptan can be around $404. “That said, they are not suitable for everyone, especially those with certain heart risks, so it is something we review on a case-by-case basis,” Dr. Genovese says.
- Beta blockers: Research has found that certain blood pressure medications can help treat migraines by reducing blood flow to the brain and stabilizing serotonin levels. Plus, beta blockers like propranolol ($41) and atenolol ($35) often cost much less than many alternatives.
- Anticonvulsants: Seizure medications like Topamax (topiramate), which calm the brain’s electrical activity, can also help relieve migraines. They might also come at affordable prices. Generic topiramate, for example, is often around $116.
- Antidepressants: Certain depression medications—specifically SNRIs or tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline ($26)—have shown promise in treating migraine headaches as well.
- NSAIDs: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin are effective for all kinds of pain. They aren’t as powerful or targeted as specific migraine medications, but they’re available over the counter and often fairly affordable.
Anyone looking to switch from Ubrelvy to another prescription medication should first consult their healthcare provider. “If someone needs to take a lot of acute migraine medication, we will usually step back and reassess,” Dr. Genovese says. “That might be a sign that we need to introduce or adjust a preventive treatment plan, whether it is lifestyle-based or includes medications aimed at lowering migraine frequency. That can reduce long-term costs and improve the quality of life as well.”
- Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP): Role in migraine pathophysiology and therapeutic targeting, Expert opinion on therapeutic targets (2021)
- Prior authorization: What is it, when might you need it, and how do you get it?, Harvard Health (2024)
- Ubrelvy Complete Savings Card program terms and conditions, Ubrelvy.com
- MyAbbvie Assist Program, AbbVie.com
- Cost savings associated with filling a 3-month supply of prescription medicines, Applied Health Economics and Health Policy (2009)
- The real price of medications, U.S. Public Interests Research Group (2019)
- Antiepileptic drugs: how they work in headache, Headache (2001)
- Antidepressants for preventive treatment of migraine, Current Treatment Options in Neurology (2019)