How much is Vraylar without insurance?

Is Vraylar covered by insurance? | How much does Vraylar cost without insurance? | How to get Vraylar without insurance

Vraylar is a brand-name prescription drug used to treat schizophrenia,and control mood swings, depression, and manic or mixed episodes in people diagnosed with bipolar I disorder. The active ingredient in Vraylar is an antipsychotic called cariprazine. It works by quieting overexcitement in the brain that causes many of the symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, such as psychosis. As an atypical antipsychotic, Vraylar is less likely to cause debilitating or serious side effects than first-generation antipsychotics. While the daily dose may vary, people typically take one Vraylar capsule daily. As a brand-name drug, Vrayler is expensive and has no cheaper generic versions that can be substituted. Still, there are other ways to get Vraylar at more affordable prices.

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Is Vraylar covered by insurance?

Vraylar is commonly covered by commercial health insurance, Medicare Part D, and Medicaid. Some insurance companies may require prior authorization or step therapy, that is, trying other less expensive drugs first before Vraylar can be approved.

How much does Vraylar cost without insurance?

Without insurance coverage, 30, 1.5 mg capsules of Vraylar—a 30-day supply at the lowest dose—costs $1,694 on average. Vraylar is intended to be used for months or years, so 12 months of Vraylar treatment could easily exceed $20,000 at full retail price. Health insurance may pay most of that cost. According to Allergan, the out-of-pocket cost for 85% of people with commercial health insurance is $0 to $25 monthly, but this number includes people using AbbVie’s $0 to $5 copay card for either a 30-day or 90-day supply. About 80% of Medicare-insured patients without Extra Help coverage pay between $0 and $45, while nine out of 10 people on Medicaid pay $0 to $4 per month. Of course, out-of-pocket costs will depend on the insurance plan’s formulary, deductible, copay cost, Medicare coverage phase, or, for Medicaid, a person’s income.

If Vraylar is too expensive, mental health professionals can prescribe similar atypical antipsychotic medications that have inexpensive generic versions. Most are FDA approved for both schizophrenia and bipolar manic/mixed episodes. Even cheaper first-generation antipsychotics can be prescribed for the same conditions, but serious side effects can be a problem. Unlike many antipsychotics, however, Vraylar is also used to treat bipolar depression. In those cases, only a few antipsychotics can be substituted. Antidepressants can also be used. 

To treat serious illnesses such as psychosis or bipolar disorder, over-the-counter medications, supplements, or herbal remedies are not effective substitutes for prescription antipsychotics.

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 Vraylar without insurance

At a retail cost of almost $60 per pill, Vraylar can be hard to afford month after month without health insurance or other help. The manufacturer, AbbVie, offers a patient assistance program and may offer manufacturer coupons or rebates. However, these are uncertain and many people won’t meet the eligibility criteria. AbbVie’s VrayPay Savings Program only reduces the cost for people with private health insurance. To get affordable treatment, many people will have to turn to more foolproof solutions. The best place to start is with a SingleCare prescription discount card.

1. Use a SingleCare savings card

The most immediate way to save on a Vraylar prescription is to use a free coupon from SingleCare at participating local pharmacies. SingleCare’s lowest price for Vraylar is $1,143 for a 30-day supply of 1.5 mg tablets. This represents a savings of close to $600 off the average retail price of $1,694 for that same prescription. 

2. Find the lowest price

Price vary between pharmacies. Finding the lowest pharmacy price for Vraylar can save as much as $200 per month. Combine that with a SingleCare savings card and the discount could reach $600 per month.

3. Ask the prescribing healthcare provider for a free sample

Mental health professionals may have free samples of brand-name drugs like Vraylar. This gives them a chance to monitor effectiveness and side effects after a few weeks or a month of treatment. Free samples, however, are not a permanent solution. They will run out in a few weeks or a month, but at least this buys time to determine if Vraylar is effective in controlling symptoms or time to research other options.

4. Purchase health insurance

For long-term treatment involving expensive brand-name medications, health insurance may be the most durable cost-saving option. Start by visiting the online health insurance marketplace in your state to research plan options and prices. Consider talking to an agent to make sure the policy covers Vraylar with minimal fuss and cost.

5. Enroll in Medicaid

For many, commercial health insurance is still too costly to afford. In that case, Medicaid may be a viable option. Premiums, deductibles, and copays are low or nonexistent depending on income. Each state provides a website that explains eligibility requirements, the enrollment process, and additional information that may be helpful.

6. Ask a healthcare professional for medical advice about other drugs

As a last resort, consider switching to less expensive medications similar to Vraylar called atypical antipsychotics. They are effective and, like Vraylar, are less likely to cause bothersome or serious side effects. Not only are they less expensive, but combined with a SingleCare discount card, some can be purchased for as little as $1 to $3 a month.