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Is Vyvanse covered by insurance | How much does Vyvanse cost without insurance? | How to get Vyvanse without insurance
Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine sulfate) is a brand-name prescription drug that treats attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults and children and binge-eating disorder (BED) in adults. Dosages will vary based on response to treatment, but the recommended dose is 30 to 70 milligrams (mg) taken once daily in the morning. Vyvanse is an amphetamine, a type of central nervous system stimulant that helps to increase focus, reduce hyperactivity, improve impulse control in people with ADHD, and helps reduce binge eating behaviors in people with BED. Vyvanse is not available as a less expensive generic at this time and there are no over-the-counter substitutes, so patients without insurance may have to pay full price for a Vyvanse prescription.
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Is Vyvanse covered by insurance?
Vyvanse is not commonly covered under Medicare Part D plans. Those on Medicare or Medicaid plans should ask their prescribers or insurance companies about possible coverage options. Insurance companies may sometimes review the treatment plans with prescribers before covering Vyvanse, which is a process known as prior authorization.
How much does Vyvanse cost without insurance?
The retail price of Vyvanse can vary depending on the dose prescribed. A single 30-day supply of 70 mg capsules (the highest dose) costs $460.55 or about $15 per pill. Vyvanse is a long-term treatment, so uninsured patients can expect to spend $5,500 or more over the course of a year. For people with health insurance, the copay cost of Vyvanse can vary widely. For patients without insurance, the out-of-pocket costs could also vary dramatically.
While there is no generic version of Vyvanse, there are similar and less expensive stimulants—dextroamphetamines, amphetamines, methamphetamine, and methylphenidate—that can be substituted for Vyvanse. Dosages and side effects may differ, but they are all effective. However, there are also treatments for ADHD and BED that are not stimulants, particularly Strattera (atomoxetine). In addition, ADHD can be controlled with some blood pressure medications. SSRIs can be helpful for binge eating. Most of these alternatives can be purchased as generics, so it’s worth asking a healthcare professional about non-stimulant treatment options. There are no over-the-counter ADHD or BED medications.
Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing.
Vyvanse prices compared to alternative stimulants |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Name | Price without insurance | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Amphetamines | |||
| Vyvanse
(lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) |
$537 30, 70 mg capsules |
$368 30, 70 mg capsules |
See updated prices |
| Zenzedi | $190 60, 10 mg tablets |
$31 60, 10 mg tablets |
See updated prices |
| Dexedrine | $190 30, 15 mg capsules |
$32 30, 15 mg capsules |
See updated prices |
| Adderall | $117 60, 20 mg tablets |
$20 60, 20 mg tablets |
See updated prices |
| Adderall XR | $347 30, 30 mg capsules |
$169 30, 30 mg capsules |
See updated prices |
| Evekeo | $196 30, 10 mg tablets |
$46 30, 10 mg tablets |
See updated prices |
| Desoxyn | $470 100, 5 mg tablets |
$162 100, 5 mg tablets |
See updated prices |
| Methylphenidates | |||
| Ritalin | $65 60, 10 mg tablets |
$13 60, 10 mg tablets |
See updated prices |
| Concerta | $224 30, 20 mg tablets |
$31 30, 20 mg tablets |
See updated prices |
| Focalin | $90 60, 10 mg tablets |
$17 60, 10 mg tablets |
See updated prices |
| Focalin XR | $281 30, 10 mg tablets |
$51 30, 10 mg tablets |
See updated prices |
RELATED: Mydayis vs. Vyvanse
How to get Vyvanse without insurance
As a brand-name prescription drug with no over-the-counter or generic versions, Vyvanse prices can be hard to afford without health insurance coverage. Fortunately, there are patient assistance programs and manufacturer coupons to help make Vyvanse more affordable. Alternatively, there are less expensive stimulants available. Most pharmaceutical companies, including Takeda, the manufacturer of Vyvanse, offer patient assistance if people meet certain income requirements. There are, however, more foolproof ways to manage the cost of a Vyvanse prescription, starting with a SingleCare prescription discount card.
1. Use a SingleCare coupon
Patients can always realize immediate savings on Vyvanse from SingleCare without having to fill in an enrollment application, shop around, or consider taking different medications. With a SingleCare savings card, the price of Vyvanse is only $341.73 compared to the cash price of $465.25, a $125 savings. A Vyvanse coupon is good at many participating local pharmacies.
2. Ask the prescriber for a free sample
Vyvanse is marketed heavily to psychiatrists and doctors, so they may have a supply of free samples given to them by pharmaceutical representatives. If Vyvanse is unaffordable, ask the prescriber if they have free samples. This may help cover the first month or two of treatment.
3. Shop around
Most people don’t know that drug prices vary by pharmacy. All drugs have a list price, but some pharmacies charge more than others. Use SingleCare to find the pharmacy with the lowest price. Some mail-order online pharmacies offer low prices, but make sure that they are legitimate pharmacies before ordering any prescription drugs from them.
4. Ask the prescriber about generic ADHD medications
Get medical advice from the prescriber about less expensive ADHD prescription medications that can be readily substituted for Vyvanse. Unfortunately, Vyvanse is the only prescription stimulant approved by the FDA to treat binge eating disorder.
5. Talk to county or city health officials
For people living in more populated areas, county and municipal health departments can direct patients to resources to help them pay for medications. These include community health clinics and other health programs. They will probably not cover a brand-name prescription drug like Vyvanse because there are so many generic alternatives. Still, it’s worth knowing the resources available in the community.
6. Consider Medicaid or CHIP
Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are unlikely to pay for a Vyvanse prescription because there are so many low-priced generic alternatives. However, if paying for low-priced generics is still burdensome, consider Medicaid as a health insurance option.
7. Consider health insurance
ADHD and BED can be lifelong medical conditions. They are often treated with controlled substances such as Vyvanse, which means that each month’s prescription requires a doctor’s visit in most states. That’s up to 12 doctor’s appointments a year along with the cost of the medication. Long-term medical conditions like ADHD and BED are a good excuse to look into health insurance, which is more affordable than most people think. Visit the health insurance marketplace or talk to an agent.
