What to do if you lose Adderall insurance coverage

In this article:

• Possible reasons why your insurance stopped covering Adderall
• How much is Adderall without insurance?
• What to do if your insurance won’t cover Adderall
• Affordable alternatives to Adderall
• Compare Adderall alternatives
• How to save on Adderall without insurance

In this article

• Possible reasons why your insurance stopped covering Adderall
• How much is Adderall without insurance?
• What to do if your insurance won’t cover Adderall
• Affordable alternatives to Adderall
• Compare Adderall alternatives
• How to save on Adderall without insurance

Adderall (amphetamine-dextroamphetamine) is one of the most well-known treatments for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for both ADHD and narcolepsy. For many people struggling with ADHD, Adderall is a vital part of managing daily life. For this reason, it can feel disruptive when insurance coverage for Adderall changes. An insurance plan’s formulary, the list of drugs the plan covers, can change with little warning. Since the amount of Adderall that can be filled is strictly regulated, a loss in coverage can leave people scrambling for continued care. We’ll explain why insurance might stop covering Adderall, what it costs without insurance, what to do if it’s no longer covered, and affordable alternatives that may help. 

Possible reasons why your insurance stopped covering Adderall

Insurance companies regularly review and update their drug formularies, which can affect people’s medication coverage. These changes often happen during their annual Open Enrollment Period, but can also occur midyear. A medication may be dropped from the list for several reasons: 

• Cost negotiations with drug manufacturers
• Availability of generics
• Shift in preference to similar medications the insurance company decides are more cost-effective

One common reason Adderall may be dropped is the availability of its generic version, amphetamine-dextroamphetamine salts. Generics are typically much cheaper than brand-name medications, and insurers often prioritize them to reduce costs. If your plan previously covered the brand-name Adderall but now only covers the generic, this could explain the change.

Whatever the reason, it’s important to check your insurance plan’s formulary each year during Open Enrollment to avoid any disruption in your care. Most insurance companies make this list available on their website, but you can call your plan directly to confirm coverage. Ryan Sultan, MD, a psychiatrist, ADHD specialist, and medical director at Integrative Psychiatry in New York City, advises, “You really want to avoid that [gap in medication] as much as possible. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve worked with who get very stressed about that.” Knowing what’s covered ahead of time can help you and your provider plan ahead. 

How much is Adderall without insurance?

Without using insurance, the average cash price of brand-name Adderall is $830 for 60, 20 mg tablets. That means a yearly supply could cost up to $9,960, depending on your dose. Drug prices fluctuate, though. What you pay out of pocket depends on factors such as your prescribed dosage, quantity, and pharmacy. 

What to do if your insurance won’t cover Adderall

“ADHD medications like Adderall are essential for many individuals—children, teens, and adults—to function effectively in school, work, or daily life,” shares Mohab Hanna, MD, a psychiatrist and founder of MedPsych Behavioral Health in New Jersey. “When individuals who truly need these medications lose access, they often experience substantial struggles,” he says.

If you find out your insurance no longer covers Adderall, there are actions you can take right away. Don’t stop taking it suddenly without talking to your healthcare provider. Stimulant medications like Adderall can cause withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue, depression, and headaches, which can start within the first hours to days of stopping the medication. Logan Kodysz, NP, a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner and the co-founder of Desert Clover Psychiatry in Phoenix, Arizona, explains, “Because Adderall is a stimulant, stopping it abruptly can feel similar to suddenly stopping caffeine, though a bit more intense. That said, withdrawal from Adderall is generally not dangerous or life-threatening. It can be uncomfortable, but not medically severe in most cases.”

Start by contacting your health insurance company to ask why coverage ended. It could be a formulary change, a need for prior authorization, or an error. Ask for details and find out if there’s a path to appeal or request an exception. Sometimes, insurance companies may still cover a non-preferred drug through processes like step therapy, which involves trying lower-cost options first before covering a more expensive treatment.

Next, reach out to your healthcare provider. They may be able to submit a prior authorization or write a letter of medical necessity to your insurance provider. If that’s denied, they can also help you file an appeal. In the meantime, keep them updated on your symptoms and how much medication you have left. They may offer temporary options while you sort things out.

Affordable alternatives to Adderall

If your insurance still won’t cover Adderall after taking the steps to restore coverage, your healthcare provider may recommend an Adderall alternative that has better coverage. “Switching can sometimes be straightforward—for example, transitioning from Adderall to Ritalin (methylphenidate) is a common practice among psychiatrists,” Dr. Hanna says. But it’s always important to work with a healthcare provider to manage any issues that might come up. “The challenge lies in individual response. One patient might do well on Adderall but not on Ritalin, either because of side effects or reduced effectiveness. So while switching is clinically simple, the outcome can be unpredictable and often feels like starting over,” he says.

Alternatives to Adderall may be stimulant or non-stimulant medications to manage ADHD or narcolepsy. Stimulant medications include Focalin (dexmethylphenidate), Concerta (methylphenidate extended release), and Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine). 

Non-stimulant medications can be added to someone’s ADHD treatment plan or used alone to manage ADHD. While these aren’t typically first-line treatments for adults with ADHD, they may be appropriate for people who don’t tolerate stimulants well or prefer an alternative. “Non-stimulants can be combined with the stimulants, and they can be sort of like a baseline improvement for someone. They may not be sufficient … but you can usually make a positive dent in someone’s ADHD,” Dr. Sultan says. Non-stimulant alternatives to Adderall include Strattera (atomoxetine), Intuniv (guanfacine extended release), and Wellbutrin XL (bupropion hydrochloride extended release), which can be used off-label for ADHD. 

Finally, if your insurance no longer covers the brand-name version, switching to generic Adderall may be a more affordable option. Your healthcare provider can help determine whether it’s a good fit for you.

Compare Adderall alternatives
Drug name	Usage	Dosage	Cost without insurance*	Save with SingleCare
Focalin (dexmethylphenidate)	ADHD	2.5 mg by mouth twice daily at least four hours apart, up to a maximum of 20 mg daily	$63 for 30, 10 mg tablets	Get coupon
Dexmethylphenidate ER (generic Focalin XR)	ADHD	Adults: Start at 10 mg by mouth once daily in the morning, up to a maximum of 40 mg per day Children and adolescents: Start at 5 mg by mouth once daily in the morning, up to a maximum of 30 mg per day	$309 for 30, 10 mg extended-release capsules	Get coupon
Methylphenidate extended release (generic Concerta)	ADHD	Adults 18 to 65 years old: Start at 18 mg or 36 mg by mouth daily, up to a maximum of 72 mg per day Children 6 years and older: Start at 18 mg by mouth daily, up to a maximum of 2 mg/kg of body weight (up to 54 mg/day for children 6–12, up to 72 mg/day for adolescents 13 and older)	$388 per 30, 36 mg tablets	Get coupon
Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (generic Vyvanse)	ADHD in adults and children Binge eating disorder in adults	Adults and children 6–17 years old (ADHD dose): Start at 30 mg by mouth once daily in the morning, up to a maximum of 70 mg daily in the morning	$443 for 30, 30 mg capsules	Get coupon
Atomoxetine hydrochloride (generic Strattera)	ADHD	Adults, children, and adolescents weighing more than 70 kg (154 lbs): Start at 40 mg by mouth every morning, up to a maximum of 100 mg per day Children and adolescents weighing up to 70 kg: Start at 0.5 mg/kg/day for at least 3 days, up to a maximum of 1.4 mg/kg/day	$468 for 30, 40 mg capsules	Get coupon
Guanfacine hydrochloride extended release (generic Intuniv)	ADHD	0.05–0.12 mg/kg/day 25–33.9 kg: 2–3 mg/day 34–41.4 kg: 2–4 mg/day 41.5–49.4 kg: 3–5 mg/day 49.5–58.4 kg: 3–6 mg/day 58.5–91 kg: 4–7 mg/day Over 91 kg: 5–7 mg/day In children 6–12 years old, the maximum dose studied is 4 mg/day; and in adolescents 13–17, the maximum dose studied is 7 mg/day	$259 per 30, 2 mg extended-release tablets	Get coupon
Bupropion hydrochloride extended release (generic Wellbutrin XL)	Major depressive disorder (MDD), seasonal affective disorder (SAD) Off-label: ADHD	Start at 150 mg by mouth per day, up to a maximum of 300 or 450 mg per day	$143 for 30, 150 mg tablets	Get coupon

*Cost at time of publication. Drug prices fluctuate and vary by pharmacy and location. These are general dosage guidelines. Dosage should only be adjusted under the guidance of the healthcare provider. 

How to save on Adderall without insurance

If you still plan to take Adderall without insurance coverage, there are several ways to save on your out-of-pocket costs for ADHD care. Consider the following options:

• Use a prescription discount card. You can use a SingleCare Prescription Discount Card to get discounts on brand-name Adderall or its generic without insurance. It’s free to sign up for the card, and you can use it at most local pharmacies. With a SingleCare coupon for Adderall, you could pay about $632 instead of $830. With a SingleCare discount for generic amphetamine-dextroamphetamine, you could pay as low as $27 instead of $126.
• Apply for a patient assistance program. Some drug manufacturers offer financial assistance to help cover the cost of their medications if you meet certain income or insurance criteria.
• Explore public benefits or financial aid. Depending on your situation, you may qualify for insurance programs, disability-related benefits, or grants and scholarships that help support ADHD treatment.

Even without insurance coverage, support is available. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist, who can often help you find cost-saving options that work for your situation.