{"id":628800,"date":"2024-07-02T15:16:23","date_gmt":"2024-07-02T19:16:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=628800"},"modified":"2024-10-25T09:52:39","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T13:52:39","slug":"how-to-save-on-fasenra","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/how-to-save-on-fasenra\/","title":{"rendered":"How to save on Fasenra"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fasenra<\/span><\/a> (benralizumab) is a brand-name prescription biologic medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat a specific type of severe asthma. “Fasenra is an injectable medication approved to treat patients with severe eosinophil-predominant asthma that is not adequately controlled on a high-dose inhaled steroid medication plus one asthma controller medication,” explained <\/span>Jason Bellak, MD<\/span><\/a>, president and allergist-immunologist at <\/span>Allergy & Asthma Center<\/span><\/a> in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is approved for patients 6 years old and older. In other words, Fasenra injections are used to help control asthma long-term rather than stopping an asthma attack on the spot. Fasenra isn’t a substitute for a rescue inhaler.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to <\/span>Christina M. Madison, Pharm.D.<\/span><\/a>, founder of The Public Health Pharmacist, Fasenra is initially administered once every four weeks, then every eight weeks as a maintenance treatment. But even with doses spaced out over several weeks, the cost of Fasenra is very high. Fortunately, there are ways to save on Fasenra pen prescriptions.<\/span><\/p>\n

How much does Fasenra cost?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The typical retail price of Fasenra is $7,715 for one, 30 mg\/ml injection pen, as of the time of publishing. However, the exact cost of prescription drugs varies based on several factors, including specialty pharmacy markup. And what a person pays out of pocket is dependent upon more factors, including insurance and their choice of pharmacy.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the drug’s manufacturer, AstraZeneca, people with employer-provided or private health plans pay an <\/span>average of $46 per Fasenra dose<\/span><\/a>. AstraZeneca also lists the average out-of-pocket cost per dose as $90 for people with Medicare Advantage plans and $2-$9 for people with Medicaid. <\/span><\/p>\n

How to save money on Fasenra<\/span><\/h2>\n

Although this brand-name prescription injection may be expensive, there are still ways to save on Fasenra. Below, find information about discount programs and Fasenra savings tips.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Fasenra Copay Savings Program<\/span><\/h3>\n

If a patient has commercial insurance that covers only <\/span>part <\/span><\/i>of the cost of Fasenra, the <\/span>FASENRA Copay Savings Program<\/span><\/a> may lower the remaining cost to as little as $0 for eligible, commercially insured individuals. Even if the savings program does not bring a patient’s out-of-pocket cost to $0, it can still offer a steep discount but only if someone meets eligibility criteria. <\/span><\/p>\n

There are eligibility requirements for the Fasenra Savings Program. Patients must be a resident of the United States or its territories with a valid prescription for on-label use of Fasenra. They must also have eligible commercial insurance. There are no income requirements, however. This discount does not apply to anyone using a government-funded prescription program, such as Medicaid or Medicare Part D.<\/span><\/p>\n

Patients can get additional information about this savings program by calling 844-ASK-A360 or connecting with a reimbursement counselor at AstraZeneca by calling 833-360-HELP (4357).<\/span><\/p>\n

2. AZ&Me Prescription Savings Program<\/span><\/h3>\n

This prescription savings program can help patients get AstraZeneca products like Fasenra for free if they meet certain income requirements. The AZ&Me program is open to people without insurance as well as people on Medicare. This is an income-based program meant to help people struggling to afford AstraZeneca medications, including Fasenra. <\/span><\/p>\n

Interested individuals can apply by completing the <\/span>Fasenra enrollment form<\/span><\/a> for the AZ&Me program online.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Verifying prescription coverage<\/span><\/h3>\n

The price patients pay for Fasenra depends a lot on their prescription coverage. Some insurance plans cover Fasenra. Others do not. However, an insurance plan’s <\/span>drug formulary<\/span><\/a>—a list of preferred drugs—can change at any time. It’s a good idea to compare the formularies of several plans during the Open Enrollment Period to ensure you have the best plan for your needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can I get Fasenra for free?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Yes, AstraZeneca has patient assistance programs to help eligible patients get Fasenra with little or no out-of-pocket cost. Other than the Fasenra Savings Program and the AZ&Me Prescription Savings Program, there’s also the manufacturer’s <\/span>Denied Patient Savings Program<\/span><\/a>. The program helps patients whose commercial health insurance has denied coverage for Fasenra get their medication for free. <\/span><\/p>\n

Is there a cheaper alternative to Fasenra?<\/span><\/h2>\n

“There is no generic for this medication used for severe eosinophilic asthma,” Dr. Madison said. “It’s only available as brand-name medication.” Unfortunately, other biologics used to treat severe asthma are also not available in generic form, according to Dr. Bellak.<\/span><\/p>\n

Does this mean there are no cheaper alternatives to Fasenra? Not necessarily. Every insurance plan has a different list of covered medications, so some patients may save money by switching to a different brand-name biologic.<\/span><\/p>\n

Alternative <\/span>biologic therapies for severe asthma<\/span><\/a> may include:<\/span><\/p>\n