{"id":632660,"date":"2025-06-25T15:39:28","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T19:39:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=632660"},"modified":"2025-06-25T15:39:28","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T19:39:28","slug":"buprenorphine-without-insurance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/buprenorphine-without-insurance\/","title":{"rendered":"How much does buprenorphine cost without insurance?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Buprenorphine<\/span><\/a> is a synthetic opioid medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat acute or chronic pain and opioid addiction. It\u2019s a controlled substance and is available only by prescription. It\u2019s sold as a generic medication and under several brand names in different formulations, including Belbuca and Butrans.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although most insurance plans cover medications for opioid use disorder (OUD) to some degree, that coverage varies by formulation and dosage. Here\u2019s what you should know if you need to budget for the cost of buprenorphine without insurance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Forms of buprenorphine<\/span><\/h2>\n

Buprenorphine comes in several forms, including transdermal patches placed on the skin, films dissolved in the mouth, and as injections given by a healthcare professional. In some forms, like Suboxone, buprenorphine is combined with another opioid treatment drug, like naloxone. Transdermal patches contain only buprenorphine and are sold as either generic buprenorphine or brand-name Butrans. Patches are usually applied once a week and are prescribed in different dosages.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to <\/span>Chad Elkin<\/span><\/a>, MD, addiction medicine physician and founder and president at <\/span>National Addiction Specialists<\/span><\/a>, buprenorphine is most commonly prescribed to reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for opioid use disorder (OUD).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How much does buprenorphine cost without insurance?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Without insurance, the average cost per box of four 10-microgram patches is around $506, which is a one-month supply for anyone using one patch per week. At that price, each patch would cost just over $125, and the annual out-of-pocket expense would be over $6,000. This is an important consideration for people considering buprenorphine, as many people receiving treatment for OUD need to be on buprenorphine for <\/span>several months or years<\/span><\/a> before they are able to taper off this medication.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Elkin says several factors can influence your out-of-pocket expense for buprenorphine, including:<\/span><\/p>\n