{"id":635015,"date":"2026-01-14T17:38:32","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T22:38:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=635015"},"modified":"2026-01-14T17:38:32","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T22:38:32","slug":"how-much-does-breztri-cost-with-medicare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/how-much-does-breztri-cost-with-medicare\/","title":{"rendered":"How much does Breztri cost with Medicare?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bretztri Aerosphere<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>budesonide<\/span>\/<\/span>glycopyrrolate<\/span>\/<\/span>formoterol fumarate<\/span>)<\/span> is a brand-name, prescription-only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of a variety of chronic respiratory conditions. <\/span>Healthcare providers<\/span> may prescribe the <\/span>inhaler<\/span> medication to manage <\/span>chronic obstructive pulmonary disease<\/span> (COPD), chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. If you\u2019re enrolled in a <\/span>Medicare<\/span> Part D plan<\/span>, you can expect to pay around $47 for a monthly prescription on average.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why is Breztri so expensive?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Without <\/span>health insurance coverage<\/span>, a Breztri <\/span>inhaler<\/span> can be pretty expensive, with the drug\u2019s manufacturer, <\/span>AstraZeneca<\/span>, sharing that the list price for a <\/span>30-day supply<\/span> is <\/span>$665<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Several factors influence the price of <\/span>prescription drugs<\/span>. In Breztri\u2019s case, its high price point is mainly due to the complexity of producing the medication, explains Eleonora Fedonenko, MD, an internal medicine physician and medical director at Your Laser Skin Care in Los Angeles, California. \u201cThe drug combines three different medications into one single-use <\/span>inhaler<\/span>,\u201d she explains. \u201cEach time you take a breath, each puff has to be delivered with the same amount of medication to the lungs. This consistency requires a very high level of production as well as airtight packaging and 24\/7 inspection to ensure that the product will remain safe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Another reason prescription medications like Breztri can be so expensive is the presence of active patents. The prescription <\/span>inhaler<\/span> has several active patents, with some expiring <\/span>as soon as 2030<\/span><\/a> and some as late as 2038. \u201c<\/span>Breztri Aerosphere<\/span> is expensive because there is no <\/span>generic version<\/span> of the drug,\u201d says Ayesha Bryant, MD, MSPH, a physician with a background in epidemiology, cardiothoracic surgery, and perioperative medicine, and clinical advisor at Alpas Wellness in La Plata, Maryland. \u201cThis lets <\/span>AstraZeneca<\/span>, the manufacturer, control pricing and allows them to recoup costs that went into the research, development, and production of the drug.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lastly, <\/span>insurance coverage<\/span> can affect the costs of <\/span>prescription drugs<\/span>. \u201cA typical patient who pays cash will pay approximately $600 per month, while a patient who uses insurance will typically spend on average of $200,\u201d Dr. Fedonenko says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Does <\/span>Medicare<\/span> cover Breztri?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Most <\/span>Medicare Part D<\/span> and <\/span>Medicare<\/span> Advantage (Part C) <\/span>drug plans<\/span> will typically cover the <\/span>inhaler<\/span> medication. In fact, Breztri reports that the drug is covered without <\/span>prior authorization<\/span> (PA) for <\/span>8 out of 10<\/span><\/a> Medicare Part D<\/span> and commercial or <\/span>private insurance<\/span> recipients nationwide. However, coverage heavily depends on an <\/span>insurance plan<\/span>\u2019s drug <\/span>formulary<\/span><\/a>, which<\/span> is the list of medications covered by a health plan, often organized into cost tiers to guide beneficiaries toward the most cost-effective options. According to the Breztri website, most <\/span>Medicare<\/span> drug plans<\/span> place the <\/span>inhaler<\/span> drug on tiers 3 and 4, or don\u2019t cover it at all. <\/span>Tier 3<\/span><\/a> typically covers preferred <\/span>brand-name drugs<\/span> and a few higher-cost generics, while Tier 4 comprises non-preferred drugs, including high-cost brand-name and <\/span>generic medications<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How much does Breztri cost with <\/span>Medicare<\/span>?<\/span><\/h2>\n

According to <\/span>AstraZeneca<\/span>, <\/span>Medicare Part D<\/span> recipients pay an average <\/span>out-of-pocket cost<\/span> of $47 per month. Eighty-one percent of people with <\/span>Medicare Part D<\/span> pay $50 or less out of pocket each month for their Breztri prescription. <\/span>Medicare<\/span> Advantage <\/span>drug plans<\/span> can have similar prices for the <\/span>inhaler<\/span> medication.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The actual cost you\u2019ll pay for Breztri with <\/span>Medicare coverage<\/span> varies. \u201cFor those on <\/span>Medicare<\/span>, your <\/span>out-of-pocket costs<\/span> depend on your plan\u2019s <\/span>formulary,<\/span> tier, <\/span>deductible<\/span>, and pharmacy network,\u201d Dr. Bryant says. \u201cGenerally, higher <\/span>formulary<\/span> tiers and using any out-of-network pharmacies mean that the cost of the drug will increase.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For specific costs, it\u2019s best to contact your insurance provider for more details, as individual plans can have varying <\/span>copays<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Strategies to reduce Breztri costs on <\/span>Medicare<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you have a <\/span>Medicare Part D<\/span> or <\/span>Medicare Advantage plan<\/span>, but your <\/span>copays<\/span> are too high, or your plan doesn\u2019t cover Breztri, there are several options you can explore to help lower your out-of-pocket expenses for the <\/span>inhaler<\/span> medication.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some methods you can use to cut back costs on Breztri while on <\/span>Medicare<\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n

Compare <\/span>Medicare<\/span> drug plans<\/span> annually<\/span><\/h3>\n

During <\/span>Medicare<\/span> Open <\/span>Enrollment<\/span>, take the time to research <\/span>eligible<\/span> plans to see which ones will provide the best coverage with the fewest restrictions for your <\/span>prescription drugs<\/span>, including Breztri. \u201cFor more affordable options and cutting costs, I recommend that patients compare plans during periods of open <\/span>enrollment<\/span> and choose a plan that lists Breztri on a lower tier or offers savings through preferred pharmacies,\u201d Dr. Bryant says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Research <\/span>patient assistance programs<\/span><\/h3>\n

Patient assistance programs<\/span> can help you lower the costs of Breztri. <\/span>AZ&Me<\/span> Prescription <\/span>Savings Program<\/span><\/a> helps people who are uninsured or have <\/span>Medicare<\/span> access to <\/span>AstraZeneca<\/span> medications, including Breztri. <\/span>Eligibility<\/span> requirements include being a U.S. resident, receiving care from a licensed <\/span>healthcare provider<\/span>, not having commercial insurance, and not receiving any other medication payment assistance.<\/span><\/p>\n

If <\/span>eligible<\/span>, you\u2019ll receive the <\/span>inhaler<\/span> medication at no cost and will remain enrolled in the program for an entire year, with the option to reapply. Your prescription medications will be delivered to your home or your <\/span>healthcare provider<\/span>\u2019s office.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You can also find <\/span>patient assistance programs<\/span> through the following resources:<\/span><\/p>\n