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Inhalers are one of the most common treatments for patients with asthma. Asthma patients, with or without insurance, use an inhaler to help their condition as a breathing treatment. There are a variety of different inhalers available from low to high prices.
The average cost of an asthma inhaler without insurance is $292.91. Factors that affect the cost of an inhaler include the type of inhaler you need, as well as using a brand name inhaler versus a generic inhaler. Generic inhalers cost less than name-brand inhalers.
Here are the costs, as well as the factors that influence the costs of purchasing an asthma inhaler without insurance.
How Much Does an Inhaler Cost Without Insurance?
There are two types of asthma inhalers customers can choose from. One type consists of quick-relief medications, which are short-acting. The other type of medication is a long-acting inhaler. Short-acting inhalers also act as rescue inhalers. Both types of inhalers can help when experiencing asthma symptoms.
Type of Inhaler (medication)Cost Without Insurance of 1 Inhaler
Advair (fluticasone/salmeterol)$471.75
Alvesco (ciclesonide)$138.30
Asmanex Twisthaler (mometasone)$302.13
Flovent (fluticasone)$271.56
Pulmicort (budesonide)$252.40
Qvar (beclometasone)$244.51
Serevent (salmeterol)$522.43
Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol)$358.75
Ventolin (salbutamol)$74.32
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Long-acting inhalers help with the inflammation in your airways in cases of moderate to severe asthma. Long-term inhalers will not provide relief for an asthma attack, and instead help with the symptoms as it is taken consistently over a longer period.
The cost per inhaler is different depending on the type of inhaler. The average cost of a brand-name inhaler without insurance is $292.91. Alvesco is considered one of the cheapest kinds of inhalers on the market. It costs around $296 for a 6.1-gram supply. Advair HFA is the most expensive combination inhaler at $545 made with an anti-inflammatory, and bronchodilator combination.
In general, the average price of a short-acting inhaler tends to cost much less than a long-acting inhaler. Depending on your needs, you might not need to pay a ton, but this doesn’t mean you should always use a short-acting inhaler, because it is cheaper. Check with your doctor to see what kind of inhaler you would need and ask for their cheapest options for the kind of inhaler they prescribe to you.
The Costs of Different Asthma Inhalers
Here is a list of the different types of asthma medications you can buy. Albuterol is the cheapest type of inhaler, and Montelukast is the most expensive kind of inhaler.
Medication – Lowest Price for Common Dosages
Albuterol $12.00
Budesonide $60.66
Budesonide/Formoterol $146.20
Fluticasone Salmeterol $28.20
Levalbuterol $26.10
Methylprednisolone $10.08
Montelukast $13.36
Depending on what kind of inhaler you might need, purchasing any of these kinds of inhalers drastically reduces the price in comparison with a hospital visit. Albuterol is the cheapest because it is a rescue inhaler in the case of an emergency, and the stronger inhalers down the list help with a range of extreme asthma symptoms over an extended period. You can also look up your prescription on websites like RxSaver and GoodRx to view coupons for your inhaler, and compare the costs of different pharmacies in your area.
How do different asthma medications work?
Asthma medications control various degrees of asthma symptoms depending on the drug that you use. These are the five types of asthma medications you can use to treat prescribed asthma.
- Inhaled corticosteroids
- Inhaled long-acting beta-agonists
- Leukotriene modifiers
- Inhaled short-acting beta-agonists
- Oral corticosteroids
These drugs are prescribed by your doctor to treat prescribed asthma cases in patients. Your doctor can educate you on what these different prescriptions do, and if they would be beneficial to your health.
Inhaled corticosteroids
Act to prevent asthma attacks by preventing and reducing swelling in the airways of the lungs. These kinds of inhalers work better when you decide to use them regularly. Regularly, this medication can do wonders to your airways so use it daily to keep up with the lasting symptoms of asthma present.
Inhaled long-acting beta-agonists
Inhaled long-acting beta-agonists relax and smooth the muscles in the airways which allows more air to freely move around in your lungs with regular use. long-acting beta-agonists are commonly used along with a corticosteroid.
Leukotriene modifiers
Leukotriene modifiers control asthma by preventing the muscles of the airways from contracting or constricting to reduce the swelling in the airways. Montelukast is a common type of inhaler that fits within this category.
Inhaled short-acting beta-agonists
This type of medicine often works quickly to stop asthma attacks by relaxing and smoothing the muscles in the airways.
Oral corticosteroids
Oral corticosteroids such as methylprednisolone control severe symptoms of asthma by reducing the swelling in the airways.
If you were prescribed a brand-name inhaler, ask your doctor to see if there is a generic-name medication available. It never hurts to ask if there is an option for any of these medications.
Other Asthma Costs to Consider
Using an asthma inhaler creates other costs that are in addition to receiving an inhaler.
Doctors’ Visits
Often the biggest costs of using an inhaler are the doctor’s visit where an inhaler is prescribed to the patient through an examination. These examinations can be simple and short, while others require additional laboratory tests and imaging. depending on the severity of your condition and the type of medication that is prescribed.
The average cost for a doctor’s visit ranges between $300 and $600 without insurance. Since the doctor’s visit is usually at a higher cost than the inhaler, this is an important factor to consider when going through the necessary steps to get an inhaler prescribed. To save money at a doctor’s visit, call around to see the differences in prices, especially if the matter isn’t severe.
Theophylline
Theophylline is a slow-acting bronchodilator used for opening airways and eliminating inflammation. This medication is usually taken once a day and can cost up to fifty dollars a month. Depending on the type of medication that is prescribed can determine whether the price is going to be high or not.
Biologics
Biologics are a type of medication that is used to treat life-threatening asthma attacks. This medication helps to target the proteins in the body and it reduces inflammation for about six weeks when taken correctly. Biologics are usually more expensive than other medications due to using them in multiple doses per day. The costs of biologics range from $1,000 to over $2,000 per month.
Allergy Shots
If you have symptoms of allergies, allergy shots can help you by desensitizing the allergens that are evident. These reduce the frequency and severity of asthma attacks over time. Allergy shots typically cost $20 and $200 per month depending on the types of allergies and how frequently you need to receive injections.
If your allergies are not considered severe, you may not need to receive allergy shots. Talk with your doctor about allergies, and your doctor can say whether you could benefit from allergy shots, or just need to take an over-the-counter allergy medication. Over-the-counter medications usually cost around twenty dollars.
Doctors’ visits, Theophylline, Biologics, allergy shots, and other factors can easily rise the cost of using an inhaler. If you need any of these supplies in addition to your inhaler, speak with your doctor about cheaper ways to do this. They might have a better idea of what supplies work best for you.
Additional Supplies
In addition to paying for an inhaler, there are costs associated with additional supplies needed to properly use the inhaler. These are some of the additional supplies a doctor may want you to use when taking an asthma medication.
Spacers/Holding Chambers
Spacers and holding chambers work to add more of the asthma inhaler medication into the lungs. These can range in price from $5 to $25 depending on the type and the brand.
Masks
Some inhalers require a mask to be worn to put the inhaler medication into the lungs. Masks can range in price from $5 to $15.
Are there options to reduce the cost of an inhaler without having to use insurance?
There are several ways you can reduce the cost of your inhaler without having to rely on insurance. Most pharmacies will apply discounts, coupons, and other offers to help those who are struggling. Some manufacturers may also offer programs that give free or reduced inhalers to anyone who qualifies for the discounts. This way is more difficult, but it provides a way to receive some financial relief in worst case scenarios.
How to Save Money on Asthma Inhalers Without Insurance
Inhalers are a common part of treatment when putting asthma under control. These prescription drugs often seem high in cost because of a lack of no insurance. Since there is a lack of generic inhalers drugs on the market, brand-name prescriptions are often the way to go unless you can find a generic prescription when talking with your doctor.
Once patents expire on these medications, the Food and Drug Administration may approve generic options for inhalers. There are various ways you can save money on inhaler costs, including meeting certain eligibility requirements for some of the options that are available.
Singlecare Coupons
Singlecare coupons offer discounts on prescription inhalers, including asthma inhalers at no cost. Thousands of pharmacy locations provide these free discounts. Often a Singlecare coupon is cheaper than using insurance. Always check the Singlecare price before picking up a prescription. You can receive up to an eighty percent discount on your prescription medications with this coupon.
Manufacturer Coupons
Manufacturers offer coupons and other rebates to help with the cost of an inhaler. Contact your manufacturer or pharmaceutical directly to know whether or not they offer coupons and if you meet the eligibility requirements. All manufacturers have a different way of offering relief, check with multiple manufacturers to compare and find the best options for you.
Patient Assistance Programs
Patient assistance programs are offered by drug manufacturers as well as non-profit organizations to provide free or heavily discounted medications to patients who receive below a certain income. These programs usually have strict requirements to qualify for their services. These requirements can vary by different programs.
Program Eligibility
To receive a lower cost or free asthma inhaler, this eligibility is based on household income, and the annual Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Depending on the type of program and the manufacturer, people may qualify for this program if they make less than 400 or 500 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.
These are the eligibility income requirements for Federal Poverty Level.
- Individual: $13,590
- Couple: $18,310
- Family of three: $23,030
- Family of four: $27,750
- Family of five: $32,470
- Family of six: $37,190
- Family of seven: $41,910
- Family of eight: $46,630
If you think you may qualify for this program, it may be useful to receive discounts on your medications in the future. Some of the non-profit organizations offer tools to help patients find applications or see if a drug is covered.
- The Patient Advocate Program offers copay relief programs to patients.
- Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) offers prescription assistance.
- HealthWell gives drug-free assistance based on funding availability.
- RxAssist was created by those who have volunteered in the healthcare field.
These organizations can be a great tool for your success without having access to insurance.
Compare Pharmacy Prices
The cost of prescription medications will always vary depending on the pharmacy. To find the cheapest price on medication, you may need to call several pharmacies to ask what their retail price is to determine which location has the best price.
It is important to compare pharmacy prices because you may be paying much more out of pocket without considering other prices at different locations. Most pharmacies are understanding that medications cost a lot. Talking with your doctor or even a pharmacist about your situation can help you receive discounts on medications.
Do I have to use insurance to save?
While insurance is a helpful way to receive discounts on prescription medications, there are often programs and other resources that help those without access to insurance. Not having insurance can be difficult to combat, therefore knowing the steps you take can help with these issues.
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