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Prescription drugs can be very expensive these days, and the cost can add up significantly. Knowing how much the medicine that keeps you alive will cost is essential. So, how much does an EpiPen cost without insurance?
Brand name EpiPens, or epinephrine injectors, usually cost around $700, while generic versions cost around $350. The price depends on the brand and the pharmacy. Most insurance policies cover generic epinephrine injectors.
There are a few types of EpiPens, which tend to cost more or less than others, and there is also a difference in cost based on the pharmacy you use or whether you purchase name-brand or generic epinephrine injectors.
In this article, I’ll discuss the EpiPen cost with and without insurance. I’ll also discuss some of the factors that may affect the costs.
What Is an EpiPen?
EpiPens is a brand of epinephrine auto-injector. Epinephrine injectors are used to treat anaphylaxis (extreme allergic reactions). Anaphylaxis can cause trouble breathing, making it potentially fatal without immediate treatment.
People with severe allergies typically carry an epinephrine injector with them in case they are inadvertently exposed to allergens. Having an epinephrine injector can save their life.
When Should You Use an EpiPen?
You should use your EpiPen at the first sign of a severe allergic reaction. Allergic reactions can happen within minutes or hours after exposure, and the symptoms include swelling of the throat, difficulty breathing, skin redness, and fainting. Every second counts, so don’t hesitate to use your EpiPen when needed.
If you have a severe allergy, having an epinephrine injector with you at all times is critical. Should you go into anaphylaxis, someone can administer the epinephrine injector, giving you enough time to go to the Hospital for treatment. If you or a loved one have a severe allergy and don’t already have an epinephrine injector, you should get a prescription.
Do You Have to Go to the Hospital After Using an EpiPen?
After using an EpiPen, you should always call 9-1-1 or go directly to your closest emergency department or Hospital. When you have a severe allergic reaction, you could have a second reaction, or the effects of the epinephrine may wear off. At the Hospital, they will monitor you and determine if you need additional medication.
You’ll want to have another EpiPen with you and stay close by the hospital for the next 48 hours in case of another emergency.
If you do not have health insurance, you can get affordable healthcare for the large and unexpected medical events. While EpiPens are not usually shared expenses with a Health Share, Hospital stays can be. Check out my article about what a Health Share is and how it works and the Best Health Share plans I recommend.
How Do You Store an EpiPen?
You should keep your EpiPen at room temperature (68 to 77 degrees) and away from direct sunlight. Epinephrine should not be exposed to extremes – too much heat or cold – for long periods. Because of this, you should not leave your EpiPen in the car during hot or cold weather.
To be sure your EpiPen has been stored correctly, check the solution in the viewing window and replace it if it’s discolored or cloudy.
EpiPens do expire, so it’s essential to know the expiration date and set a reminder when it’s time to get a new one. The expiration date on the EpiPen refers to the last day of the month.
How to Use an EpiPen
You must know how to administer your epinephrine injector. Unfortunately, you can’t practice using the device as it will waste the dosage and the money spent on the injector. However, you can read the instructions on the packaging or the injector itself. You can also watch a video if you don’t understand since some epinephrine injectors might have more complicated instructions than expected. You probably won’t have time to figure out how to use it when your throat closes up.
Types of EpiPens
The two main types of EpiPens are regular injectors and injectors for children.
Each brand is going to work a certain way and administer a different dose size. Different types of epinephrine injectors are activated in different ways. Some of them also take longer than others to administer all of the epinephrine; some only require you to leave the needle in for 2 seconds, while others take up to 10 seconds.
Getting an EpiPen that injects too much epinephrine for the person using it can wreak even more havoc on an already stressful situation. Make sure that the epinephrine injector you purchase is the right dose for you or your child.
Standard EpiPen
Regular epinephrine injectors have 0.3 mg dose of epinephrine, which is generally for people who weigh over 66 pounds.
The standard epinephrine injector comes in the brand name (EpiPen) or generic versions.
Some injectors also have longer needles. Bear in mind that whoever needs the EpiPen may also need to use it on their own body. If they have difficulty sticking in a longer needle, you may need one with a shorter needle. You should discuss this with your Doctor when you get your prescription.
EpiPen Junior
Children’s epinephrine injectors have 0.15 mg dose of epinephrine, which is generally for children that weigh 33 to 66 pounds. Children that weigh less than 33 pounds can be given a 0.1mg dose, which is only available with Auvi-Q injectors.
Make sure that you get the correct dosage based on your or your child’s weight. Too much or too little epinephrine can cause problems.
The needle length for EpiPen Jr is 12.7 mm, which was long enough to strike bone in 43% of the subjects. “I’ve had three patients where the needle came back bent, so this happens,” said Dr. Harold Kim, an allergist in Kitchener, Ont. “Fortunately, there’s a fairly simple workaround. I ask parents to squeeze the [thigh] muscle before they give the shot, so that the muscle doesn’t compress. If the muscle doesn’t compress, you won’t hit bone, and the kid is going to be fine.” Parents just need to be careful to not inject their fingers when they are administering the epinephrine to their child.
Epinephrine Auto-Injector Brands
There are many different types of epinephrine autoinjectors out there. The following table lists just a few of the most used options.
| Brand | Dose (mg) | Feature |
|---|---|---|
| EpiPen, EpiPen Jr, Viatris Generics | 0.30, 0.15 | |
| Auvi-Q | 0.10, 0.15, 0.30 | Voice prompts, retractable needle, fastest administration (2 seconds) for babies |
| Adrenaclick | 0.15, 0.30 | Instructional video available online, 10 seconds administration |
| Amneal Adrenaclick Generic | 0.15, 0.30 | Different administration method from EpiPen, 10 seconds administration |
| S.Y.M.J.E.P.I. | 0.15, 0.30 | Smallest and thinnest needle, splittable carrying case, 2 seconds administration |
| Teva Generics | 0.30 (adults), 0.15 (children) |
Children and EpiPens
If your child has a prescription for an EpiPen, a parent or caregiver should always have it on hand. If your child is in daycare or school, ensure their teacher and school have extra EpiPens and that they know how to use them. If kids are old enough, they can carry a fanny pack or something similar, so it’s always on their person in an emergency.
How Much Does an EpiPen Cost without Insurance?
Epinephrine injectors are unfortunately not cheap. Brand name injectors typically cost somewhere around $700, ranging from $650 to $750. Generic injectors are usually about half the price, around $350, though the cost can vary more from $200 to $600 depending on the pharmacy and if there are discounts applied.
The price range of EpiPens usually depends on the type or brand of injector you get. Some brands will cost more than others. There are also different prices at different pharmacies, which tend to mark up the cost more or less than others.
EpiPen Cost With Insurance vs. Without Insurance
There are many different factors to consider when you’re trying to find out the cost of epinephrine injectors. One significant factor here is whether or not you have insurance. The EpiPen cost with insurance can be significantly lower than the cost without insurance. The following table reflects the average costs, with and without insurance.
| Type | Cost With Insurance (copay) | Cost Without Insurance |
| Generic Epinephrine Auto-Injector | $5 – $20 | ~$400 (average) |
| Brand-Name EpiPen | $20 – $100+ | ~$690 (average) |
Which Pharmacy Has the Best Price for an EpiPen?
The cost of epinephrine injectors can vary based on the pharmacy. Pharmacies are not going to charge the same amount as each other, though the costs are going to be fairly similar for the same brands.
Some will have more expensive brand name injectors and cheaper generic ones. Some may have generic versions that aren’t much cheaper than the brand name ones.
There are a few popular pharmacies that have fairly standard costs of EpiPens: CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Walmart, and Kroger. The average cost of brand name epinephrine injectors at these five pharmacies range from $650 to $735. The cheapest average is $650 at CVS, and the most expensive average is $735 at Walgreens.
The average cost of generic epinephrine injectors at those five pharmacies go from $320 to $530. The cheapest average is $320 at Walmart, and the most expensive average is $530 at Rite Aid.
The range of costs for the generic injectors is much wider than the brand name, but the generic prices are almost always lower than those of the brand name.
EpiPen Jrs or other epinephrine injectors with lower doses that are designed for kids will generally cost different amounts than regular EpiPens. At those five pharmacies, the costs of brand name injectors with lower doses range from $650 to $735.
The cheapest is still CVS and the most expensive still Walgreens, and the prices at those two pharmacies are the same no matter the dose. However, at Rite Aid and Walmart, the prices are a few dollars lower.
The costs of generic lower dose injectors range from $340 to $670. The cheapest is at CVS, which is the same cost as the generic regular dose injectors. The most expensive is at Stop&Shop. The cost of the generic lower dose injector is lower than the regular dose at Walgreens, but it is actually equal or higher at every other pharmacy.
Cost of an EpiPen by Pharmacy
I have included a list of popular pharmacies in the United States that offer generic and brand name Epinephrine auto-injectors. Epinephrine auto-injectors usually come in a pack of 2, containing 0.3 mg of epinephrine. This dose is for patients who weigh 66 pounds or more.
| Pharmacy | Cost of Epinephrine auto-injectors (Generic) | Cost of EpiPen (Brand Name) |
|---|---|---|
| Walmart | $320 | $684 |
| CVS | $340 | $650 |
| Target | $340 | $691 |
| Duane Reade | $341 | $696 |
| Walgreens | $341 | $735 |
| Kroger | $389 | $730 |
| Wegmans | $418 | $696 |
| Costco | $446 | $705 |
| Albertsons | $500 | $691 |
| Rite Aid | $530 | $696 |
| Stop&Shop | $662 | $696 |
Cost of an EpiPen Jr by Pharmacy
The EpiPen Junior contains 0.15 mg of epinephrine. This dose is for patients who weigh about 33 to 66 pounds.
The cost of epinephrine injectors for children differs from that for adults. Some pharmacies even tend to have more expensive injectors for children, though they are only a few dollars more on average.
| Pharmacy | Cost of Epinephrine auto-injector Junior (Generic) | Cost of EpiPen Junior (Brand Name) |
|---|---|---|
| CVS | $340 | $650 |
| Target | $340 | $650 |
| Duane Reade | $347 | $689 |
| Walgreens | $347 | $735 |
| Walmart | $355 | $685 |
| Wegmans | $360 | $690 |
| Costco | $376 | $698 |
| Rite Aid | $481 | $689 |
| Albertsons | $494 | $698 |
| Kroger | $568 | $730 |
| Stop&Shop | $670 | $690 |
Name Brand vs Generic
Brand-name medicines tend to be more expensive than generic medicines. This is also the case with EpiPens. Generic epinephrine injectors are about half the price of the brand-name ones. There aren’t nearly as many differences between the brand name and generic medications as people tend to think.
Many people believe that brand-name drugs are more effective or safer than generic ones. However, generic brands have the same active ingredients, qualities, dosages, strengths, and administrations.
The main difference is that generic brands don’t need to cost as much because the manufacturers didn’t need to conduct tests but instead used the tests performed by the brand name manufacturers. Generic brands are just as safe and effective as brand-name drugs. In fact, they are made in the same way as brand-name drugs.
When to use a Brand-name Epinephrine Injector
You might want to use a brand-name epinephrine injector instead of a generic one for a couple of reasons. Sometimes, there won’t be a generic one available in your area. Your local pharmacy may not stock generic epinephrine injectors. If a brand-name epinephrine injector is your only option, you need to go with that option.
Some people don’t react well to the generic injectors. This has less to do with the medicine itself and more with the means of administration. Switching to a generic brand may cause a bad reaction, though this is rare.
If you have problems with the generic medication, you should stick to the brand name so you don’t have the same reaction again. However, chances are that you won’t react any differently, and the generic injector will work exactly the same as a brand-name one.
Doctors will often prescribe a brand-name epinephrine injector. You may want to ask them to prescribe a generic injector instead. If you need to use a brand-name injector, your insurance may not cover it. Insurance companies prefer that you purchase generic brands because they cost them less.
Is an EpiPen Covered by Insurance?
Since EpiPens cost a lot of money, it would be nice to have someone help take some of that financial burden, such as your insurance provider. Your insurance policy will often cover some or all of the cost of certain prescription drugs.
Insurance policies will typically cover some of the cost of epinephrine injectors, but usually will only cover the generic kind. Some will also cover the EpiPen brand of epinephrine injectors, but most just cover generic epinephrine injectors.
Medicare can also cover epinephrine injectors, but only in Part; the cost will vary depending on the insurance plan that you have and the costs of EpiPens at the pharmacy you use.
If you are choosing an insurance policy and are going to need to buy EpiPens, you should definitely check to see which of the policies you are considering covers EpiPens.
You can also use savings cards or online coupons to find deals that will decrease the cost of EpiPens. If you use your EpiPen, you may also have the option of getting it refilled instead of replacing it, which will cost less.
Epinephrine injectors end up costing a lot of money, so it is a good idea to figure out ways to defray the cost you will have to pay.
Ways to Save Money on Epinephrine Injectors
When you’re on a tight budget and you don’t have insurance, every cent counts. The table below lists a few ways that you can save some money on your EpiPens.
| Method | Description | Eligibility |
| EpiPen Savings Card | Up to $300 off per EpiPen 2-Pak, max 6 cartons/year | – US citizen/resident- Income below 400% federal poverty guideline – No Medicaid/Medicare/TriCare/public insuranceOR- Commercial insurance for generics only, no state/federal programs |
| Coupons & Rebates | Varies, may require registration | Check manufacturer websites and pharmacies |
Unfortunately, different providers offer different deals on coupons and rebates, so you’ll need to check them individually to see which ones work for you.
No Insurance?
When it comes to your healthcare, most people think that their only options are to pay for expensive Health Insurance or try out your luck being uninsured.
The great news is that you have a third option; You can join a Health Share plan that is affordable and meets your needs! Health Sharing programs are one of the most effective and affordable alternatives to Health Insurance.
If you don’t know what a Health Share is, you can start here to learn how it works and why it’s a great alternative to health insurance. If you are looking for affordable healthcare, I highly recommend checking out my article about the Best Health Share Plans.
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