The cost of Fosamax can vary based on several factors, including your insurance coverage. Coupons and drug savings programs can also lower the price you’ll pay for Fosamax.

As with all medications, the cost of Fosamax can vary. Factors that may affect the price you’ll pay for Fosamax include:

  • your treatment plan
  • your insurance coverage
  • the pharmacy you use
  • whether Fosamax has a savings program (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section)

To find out what the cost of Fosamax will be for you, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. The Fosamax coupons and savings section of this article also has information about how much you can save by using an Optum Perks coupon.

To save money on your Fosamax prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons.

The active ingredient of Fosamax is alendronate. It’s available as the generic drug alendronate. A generic drug is considered to be as safe and effective as the original drug. And generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

If your doctor has prescribed Fosamax and you’re interested in taking alendronate instead, talk with your doctor. They may have a preference for one version or the other. You’ll also need to check with your insurance provider, as it may only cover one or the other.

To find out how the cost of this generic drug compares with the cost of Fosamax, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

WHY ARE COSTS DIFFERENT FOR BRAND-NAME DRUGS VS. GENERIC DRUGS?

Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the research needed to test their safety and effectiveness. The manufacturer of a brand-name drug can sell it for up to 20 years. When the brand-name drug’s patent expires, multiple manufacturers can create generic versions. This marketplace competition may lead to lower costs for generics. Also, because generics contain the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs, they don’t require the same costly testing.

If you take Fosamax long term, you may be able to lower its cost in the following ways.

Getting a 3-month supply

You may be able to get a 90-day supply of Fosamax. If approved by your insurance company, getting a 90-day supply of the drug could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost. If you’re interested in this option, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Using a mail-order pharmacy

Fosamax may be available through a mail-order pharmacy. Using this type of service may help lower the drug’s cost and allow you to receive your medication without leaving home. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order medications. You may also be able to get a 90-day supply of the drug via mail order.

If you don’t have health insurance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest online pharmacy options that could work for you.

If you need financial support to pay for Fosamax or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available.

Some websites provide details about drug assistance programs, ways to make the most of your insurance coverage, and links to savings cards and other services. Two such websites are:

Learn more about saving money on prescriptions with or without insurance.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about drug cost and Fosamax.

What’s the cost of Fosamax with Medicare?

To find out whether your Medicare plan covers Fosamax and what your cost would be, call your plan provider. There are many different types of Medicare plans, and your cost and coverage depend on your particular plan’s benefits.

Keep in mind that your plan may have prior authorization requirements before it will cover Fosamax.

You can also talk with your doctor about the cost of Fosamax if you have Medicare.

How much does Fosamax cost with vs. without insurance?

What you pay for Fosamax if you have insurance compared with what you’d pay without it depends on several factors.

Factors that could affect what you pay for this drug without insurance include:

  • the quantity you’re prescribed (such as a 90-day or 30-day supply)
  • whether you apply and qualify for any available savings programs
  • your dosage and treatment plan
  • the pharmacy you use

These same factors may affect your price for Fosamax if you have insurance. But the price you pay with insurance will also depend on:

  • your specific plan benefits
  • any prior authorization requirements you have for drug coverage

To learn more about what you’d pay for Fosamax with or without insurance, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider (if you have one).

You can also visit Optum Perks* for price estimates for this drug when using coupons from their site. However, Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance benefits or copays.

* Optum Perks is a sister site of Medical News Today.

You may want to consider the following information if you have insurance and receive Fosamax.

If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers Fosamax. This means the company and your doctor will discuss Fosamax in regard to your treatment. The insurance company will then determine whether the medication is covered.

If a drug requires prior authorization, but you start treatment without the prior approval, you could pay the full cost of the medication. You can ask your insurance company whether Fosamax requires prior authorization.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.