If you’re looking at treatment options for asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you may want to learn more about Advair.

This prescription drug comes in two forms: Advair HFA and Advair Diskus. Both contain the active ingredients fluticasone propionate and salmeterol. (The active ingredients are what make a drug work.)

Advair HFA comes as an aerosol in an inhaler. (You inhale the drug by mouth.) It’s used to treat asthma in adults and children ages 12 years and older.

Advair Diskus comes as a powder that’s also inhaled by mouth. It’s used:

  • to treat asthma in adults and children ages 4 years older
  • to treat COPD and to reduce worsening COPD symptoms in adults

Keep reading for details on Advair and cost, and how to save money on prescriptions.

Note: For more details on Advair, see this in-depth article.

The price you pay for Advair can vary. It may depend on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage (if you have it), and the pharmacy you use. To find out how much you’ll pay for Advair, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Note: If you have insurance, you may need to get prior authorization before your insurance provider will cover Advair. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss the drug in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether it’s covered. If Advair requires prior authorization and you don’t receive it before you start treatment, you could pay the full cost of the drug.

Be sure to ask your insurance company whether Advair requires prior authorization.

Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about Advair and cost.

Are there manufacturer coupons available for Advair Diskus or Advair HFA?

Manufacturer coupons are not available on the Advair website.

A generic of Advair Diskus is available and is less expensive than the brand-name version. (Advair HFA doesn’t yet have a generic version.)

If you’re enrolled in Medicare, your Advair HFA or Advair Diskus may be covered. Talk with your pharmacist to learn more.

Cost-saving options may be available for people with insurance and without insurance. Talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider about how you may be able to save on your prescription. And check out the “Can I get help paying for Advair?” section below.

Will I need to buy an inhaler separately for Advair? If so, what is the price of the inhaler?

Advair HFA comes as an inhaler. You won’t need to buy a separate inhaler, but your inhaler cost may be higher if you need a spacing device.*

Advair Diskus comes as a powder in small capsules inside a device. An inhaler is not necessary for Advair Diskus.

* Some people may need help when using Advair HFA if they can’t coordinate pressing down on the plunger and breathing in. A spacing device is a plastic tube that allows the medication to flow through while the person breathes normally.

Is the price of Advair Diskus 250/50 higher than other strengths of this drug?

Advair Diskus comes in three strengths. These include:

  • 100/50* micrograms (mcg)
  • 250/50 mcg
  • 500/50 mcg

The higher strengths of Advair Diskus may be more expensive.

To find out the price of the Advair Diskus strength you’re prescribed, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. If you have health insurance, you’ll need to speak with your provider to see the actual cost you’d pay.

* These numbers refer to the amount of each active ingredient in Advair Diskus. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) The number on the left is the amount of fluticasone. The number on the right (50 mcg) is the amount of salmeterol.

Advair Diskus is available as the generic drug fluticasone propionate/salmeterol Diskus. But Advair HFA isn’t yet available as a generic. A generic drug contains an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. A generic is considered just as safe and effective as the original brand-name drug, but usually costs less.

To find out how the costs of Advair Diskus and fluticasone/salmeterol Diskus compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

If you’ve been prescribed Advair Diskus and you’re interested in using fluticasone/salmeterol Diskus instead, talk with your doctor. They may prefer that you use one version instead of the other. You’ll also need to check with your insurance provider, as it may only cover one drug or the other.

Why is there such a cost difference between brand-name drugs and generics?

Years of research and testing are needed to ensure that brand-name drugs are safe and effective. This testing can make the drugs expensive. The drugmaker of a brand-name drug can sell the drug for up to 20 years. After that, other drugmakers can create generic versions. This competition in the market can lead to lower costs for generics. And because generics have the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs, they don’t need to be studied again. This can also lead to lower generic costs.

If you take Advair long term, you may be able to lower your costs in the following ways:

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

Use a mail-order pharmacy to get your medication. Using a mail-order pharmacy might help lower your cost for Advair. Plus, you could get your medication without leaving home. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order drugs. You may also be able to get a 90-day supply of the drug through 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 help with the cost of Advair or understanding your insurance, check out these resources:

On these sites, you can find insurance information, details on drug assistance programs, and links to savings cards and other services.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

If you still have questions about the cost of Advair, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to give you a better idea of what you’ll pay for this drug. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you’d pay for Advair.

Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor or insurance provider include:

  • How many Advair HFA or Advair Diskus refills am I covered for each year?
  • If I need a spacer device to use Advair HFA, how often do I need to replace it?
  • Since Advair HFA doesn’t come as a generic, what other generic aerosol sprays are available for my condition?

To learn more about Advair, see these articles:

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Disclaimer: Healthline 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.