Avastin (bevacizumab) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat certain cancers. Avastin’s cost may depend on factors such as your dosage, whether you have health insurance, and the hospital or clinic where you receive treatment.

Avastin is used in adults to treat the following cancers in certain situations:

The active ingredient in Avastin is bevacizumab. An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.

Avastin comes as a liquid solution that a healthcare professional will administer through an intravenous (IV) infusion. (This is an injection into a vein given over time.)

For more details on Avastin, see this in-depth article.

The price you pay for Avastin can vary. It may depend on your treatment plan, where you receive your infusion, and your insurance coverage (if you have it). It will also depend on how much you have to pay for an office visit with your doctor or a healthcare professional to receive Avastin.

To find out how much you’ll pay for Avastin, talk with your doctor or insurance provider.

Note: If you have insurance, you may need to get prior authorization before your insurance provider will cover Avastin. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss Avastin in regard to your treatment. Then your insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If Avastin 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 Avastin requires prior authorization.

Avastin is a biologic drug, which means it’s made from parts of living organisms. It comes in several biosimilar forms. Biosimilars are like generic drugs. But unlike generics, which are made for nonbiologic drugs, biosimilars are made for biologic drugs.

Available biosimilar forms of Avastin include:

  • Alymsys
  • Mvasi
  • Vegzelma
  • Zirabev
Why is there such a cost difference between biologic drugs and biosimilar drugs?

Biologic drugs can be expensive because of the research and testing needed to ensure their safety and effectiveness. The manufacturer of a biologic drug can sell it for up to 12 years. When the biologic drug’s patent expires, other drugmakers can create biosimilar versions. This competition in the market may lead to lower costs for biosimilars. And because biosimilars are very similar to biologic drugs, they don’t need to be studied again. This can also lead to lower costs for biosimilars.

If you need help covering the cost of Avastin 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 the healthcare professional administering your treatment.

If you still have questions about the cost of Avastin, talk with your doctor. 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 Avastin.

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

  • Which lower-cost cancer drugs could also treat my condition?
  • What’s the most cost effective version of Avastin for me?
  • Which Genentech financial service is best for me?

To learn more about Avastin, 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.