Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) is a prescription drug used to treat certain autoimmune disorders such as Crohn’s disease. Cimzia’s cost may depend on factors such as your dosage, whether you have health insurance, and the specialty pharmacy you use.
Cimzia is used in adults to treat:
- Crohn’s disease
- rheumatoid arthritis
- axial spondyloarthritis
- plaque psoriasis
- ankylosing spondylitis
- psoriatic arthritis
Cimzia comes in two forms:
- a liquid solution in a prefilled syringe
- a powder in a vial that’s mixed with sterile water to make a liquid solution
Cimzia is given as an injection under the skin. You may receive Cimzia injections at your doctor’s office, or your doctor may show you how to give yourself injections at home.
The active ingredient in Cimzia is certolizumab pegol. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)
For more details on Cimzia, see this in-depth article.
The price you pay for Cimzia can vary. Your cost may depend on:
- your treatment plan
- your insurance coverage (if you have it)
- the specialty pharmacy you use
- the form you use
- whether you give yourself Cimzia injections at home or receive them at your doctor’s office
If you receive Cimzia at your doctor’s office, you may have to pay for the office visit. Your dose of Cimzia will likely be prepared using the powder form.
If you inject Cimzia at home, you’ll use the prefilled syringes.
To find out how much you’ll pay for Cimzia, 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 Cimzia. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss Cimzia in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If Cimzia 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 Cimzia requires prior authorization.
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about Cimzia and cost.
Is Cimzia covered by Medicare?
Possibly. Whether Medicare covers the cost of Cimzia may depend on:
- the type of prescription drug plan you have
- where you receive the injection (at home or at your doctor’s office)
To find out whether Cimzia is covered by your Medicare plan, call your plan provider directly. They can tell you whether the drug is covered and what your cost will be.
Does the manufacturer of Cimzia have a coupon available?
Yes, the manufacturer of Cimzia offers a program called the CIMplicity Savings Program. To qualify, you must have private health insurance coverage for Cimzia. If you meet the manufacturer’s eligibility guidelines, you could save on the cost of Cimzia.
If your insurance coverage for Cimzia is denied or delayed, you may be able to participate in a program called CIMplicity Covered. For more information about this program, call 844-277-6853.
If you don’t have health insurance, you can contact UCB’s Patient Assistance Program at 866-395-8366 to find out whether other financial assistance is available.
Cimzia is a biologic drug, which means it’s made from parts of living organisms. It doesn’t come in a biosimilar form. Biosimilars are like generic drugs. Unlike generics, which are made for nonbiologic drugs, biosimilars are made for biologic drugs.
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 drugmaker 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 are taking Cimzia long term and give yourself injections at home, you may be able to lower your cost 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 Cimzia from a specialty pharmacy if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of Cimzia. If you’re interested in getting a 90-day supply of this drug, talk with your doctor or insurance provider.
Use a mail-order pharmacy to get your medication. Using a specialty mail-order pharmacy might help lower your cost for Cimzia. 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 a specialty pharmacy by mail. If you don’t have health insurance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest specialty online pharmacy options that could work for you.
If you need help covering the cost of Cimzia 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 Cimzia, 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 Cimzia.
Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor or insurance provider include:
- How does the cost of Cimzia compare with the cost of other drugs that could treat my condition?
- Does my dosage affect the cost of Cimzia?
- Does the cost of Cimzia depend on the form I’m prescribed?
To learn more about Cimzia, 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.