Escitalopram and cost: What You Need to Know

The price for escitalopram can vary. Your cost may depend on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage, and the pharmacy you use.

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

Note: If you have insurance, you may need prior authorization before your insurance provider covers escitalopram. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss escitalopram regarding your treatment. Then, the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered.

If escitalopram 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 escitalopram requires prior authorization.

Escitalopram is a generic drug. A generic contains an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. A generic is considered safe and effective as the original drug but tends to cost less.

Escitalopram tablet comes in a brand-name version called Lexapro. To find out how the costs of Lexapro and escitalopram tablet compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

If you’ve been prescribed escitalopram tablet and you’re interested in taking Lexapro instead, talk with your doctor. They may prefer that you take one version instead of the other. In addition, you’ll need to check with your insurance provider. This is because it may cover only 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 manufacturer of a brand-name drug can sell the drug exclusively for up to 20 years. After that, other drug manufacturers 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 escitalopram 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 get a 90-day supply of escitalopram if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of escitalopram. If you want 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 of escitalopram. 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 covering the cost of escitalopram or understanding your insurance, check out these resources:

• NeedyMeds
• Medicine Assistance Tool

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.

The following are answers to some frequently asked questions about Escitalopram and cost.

How much does Escitalopram cost without insurance?

The cost of escitalopram without insurance depends on several factors. But in general, your cost will be higher without insurance.

Your cost for escitalopram may depend:

• your dosage
• whether you qualify for any savings programs
• the pharmacy you choose
• the supply of medication you receive (such as a 30-day or 90-day supply)

To find out the exact cost of escitalopram without insurance, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Also, you may want to check with a few pharmacies to compare prices.

You can also visit Optum Perks* to get price estimates for escitalopram when you use coupons from the site. It’s important to note that Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

* Optum Perks is a sister site of Healthline.

Does Medicare cover escitalopram?

Most likely. If you have Medicare’s drug prescription plan (Medicare Part D), it will most likely cover escitalopram. But to find out how much you’ll pay, call your plan provider. Many Medicare plans are available, and your cost and coverage will depend on your individual plan benefits.

If you still have questions about the cost of escitalopram, 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 escitalopram.

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

• Does the cost of escitalopram depend on whether I’m prescribed the tablet or the liquid solution?
• Are there other lower-cost options to treat my condition if I cannot afford escitalopram?
• How does the cost of generic escitalopram compare with the brand name Lexapro?

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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.