Harvoni and Cost: What You Need to Know

The price you pay for Harvoni can vary. Your cost may depend on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage (if you have it), the drug form you’re prescribed, and the pharmacy you use.

To find out how much you’ll pay for Harvoni, 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 Harvoni. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss Harvoni in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If Harvoni 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 Harvoni requires prior authorization.

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

How does the cost of Harvoni compare with that of similar drugs, such as Epclusa or Sovaldi?

Harvoni, Epclusa (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir), and Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) are all used to treat certain types of hepatitis C, but they may have some cost differences. The cost of Harvoni compared with similar medications may depend on factors such as:

• your eligibility for any available savings programs from the drugs’ manufacturers
• the availability of generic versions of the drugs
• the length of your treatment
• whether you have health insurance or are paying out of pocket

For example, Epclusa and Harvoni are both available as generic drugs. But Sovaldi is only available as a brand-name drug. Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. For more information about cost differences between brand-name and generic drugs, see the “Is Harvoni available as a generic?” section below.

To find out how the cost of these medications compare, contact your health insurance provider (if you have one) or talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can discuss cost comparisons with you based on your situation.

Does the 90-mg/400-mg strength of Harvoni cost less than the drug’s other strengths?

This isn’t likely. The 90-milligram (mg)/40-mg strength of Harvoni comes as a tablet and is one of the highest available strengths. But if you have insurance with a fixed copay (your share of the cost), your cost for the 90-mg/400-mg tablet may be the same as other available strengths and forms.

Your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider (if you have one) can also give you more information about the costs of different strengths of Harvoni.

Harvoni is available as the generic drug ledipasvir/sofosbuvir. The generic drug comes as tablets but not pellets.

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 drug but tends to cost less.

To find out how the costs of Harvoni tablets and generic ledipasvir/sofosbuvir tablets compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

If you’ve been prescribed Harvoni and you’re interested in using the generic version instead, talk with your doctor. They may prefer that you take one version instead of the other. In addition, if you have insurance, you’ll need to check with your insurance provider. This is because 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 need help covering the cost of Harvoni or understanding your insurance, check out these resources:

• Support Path Program
• 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.

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

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

• Will my dosage of Harvoni affect the cost?
• If I don’t have insurance, would the generic version of Harvoni cost less?
• Can I use a coupon to save on Harvoni if I have Medicare?

To learn more about Harvoni, see these articles:

• All About Harvoni
• Epclusa vs. Harvoni: What You Should Know

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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.