Lipitor (atorvastatin) is a prescription oral tablet used to treat high cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular disease and stroke in certain people. Lipitor’s cost may depend on factors such as your dosage and whether you have health insurance.
The price you pay for Lipitor 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 Lipitor, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. Or check out the section below to learn how much you can save by using an Optum Perks coupon.
To save money on your Lipitor prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons.
Save on your Lipitor prescription
Save on Lipitor without insurance.
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Location
47201
Dosage
40mg atorvastatin (30 Tablets)
Save money without using insurance
Simply show the Optum Perks coupon at your preferred pharmacy or order online and instantly save up to 80% without using insurance. The coupon doesn’t expire, so be sure to save it for refills.
Retail price refers to the manufacturer’s published list price and is up to date as of 3/2023. Retail and discounted prices are U.S.-only and can vary based on region and pharmacy. We cannot guarantee that the discounted price listed here will exactly match the price at your pharmacy. Please contact your pharmacy for the exact price.
Optum Perks and Healthline are subsidiaries of RVO Health.
Pricing source:Perks.optum.com
Lipitor is available as the generic drug atorvastatin. A generic contains an exact copy of the active ingredient* 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 Lipitor and atorvastatin compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
If you’ve been prescribed Lipitor and you’re interested in taking atorvastatin instead, talk with your doctor. They may recommend that you take 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.
* An active ingredient is what make a drug work.
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 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 Lipitor 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 Lipitor if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of Lipitor. If you’re interested in 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 Lipitor. 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 Lipitor or understanding your insurance, check out these resources:
On these pages, 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.
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about Lipitor and cost.
What’s the cost of Lipitor without insurance vs. with insurance?
The cost of Lipitor without insurance versus with insurance can vary based on several factors.
Some factors that may affect your cost of Lipitor without insurance include:
- your treatment plan and dosage
- the pharmacy you use
- the quantity of Lipitor you’re prescribed (such as a 30-day or 90-day supply)
- any savings programs you qualify and apply for
The same factors affect your cost of the drug if you’re paying through insurance. But in addition, your cost with insurance may depend on:
- your individual plan benefits
- any prior authorization requirements for your plan (see the “Prior authorization” section below for more information)
To find out more about your cost with and without insurance, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider (if you have one).
Whether you have insurance or not, you can visit Optum Perks* to get price estimates for Lipitor 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.
Is Lipitor covered by Medicare?
It may be. There are many types of Medicare plans, and your cost and coverage depend on your particular plan’s benefits. To find out whether your Medicare plan covers the cost of Lipitor, call your plan provider.
Keep in mind that your plan may have prior authorization requirements before it’ll cover Lipitor. (See the “Prior authorization” section just below for more information.)
You can also ask your doctor about the cost of Lipitor if you have Medicare.
If you have insurance, you may need to get prior authorization before your insurance provider will cover Lipitor. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss Lipitor in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If Lipitor 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 Lipitor requires prior authorization.
If you still have questions about the cost of Lipitor, 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 price you’d pay for Lipitor.
Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor or insurance provider include:
- Does the 40-milligram (mg) dose of Lipitor cost more than the 80-mg dose?
- Will I save more if I use the Lipitor savings card or get prescribed generic atorvastatin?
- Which lower cost brand-name drugs can I take to lower my cholesterol levels?
To learn more about Lipitor, 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.