Mavenclad (cladribine) is a prescription drug that treats certain forms of multiple sclerosis in adults. Mavenclad’s cost may depend on your dosage, whether you have health insurance, the pharmacy you use, and other factors.

The price you pay for Mavenclad can vary. Your cost 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 Mavenclad, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Mavenclad comes only as a brand-name drug. It’s not currently available in a generic version. A generic contains an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication but tends to cost less.

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 also can lead to lower generic costs.

If you take Mavenclad 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 Mavenclad if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of Mavenclad. If you’re interested in getting 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 Mavenclad. Plus, you could get your medication without leaving home. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order drugs. You also may 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 Mavenclad 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 Mavenclad and cost.

What is the cost of Mavenclad with insurance?

The cost of Mavenclad with insurance depends on various factors. These include:

The cost also may depend on your dosage and other factors, such as your copay. (This is your share of the cost of a medication.)

To learn about the cost of Mavenclad with insurance, talk with your insurance provider or doctor. They can let you know what you can expect to pay for Mavenclad.

Is Mavenclad covered by Medicare?

It’s possible. To find out whether your Medicare plan covers the cost of Mavenclad, call your plan provider. Many different types of Medicare plans are available. Your cost and coverage depend on your particular plan’s benefits.

Keep in mind that your plan may have prior authorization requirements before it’ll cover Mavenclad. (See the “Prior authorization” section below for more information.)

You also can ask your doctor about the cost of Mavenclad if you have Medicare.

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

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

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

  • Will the length of my treatment with Mavenclad affect the cost?
  • Are other medications available to treat my condition that cost less?
  • What options do I have if I can’t afford my medication?

To learn more about Mavenclad, 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.