Rifampin is a generic prescription drug that’s used to treat tuberculosis (TB) and certain other infections. Rifampin’s cost may depend on factors such as your dosage, whether you have health insurance, and the pharmacy you use.
The price you pay for rifampin can vary. Your cost may depend on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage, and the pharmacy you use. It may also depend on how much you have to pay to receive rifampin injections from a healthcare professional in a clinic or hospital.
To find out how much you’ll pay for rifampin, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. Or read the next section to learn how much you can save by using an Optum Perks coupon.
To save money on your rifampin prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons.
Save on rifampin with Optum Perks
Save on rifampin without insurance.
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Location
47201
Dosage
300mg rifampin (60 Capsules)
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Simply show the Optum Perks coupon at your preferred pharmacy and instantly save without using insurance. The coupon doesn't expire so be sure to save it for use with 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
Rifampin is a generic drug. A generic contains an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a drug work.) A generic is considered just as safe and effective as the original drug but tends to cost less.
Rifampin comes in a brand-name version called Rifadin. To find out how the costs of Rifadin and rifampin compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
If you’ve been prescribed rifampin and you’re interested in a brand-name version instead, talk with your doctor. They may prefer one version instead of the other. In addition, 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 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 rifampin oral capsule for tuberculosis (TB) 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 rifampin oral capsule if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of rifampin oral capsule. 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 rifampin oral capsule. 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 rifampin 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.
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about rifampin and cost.
How does rifampin’s cost compare with that of similar drugs, such as ethambutol or pyrazinamide?
The cost of rifampin compared with the cost of ethambutol or pyrazinamide can depend on several factors.
For example, ethambutol and pyrazinamide come as tablets you swallow. But rifampin comes as a capsule that you swallow or as a liquid solution for intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection into your vein given over time). When given as an IV infusion, rifampin is administered by a healthcare professional. You may have to pay additional costs to receive the medication from a healthcare professional at a hospital or clinic.
Other factors that may affect how much you’ll pay for these drugs include:
- whether there are any coupons or savings programs available for the drug you’re prescribed
- dosage of the medication
- whether you have insurance or are paying out of pocket
- how long your treatment lasts
If you have questions about the cost of rifampin compared with the cost of similar medications, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They can share more details on treatment costs based on your specific situation.
How much does rifampin cost without insurance?
The cost of rifampin without insurance depends on several factors. But in general, your cost will be higher without insurance.
Your cost for rifampin oral capsule may depend on factors such as:
- your dosage
- whether you qualify for any savings programs
- the pharmacy you choose
- the supply you receive (such as a 30-day or 90-day supply)
Your cost for rifampin for injection may depend on factors such as:
- your dosage
- where you receive your infusion
To find out the exact cost of rifampin without insurance, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Also, if you’re prescribed the oral capsule, you may want to check with a few pharmacies to compare prices.
You can also visit Optum Perks* to get price estimates for rifampin oral capsules 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.
If you have insurance, you may need to get prior authorization before your insurance provider will cover rifampin. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss rifampin in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If rifampin 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 rifampin requires prior authorization.
If you still have questions about the cost of rifampin, 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 rifampin.
Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor or insurance provider include:
- Is there a difference in the cost of rifampin for injection if I receive it in a hospital versus a clinic?
- Are there other lower cost treatments available if I can’t afford rifampin?
- How does the cost of rifampin compare with isoniazid?
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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.