If you’re looking at treatment options for plaque psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, you may want to learn more about Tremfya (guselkumab).

Tremfya is a prescription drug that’s used to treat:

  • moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults who can use certain other treatments for their condition
  • psoriatic arthritis in adults

Tremfya is available as a liquid solution for injection under your skin. It comes in a prefilled syringe or One-Press injector. The active ingredient in Tremfya is guselkumab. An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.

Keep reading for details on Tremfya and cost and how to save money on prescriptions.

Note: For more details on Tremfya, see this in-depth article.

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

Tremfya’s price may also depend on whether you need to go to a doctor’s office for injections. A healthcare professional may be able to show you how to give yourself Tremfya injections at home. So you may not need to pay for office visits for getting your doses of the drug.

To find out how much you’ll pay for Tremfya, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They may be able to provide you with your cost per dose or per month for Tremfya based on your insurance plan and other factors.

If you need help covering the cost of Tremfya or understanding your insurance, check out these websites:

On these sites, you can find insurance information and details on drug assistance programs, savings cards, and other services.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

You may also be eligible for the Janssen CarePath Savings Program for Tremfya. This is a copay savings program that can assist people with insurance who are prescribed Tremfya. To sign up, visit the program webpage or call 877-227-3728 for more information.

If you don’t have insurance, you may be eligible for Johnson & Johnson’s Patient Assistance Program. This program can help lower the cost or completely cover the cost of certain medications, including Tremfya. To learn more about this program or see if you’re eligible, visit the program webpage or call 800-652-6227.

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

How much does Tremfya cost without insurance and with insurance?

The cost of Tremfya may vary based on many factors, including whether you have insurance coverage. Other factors may also affect the cost of Tremfya. Examples include which pharmacy you use and whether you qualify for the Janssen CarePath copay savings program.

In many cases, the cost of Tremfya will be higher for people without insurance. If you don’t have insurance coverage, talk with your doctor or pharmacist to find out exactly how much Tremfya will cost you. You might also be eligible for Johnson & Johnson’s Patient Assistance Program.

For information on the Janssen CarePath copay savings program, Johnson & Johnson’s Patient Assistance Program, and other financial assistance resources, see the section just above.

Is Tremfya’s cost covered by Medicare?

It’s likely that Tremfya will be covered by Medicare. The Tremfya website has information on what people who have certain Medicare plans currently pay for the drug.

If you have Medicare, you do not qualify for the Janssen CarePath Savings Program. But if you’re having trouble paying for your prescription, you may find Janssen CarePath’s Medicare Resource Guide helpful.

If you’d like to know what your cost of Tremfya will be through your Medicare plan, contact your Medicare plan administrator.

Tremfya only comes as a brand-name biologic drug, which is a drug made from parts of living organisms. It’s not currently available in a biosimilar version.

A biosimilar medication is a drug that’s similar to, but not an exact copy of, a brand-name biologic drug. (Biologics cannot be copied exactly because they are made from parts of living organisms.) Biosimilars are considered just as safe and effective as their parent biologic. Biosimilars may cost less than brand-name biologic drugs.

Why is there such a difference in the cost of brand-name biologic drugs vs. biosimilar drugs?

Years of research and testing are needed to ensure that brand-name biologic drugs are safe and effective. This testing can make the drugs expensive. The drugmaker of a brand-name biologic can sell the drug for up to 12 years. After that, other drugmakers can create biosimilar versions. This competition in the market can lead to lower costs for biosimilars. And because biosimilars are very similar to biologic drugs, they don’t need to be studied again. This can also lead to lower biosimilar costs.

If you take Tremfya 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 Tremfya if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of Tremfya. 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 Tremfya. 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 still have questions about the cost of Tremfya, 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 Tremfya.

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

  • Does the cost of Tremfya vary depending on whether I’m using it for plaque psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis?
  • If I can’t afford Tremfya, are there less expensive treatment options available for my condition?
  • What programs might I qualify for that can help lower my cost of Tremfya?

For more information about Tremfya, you might be interested in these articles:

For support and advice from others living with your condition, join the Bezzy online community for psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. And for psoriasis treatment news and tips for managing flare-ups, sign up for Healthline’s online newsletter.

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.