Verzenio and Cost: What You Need to Know

If you’re looking at treatment options for breast cancer, you may want to learn more about Verzenio (abemaciclib).

Verzenio is a prescription drug that’s used to treat hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer that’s metastatic. It may also be used to treat early stage breast cancer in specific situations. For these purposes, it may be used alone or with another medication in certain adults.

Verzenio comes as tablets that you swallow. The active ingredient in Verzenio is abemaciclib. An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.

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

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

The price you pay for Verzenio 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 Verzenio, including your cost per month, 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 Verzenio. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss Verzenio in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If Verzenio 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 Verzenio requires prior authorization.

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

How much does Verzenio cost with Medicare?

Verzenio’s cost with Medicare depends on the plan you have. For example, some Medicare plans may require you to pay a percentage of the total cost of Verzenio. Others may instead have a copay (a fixed amount that you may have to pay for your medication).

Your cost may also depend on whether your Medicare plan has a prior authorization requirement you must meet before the drug is covered.

For more information on what you can expect to pay for Verzenio with Medicare, call your Medicare plan provider for details.

You can also visit the drugmaker’s website to learn about the cost of Verzenio with Medicare.

What’s the cost of Verzenio without insurance vs. with insurance?

The cost of Verzenio without insurance versus with insurance can vary based on your insurance plan benefits and other factors.

Some factors that may affect your cost of Verzenio without insurance include:

• your treatment plan and drug dosage
• the pharmacy you choose
• whether you get a 30-day or 90-day supply of the drug
• any cost savings programs you qualify for to save money on Verzenio

The same factors affect your cost of the drug if you are covered by insurance. But in addition, your cost with insurance depends on:

• your individual plan benefits
• any prior authorization requirements for the plan
• whether you’re eligible for the Verzenio Savings Card

To find out more about your cost with and without insurance, check with your doctor, pharmacy, or insurance provider if you have one.

Verzenio only comes as a brand-name drug. It’s not currently available in a generic version. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

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 take Verzenio 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 Verzenio if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of Verzenio. 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 Verzenio. 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 Verzenio or understanding your insurance, check out these resources:

• Verzenio Savings Card
• 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 Verzenio, 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 Verzenio.

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

• Does my cost for Verzenio depend on the strength of the drug I’m prescribed?
• Would the price I pay for Verzenio change if my insurance coverage changes?
• Are there other lower cost options to treat my condition?

To learn more about Verzenio, see these articles:

• All About Verzenio
• Side Effects of Verzenio: What You Need to 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.