Zetia (ezetimibe) is a prescription drug used to treat certain types of high cholesterol. Zetia’s cost may depend on factors such as your dosage, whether you have health insurance, and the pharmacy you use.

Specifically, Zetia is used to treat:

Your doctor may prescribe Zetia alone or with another medication as well as with a dietary plan to help manage your high cholesterol.

Zetia comes as an oral tablet. It contains the active ingredient ezetimibe. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)

For more details on Zetia, see this in-depth article.

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

Zetia is available as the generic drug ezetimibe. A generic contains an exact copy of the active drug 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 Zetia and ezetimibe compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

If you’ve been prescribed Zetia and you’re interested in taking ezetimibe instead, talk with your doctor. They may prefer that you take one version instead of the other. In addition, you’ll need to check with your insurance provider, as 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 Zetia 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 Zetia if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of the drug. If you’re interested in getting a 90-day supply of Zetia, 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 Zetia. 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 Zetia 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 Zetia and cost.

How much does Zetia cost without insurance?

What you’ll pay for Zetia without insurance depends on several factors. Generally, your cost will be higher without insurance. Factors that could affect your cost include:

  • your dosage
  • whether you qualify for any savings programs
  • the pharmacy you use
  • the supply of medication you receive (such as a 30-day or 90-day supply)

To find out your exact cost for Zetia without insurance, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You may also want to check with a few pharmacies to compare prices.

You can also visit Optum Perks* to get price estimates for Zetia 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 Zetia covered by Medicare?

It may be. To find out whether your Medicare plan covers the cost of Zetia, call your plan provider. There are many different types of Medicare plans available, and your cost and coverage depend on your particular plan benefits.

Keep in mind that your plan may have prior authorization requirements before it will cover Zetia.

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

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

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

  • How does the cost of Zetia compare with its generic version, ezetimibe?
  • Will my cost for Zetia change if my dosage is changed?
  • Are the statin medications available to treat my condition less expensive than Zetia?

To learn more about Zetia, 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.