Zoloft (sertraline) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat certain mental health conditions. Zoloft’s cost may depend on factors such as your dosage, whether you have health insurance, and the pharmacy you use.

Zoloft is used in adults to treat:

It’s also approved to treat OCD in children ages 6 years and older.

Zoloft comes as an oral tablet and an oral liquid solution. It contains the active ingredient sertraline hydrochloride. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)

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

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

Zoloft is available as the generic drug sertraline. 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 Zoloft and sertraline compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

If you’ve been prescribed Zoloft and you’re interested in taking sertraline instead, talk with your doctor. They may prefer that you take one version instead of the other. You’ll also 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 Zoloft 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 Zoloft if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of Zoloft. If you’re interested in 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 Zoloft. 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 Zoloft 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 Zoloft and cost.

How much does Zoloft cost without insurance?

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

  • your dosage
  • the form of Zoloft you take (oral tablet versus liquid solution)
  • whether you qualify for any savings programs
  • the pharmacy you use
  • the quantity you’re prescribed (such as a 30-day or 90-day supply)

To find out the exact cost of Zoloft 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 Zoloft when you use coupons from the site. It’s important to note that Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.

* Optum Perks is a sister site of Healthline.

How does the cost of Zoloft compare with that of similar drugs, such as Lexapro?

The cost of Zoloft (sertraline) compared with the cost of Lexapro (escitalopram) or other similar drugs can depend on several factors. These may include:

  • whether there are any savings programs available for the drug you’re prescribed
  • whether you have insurance or are paying out of pocket
  • how long your treatment lasts
  • the quantity you’re prescribed (such as a 30-day or 90-day supply)

If you have questions about the cost of Zoloft compared with that of similar medications, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They can share more details on treatment costs based on your specific situation.

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

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

  • How does the cost of brand-name Zoloft compare with its generic version sertraline?
  • Does the cost of Zoloft depend on the condition it’s prescribed to treat?
  • Are there other lower cost alternatives if I’m unable to afford this medication?

To learn more about Zoloft, see these articles:

To get information on different conditions and tips for improving your health, subscribe to any of Healthline’s newsletters. You may also want to check out the online communities at Bezzy. It’s a place where people with certain conditions can find support and connect with others.

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.