Imbruvica (ibrutinib) is a prescription drug used to treat certain types of lymphoma, leukemia, and graft-versus-host disease. The cost of Imbruvica may depend on factors such as your dosage, whether you have health insurance, and the specialty pharmacy you use.

Specifically, Imbruvica is prescribed to treat:

Read more about Imbruvica’s uses.

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

A “specialty pharmacy” is authorized to carry specialty medications (drugs that are complex, have high prices, are difficult to take, or have special dosage or storage requirements).

To find out how much you’ll pay for Imbruvica, including your montly cost, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Imbruvica and cost.

What’s the cost of Imbruvica with Medicare?

The cost of Imbruvica can vary depending on the type of Medicare prescription drug plan you have.

Your Imbruvica prescription may need to go through a review process called prior authorization to check whether your plan covers the drug. If your Medicare plan covers it, your cost can vary depending on your stage of coverage. For example, you may have a deductible you still need to meet.

You can contact your Medicare plan to verify that Imbruvica is covered and find out your cost.

How much does Imbruvica cost without insurance vs. with insurance?

Generally, prescription drugs cost more if you don’t have health insurance (or if your insurance doesn’t cover the drug). If you have insurance, call your insurance provider to verify that Imbruvica is covered. They can tell you exactly how much Imbruvica will cost you.

If you don’t have insurance, a specialty pharmacy that dispenses Imbruvica can tell you how much it costs. In some cases, drug prices may vary between pharmacies.

The drug’s manufacturer has a program called By Your Side that provides financial resources for certain people taking Imbruvica.

How do the costs of Imbruvica and Calquence compare?

The costs of Imbruvica and Calquence depend on several factors, including the form prescribed and your insurance plan (if you have one). To learn more about how the costs of Imbruvica and Calquence compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Imbruvica and Calquence are used to treat some of the same kinds of blood cancers. Both drugs come as tablets and capsules that you swallow. Imbruvica also comes as an oral suspension (a type of liquid mixture) that you swallow.

Learn more about Imbruvica vs. Calquence.

Does Imbruvica’s cost depend on the strength, such as 140-mg tablets vs. 420-mg tablets?

The cost of Imbruvica may depend on the strength your doctor prescribes. Strength is measured in milligrams (mg). The price may also depend on whether you take the tablets or capsules.

To learn more about the cost of Imbruvica, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Imbruvica only comes as a brand-name drug. It’s not currently available in a generic version. A generic drug has the same active ingredient as the brand-name version. An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.

Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

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

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 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 Imbruvica long term, you may be able to lower your monthly cost by getting a 90-day supply of your medication (if approved by your insurance company). This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of Imbruvica. If you’re interested in getting a 90-day supply of this drug, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Talk with your doctor about where you can get your Imbruvica prescription filled. (In some cases, you may be able to have it delivered to your home.) Imbruvica may be available from your doctor or from specialty pharmacies and distributors.

Your doctor can also tell you about the Imbruvica Dose Exchange Program. The program could help you save on long-term drug costs if your dosage changes before you finish your current supply.

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

  • 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. A program called By Your Side may also be available for Imbruvica.

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

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

  • Can my condition be treated with another lower cost drug?
  • Is there a cost difference between the Imbruvica tablets and capsules?
  • How much does Imbruvica cost per month to treat my condition?
  • Will a less expensive generic for Imbruvica soon be available?

To learn more about Imbruvica, see these articles:

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If you have insurance, you may need prior authorization before your insurance provider will cover Imbruvica. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss Imbruvica in regard to your treatment. Then, the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If Imbruvica 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 Imbruvica requires prior authorization.

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.