Vancomycin is a generic prescription drug that’s used to treat certain types of bacterial infections in adults and children. Vancomycin’s cost may depend on factors such as your dosage, whether you have health insurance, and the pharmacy you use.
The price you pay for vancomycin can vary. Your cost may depend on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage, and the pharmacy you use. It may also depend on how much you have to pay to receive vancomycin injection in a clinic or hospital by a healthcare professional.
To find out how much you’ll pay for vancomycin, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. Or look below in the next section to learn how much you can save by using an Optum Perks coupon.
To save money on your vancomycin prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons.
Vancomycin is a generic drug. 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.
Vancomycin comes in brand-name versions called Firvanq and Vancocin. To find out how the costs of these brand-name versions compare with the generic, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
If you’ve been prescribed vancomycin and you’re interested in a brand-name version instead, talk with your doctor. They may recommend 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 need help covering the cost of vancomycin or understanding your insurance, check out these resources:
- 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.
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about vancomycin and cost.
What’s the cost of vancomycin with insurance vs. without insurance?
The cost of vancomycin with insurance versus without insurance can vary based on several factors.
Factors that may affect your cost of vancomycin without insurance include:
- your treatment plan and dosage
- the pharmacy you choose
- the form of the drug you’re prescribed
- any cost savings programs you qualify for
- the cost to receive vancomycin injections from a healthcare professional (if prescribed this form)
The same factors affect your cost of the drug if you’re paying through insurance. But in addition, your cost with insurance may depend on:
- your specific plan benefits
- any prior authorization requirements for your plan
To learn more about your cost with and without insurance, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider (if you have one).
Whether you have insurance or not, you can visit Optum Perks* to get price estimates for vancomycin 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.
Does Medicare cover vancomycin?
It’s possible. To find out whether your Medicare plan covers the cost of vancomycin, call your plan provider. There are many different types of Medicare plans available, and your cost and coverage depend on your individual plan benefits.
If you’re prescribed vancomycin injection, your final cost may also depend on the price of receiving doses at a clinic or hospital by a healthcare professional.
Keep in mind that your plan may have prior authorization requirements before it will cover vancomycin. (See the section below for more information.)
You can also ask your doctor about the cost of vancomycin if you have Medicare.
If you have insurance, you may need to get prior authorization before your insurance provider will cover vancomycin. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss vancomycin in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If vancomycin 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 vancomycin requires prior authorization.
If you still have questions about the cost of vancomycin, 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 vancomycin.
Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor or insurance provider include:
- Does vancomycin injection cost more than other forms of the drug?
- How does the cost of vancomycin oral capsule compare with other drugs available to treat an infection?
- What are my options if I can’t afford vancomycin?
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.
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.