An EpiPen is basically an auto-injector that contains epinephrine, a synthetic version of adrenaline. Adrenaline is a substance that the body naturally releases when a person is feeling a strong emotion, like anger, excitement, and fear, causing the heart to beat at a much faster rate and boosting the person’s energy. But an EpiPen is commonly used to treat anaphylaxis or a severe allergic reaction.
Don’t confuse epinephrine and adrenaline because they are just the same. However, people in Europe would prefer calling the substance inside an EpiPen as adrenaline, while epinephrine is a more common term in the United States.
Average Cost of an EpiPen
This type of medical treatment is not cheap. In fact, the usual cost of EpiPen with two packs is around $600, which actually triggered an outrage among the consumers because of the price hikes. But there are some pharmacies that offer discounts, cutting the costs over 50 percent. However, the prices vary based on the dosage (0.15 mg or 0.3 mg), the number of packs you wish to buy, and whether you choose to purchase a generic or branded EpiPen.
GoodRx, a prescription site that collects and presents prices and discounts from more than 60,000 pharmacies, in the U.S., has provided a list of EpiPen price without insurance. The costs that have been collated by GoodRx come from 10 pharmacies that most American consumers visit.
Do take note that most of the prices you see below are the costs for generic EpiPens and have already been discounted. The actual prices are usually twice the discounted prices. Apparently, branded EpiPens generally cost more than the generic prices. To avail the discount, all you have to do is print the discount drug coupon and present it when you buy the treatment, just like this one.
Generic Epinephrine 2 Auto-Injectors of 0.15 mg
| No. of Packages | CVS | RITE-AID | SAFEWAY | TARGET | KROGER | WALGREENS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $200.94 | $205.10 | $325.73 | $353.31 | $355.56 | $355.81 |
| 2 | $401.8 | $402.71 | $645.71 | $699.1 | $701.36 | $701.61 |
| 3 | $602.8 | $600.31 | $965.69 | $1,044.92 | $1,118.52 | $1,047.42 |
| 4 | $803.77 | $1,799.96 | $1,285.67 | $1,390.73 | $1,528.33 | $1,723.65 |
| 10 | $2,009.42 | $4,499.90 | $3,205.5 | $3,465.57 | $3,799.45 | $4,302.39 |
Generic Epinephrine 2 Auto-Injectors of 0.30 mg
| No. of Packages | CVS | RITE-AID | SAFEWAY | TARGET | KROGER | WALGREENS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $201.00 | $205.10 | $325.73 | $201.3 | $355.56 | $207.88 |
| 2 | $401.9 | $402.71 | $645.71 | $402.7 | $701.36 | $411.26 |
| 3 | $602.99 | $600.31 | $965.69 | $604.11 | $1,047.17 | $614.64 |
| 6 | $1,205.98 | $1,193.12 | $1,925.63 | $1,208.22 | $2,084.59 | $1,224.78 |
| 17 | $3,416.95 | $3,366.77 | $5,445.4 | $3,423.28 | $5,888.47 | $3,461.96 |
My EpiPen Savings Card
Mylan, a pharmaceuticals company headquartered in Pennsylvania, U.S., manufactures the branded EpiPen: the EpiPen with a dosage of 0.3 mg and the EpiPen Jr with a dosage of 0.15 mg. Based on the pricing providing by GoodRx, a pack of EpiPen (2 auto-injectors) approximately costs between $650 and $733. The same range of prices applies to a pack EpiPen Jr with 2 auto-injectors.
Estimated Case Price of EpiPen by Pharmacy
| Type | KROGER | Target | Safeway | CVS | Rite-Aid | Walgreens |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EpiPen (0.3 mg) | $730 | $650 | $670 | $650 | $733 | $735 |
| EpiPen Jr (0.15 mg) | -- | $650 | $670 | $650 | $733 | $735 |
Due to the high costs of EpiPen, which really hurt the consumers, Mylan has provided the My EpiPen Savings Card, which lets you save up to $300 on your Epinephrine Auto-Injector Prescription. However, there are requirements that you need to fulfill before becoming eligible for this particular savings card. These are the following:
– card holders (patients or patient guardians) must be, at least, 18 years old and are residents of the U.S.
– must have a commercial insurance, even without coverage for EpiPen
You are not qualified if you are:
– uninsured;
– covered by any state or federally funded healthcare program;
– Medicare eligible and enrolled in a health plan sponsored by your employer;
– a retiree covered by a prescription benefit program;
– paying EpiPen using your insurance plan;
– living outside the U.S. territories.
If you are residing in Massachusetts, the My EpiPen Savings Card is valid until June 30, 2019, unless otherwise the state amends or extends the program.
Important Reminders
Once you become a holder of this savings card, you can use it to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses to as much as $300 per EpiPen 2-Pak® carton. You are only allowed to buy up to three 2-Pak® cartons for every prescription. You can only use the card to purchase a total of six 2-Pak® cartons until December 31, 2017. And when you present the card, make sure that your prescription is valid and has a prescriber ID number.
My EpiPen Savings Card is not considered as a health insurance. It is non-transferable, and the discount can’t go over the out-of-pocket expenses of the patient. It can’t be used together with a discount coupon, rebates, free trials or other related offers.
Cheaper Alternatives of EpiPen
Aside from discount coupons and the savings card, there are alternative treatments that are way cheaper than Mylan’s EpiPen, according to CNN Money. These are the following:
1. Adrenaclick
– This is designed as an emergency epinephrine shot for persons who are suffering from anaphylaxis
– Cased on Consumer Reports, the cost of a two-pack Adrenaclick is around $140.
– not widely available in the U.S.
2. Syringes and Epinephrine
– A three-month supply of epinephrine and syringes would cost about $20.
– This can be dangerous, especially if you don’t know how to use the syringe.
3. The Coming of Competitors
– Consumers will have more choices when other pharmaceutical companies manufacture their own EpiPen.