Mifepristone: Cost, Savings, and Comparisons
Mifepristone is a generic prescription oral tablet that’s used for medical abortion. The price you pay for mifepristone can vary. Mifepristone’s cost may depend on factors such as your dosage, whether you have health insurance, and the pharmacy you use.
To find out how much you’ll pay for mifepristone, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
Understanding Mifepristone Availability and Safety
Mifepristone is only available through a risk evaluation mitigation strategy (REMS) program. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires REMS programs for certain drugs to help make sure they’re prescribed safely. This means that doctors can prescribe mifepristone, and pharmacies can dispense mifepristone, only if certified by the drug’s REMS program.
For more information about this program, call 855-MIFEINFO (855-643-3463) or visit the drug manufacturer’s website.
Mifepristone Cost and Savings
The retail price of mifepristone is $80. You can save up to $72 per fill off of the retail price.
How much does mifepristone cost without insurance?
The cost of mifepristone without insurance depends on several factors. But in general, your cost will be higher without insurance. Your cost for mifepristone may depend on factors such as whether you qualify for any savings programs and the pharmacy you choose.
To find out the exact cost of mifepristone without insurance, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You may want to check with a few pharmacies to compare prices. You can also visit Optum Perks* to get price estimates for mifepristone when you use coupons from the site. It’s important to note that Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.
Generic vs. Brand-name Mifepristone
Mifepristone 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. Mifepristone is also available as the brand-name drug Mifeprex. (Korlym is another brand-name version of mifepristone, but it’s prescribed for other conditions.)
To find out how the costs of Mifeprex and mifepristone compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. If you’ve been prescribed mifepristone and you’re interested in taking Mifeprex 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. This is because 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.
Comparing Mifepristone and Misoprostol Costs
Mifepristone and misoprostol are commonly prescribed together for medical abortion. The cost of each drug can depend on several factors. For example, mifepristone is approved for use as a medical abortion pill. Misoprostol is approved as a preventive treatment to lower the risk of stomach ulcers while taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
But doctors also prescribe misoprostol off-label for use as a medical abortion pill. Off-label use is when a drug is prescribed to treat a condition that the FDA hasn’t approved it to treat. Sometimes this difference in approvals can affect your cost.
Other factors that may affect how much you pay include your dosage, whether there are any cost savings programs available for the drug you’re prescribed, and whether you have insurance or are paying out of pocket.
If you have questions about the cost of mifepristone compared with the cost of misoprostol, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They can share more details on treatment costs based on your specific situation.
Misoprostol Prices Overview
Misoprostol is a member of the miscellaneous GI agents drug class and is commonly used for Abortion, Cervical Ripening, Duodenal Ulcer, and others. Brand names for misoprostol include Cytotec.
Oral Tablet 100 mcg misoprostol
| Quantity | Per unit | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | $0.99 | $7.95 |
| 60 | $0.53 | $31.97 |
| 120 | $0.50 | $59.69 |
Oral Tablet 200 mcg misoprostol
| Quantity | Per unit | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | $2.84 | $5.68 |
| 4 | $1.78 | $7.11 |
| 6 | $1.43 | $8.55 |
| 8 | $1.25 | $9.98 |
| 13 | $1.04 | $13.56 |
| 20 | $0.84 | $16.84 |
| 60 | $0.51 | $30.51 |
| 100 | $0.44 | $44.18 |
Important: When there is a range of pricing, consumers should normally expect to pay the lower price. However, due to stock shortages and other unknown variables we cannot provide any guarantee.
Help Paying for Mifepristone
If you need help covering the cost of mifepristone or understanding your insurance, check out these resources:
- On these sites, you can find insurance information.
- Details on drug assistance programs.
- Links to savings cards and other services.
If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.