How Much Is Advair Without Insurance?

Nearly 25 million people in the U.S. are affected by asthma, including over 10 million adults ages 35 to 64. To help lessen asthma symptoms and improve breathing, many rely on prescription inhalers like Advair (fluticasone / salmeterol). Advair is a combination inhaler that’s also used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Advair is available in two versions: Advair Diskus and Advair HFA. These medications contain a combination of fluticasone, a steroid, and salmeterol, a long-acting beta-agonist. The typical dosage for Advair Diskus is 1 inhalation every 12 hours, while the typical dosage for Advair HFA is 2 inhalations every 12 hours.

Both versions are available as brand-name medications. Generic options, which can help you save money, are also available.

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How much does Advair cost?

The cash price of brand-name Advair Diskus 100 mcg/50 mcg costs around $223.91, while the cash price of brand-name Advair HFA is around $370.84. But your price will depend on factors such as:

• Location: Medication prices can differ widely depending on where you live. For example, GoodRx data shows that someone in Houston might pay less for their prescription than someone in New Orleans.

• Generic vs. brand name: Generic versions of Advair are typically more affordable than the brand-name option. Wixela Inhub is the first FDA-approved generic for Advair Diskus. It uses a specific type of inhaler design called the Inhub, but it delivers the same active ingredients as Advair Diskus: fluticasone and salmeterol.

• Insurance: Even with an insurance plan that covers Advair, you may still need to pay deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance.

• Pharmacy: Prices for Advair can differ between pharmacies, even within the same area.

• Dosage: The dosage of your Advair medication can affect your monthly cost.

• Assistance program availability: Patient assistance programs can help make Advair more affordable, especially if you don’t have insurance or have limited coverage.

• Savings cards and discounts: A manufacturer savings card or a GoodRx coupon may lower your out-of-pocket costs for brand-name and generic Advair.

The table below includes the average price without insurance for various doses of brand-name Advair Diskus, brand-name Advair HFA, and brand-name AirDuo RespiClick inhalers, as well as the generics fluticasone / salmeterol and Wixela Inhub.

Does insurance cover Advair?

Some health insurance plans cover brand-name Advair, but many cover only its generic version. If you have insurance, check your plan’s formulary (the list of covered medications) to see if brand-name Valtrex is covered.

Many Medicaid plans may cover Advair. But more than 1 in 5 people with those plans will need prior authorization.

How different insurance plans cover Advair

The following table shows the likelihood of coverage, prior authorization, and step therapy requirements for Advair based on the type of insurance plan.

Insurance coverage for Advair Diskus

Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of December 13, 2024. (See methodology below)

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• Want to save money on prescription medications? From applying for patient assistance programs to downloading a GoodRx coupon, here are ways to save on your medication.

• Does Advair have side effects? Learn the most common side effects and when you should contact your prescriber.

• Need to save money on asthma inhalers? GoodRx experts guide you on ways to save on more than 25 types of inhalers.

Insurance coverage for Advair HFA

Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of December 13, 2024. (See methodology below)

If Advair is not covered by your insurance, you can try the following steps:

• Talk to your prescriber about alternative medications that might be covered or are more affordable.

• Request a formulary exception from your insurer. If the request is denied, consider filing an appeal for coverage.

• Consider changing your insurance plan during open enrollment.

Ways to save on Advair

Here are seven ways you can save on Advair, whether or not you have insurance coverage.

1. Use a GoodRx coupon

GoodRx offers free coupons that can help you save on Advair. These coupons provide savings at many pharmacies, and you can also use GoodRx to compare prices at different locations.

Here’s what you can expect to pay for different doses of generic and brand-name Advair when using a GoodRx coupon.

To access a coupon, visit www.goodrx.com or download the GoodRx app. Find your medicine, then choose to receive your coupon by text or email, or print it out. Show the coupon at the pharmacy when you pick up your Advair prescription. To help prevent delays, present the coupon before you fill your prescription.

2. Take advantage of savings from the manufacturer

Starting no later than January 2025, manufacturer GSK will cap the monthly out-of-pocket cost at $35 for certain medications, including Advair Diskus and Advair HFA. But if you have certain types of insurance, such as Medicaid or Medicare, you won’t be eligible for this savings program because of government restrictions.

You may also be eligible for a manufacturer’s savings card for Wixela Inhub if you have commercial insurance. You could pay as little as $10 a month for your prescription and up to $50 off each 30-day refill with the savings card. You can use this offer for up to 12 monthly refills each year, with a savings limit of $600 per year.

3. Ask about patient assistance programs

Viatris has a patient assistance program that offers Wixela Inhub at no cost for eligible people with financial need. To qualify, you must:

• Meet specific income requirements

• Not have prescription medication coverage

• Have a valid prescription from a U.S. prescriber

4. Ask for a 90-day prescription

Getting a 90-day supply of the medication could reduce your costs. Many insurance plans offer lower copays for 3-month supplies, and pharmacies may provide bulk discounts. Talk to your prescriber about switching to a 90-day prescription.

5. Look for lower-cost alternatives

If you’re concerned about the cost of generic Wixela Inhub, ask your prescriber about alternatives that may better fit your budget. As mentioned, GSK has a $35 per month price cap for eligible U.S. patients on its entire portfolio of asthma and COPD inhalers, including Advair Diskus. The company also offers a patient assistance program to help make medications more affordable.

6. Request a larger quantity

Depending on your health plan’s prescription benefits, a 90-day supply of Advair might cost less than a 30-day supply. Ask your prescriber about a 90-day supply if it lowers your cost per inhaler.

7. Use your HSA or FSA funds

If you have a flexible spending account (FSA) or a health savings account (HSA), you can use tax-free money to pay for your Advair or Wixela Inhub prescription. Your FSA funds must be used by the end of the plan year. HSA funds roll over each year and can be used anytime.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Charlene Rhinehart, CPA

Charlene Rhinehart, CPA, is a personal finance editor at GoodRx. She has been a certified public accountant for over a decade.

Reviewed by:

Amy B. Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS

Amy Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. Amy currently holds her pharmacist license in Georgia and California.

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Methodology

We obtained national prescription coverage data for each medication from Managed Markets Insight & Technology (MMIT). The data reflects health insurance coverage as of November 2024. 

We calculated the percentage of enrollees in plans that cover each medication by dividing the number of enrollees covered for the medication within a specific insurance channel (e.g., ACA, Medicare, Medicaid) by the total number of enrollees in all plans within that channel. 

We determined the percentage of enrollees in plans with a prior authorization requirement by calculating the proportion of enrollees in plans that required prior authorization for the medication within each channel. 

Finally, we measured the percentage of enrollees in plans with a step therapy requirement by calculating the proportion of enrollees in plans that imposed step therapy requirements for the medication in each channel. 

These estimates, derived from national MMIT coverage data, provide insight into health insurance coverage for each medication. They take into account restrictions such as prior authorization, step therapy, and quantity limits. The percentages are expressed relative to the total number of enrollees covered by various insurance channels, including the ACA, commercial (excluding ACA) plans, Medicare, and Medicaid (both state-run and managed care plans).