How Much Is Atorvastatin Without Insurance?
Key takeaways:
Atorvastatin (Lipitor, Atorvaliq) is an oral statin medication used to treat high cholesterol in adults and children ages 10 and older.
Without insurance, 30 tablets of atorvastatin 20 mg costs an average of $64.06. Many insurance plans cover atorvastatin, but about 5% of Medicaid plans require prior authorization.
With a GoodRx coupon, you could pay as little as $4.20 for 30 tablets of atorvastatin 20 mg.
Atorvastatin (Lipitor, Atorvaliq) is a commonly prescribed oral statin medication that is approved to lower cholesterol in adults and children ages 10 and older. It can also reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in certain people who are at high risk.
Atorvastatin comes in an oral tablet and a liquid suspension, typically taken once a day. Generic tablets are widely available and cost-effective, but the liquid suspension is sold only under the brand name Atorvaliq, with no generic equivalent available. The typical dosage is 10 mg to 80 mg once daily, depending on why you’re taking it. Your prescriber should monitor your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, potential side effects, and medication interactions to adjust your dose as needed.
The cost of atorvastatin depends on factors such as your pharmacy, the dose, and the reason you are taking the medication. Most health insurance plans will cover it, but if you’re paying out of pocket, GoodRx coupons can help you save money.
How much does atorvastatin cost?
Without insurance, 30 tablets of atorvastatin 20 mg costs an average of $64.06. The exact price you’ll pay without insurance will depend on several factors, including why you are taking the medication and the dose you need.
For example, if you’re taking atorvastatin for high cholesterol, the usual starting dose for adults is 10 mg or 20 mg once daily. But if your prescriber determines that you need a greater reduction in your LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, they may prescribe a higher starting dose, such as 40 mg.
Here are the average retail prices for various doses and quantities of atorvastatin tablets.
Atorvastatin quantity | Dose | Average retail price |
|---|---|---|
30 tablets | 10 mg | |
30 tablets | 20 mg | |
30 tablets | 40 mg | |
30 tablets | 80 mg | |
90 tablets | 10 mg | |
90 tablets | 20 mg | |
90 tablets | 40 mg | |
90 tablets | 80 mg |
What factors affect the cost of atorvastatin?
The price you’ll pay for atorvastatin depends on several factors, including:
Location: Where you live plays a role in how much you pay for prescription medications. GoodRx research shows that people in some cities — including New York and Milwaukee — typically face higher prescription prices, while those in Denver and Houston, for example, tend to pay below the national average.
Pharmacy: Prescription medication prices can vary significantly among pharmacies, even within the same neighborhood. This is because pharmacies negotiate pricing directly with manufacturers and other related partners, leading to differences in cost.
Insurance: Health insurance plans typically cover atorvastatin, but you may still have out-of-pocket costs you’re responsible for. These might include deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.
Dosage: The dosage of your atorvastatin prescription can affect your monthly cost. Your dose will depend on the reason you’re taking it, but daily dosages typically range from 10 mg to 80 mg. Atorvastatin is typically taken once a day, at any time, with or without food.
Savings cards and discounts: A GoodRx coupon can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs for your medication, often by a significant amount.
Does insurance cover atorvastatin?
Atorvastatin is covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid. Commercial and Medicare plans typically cover the medication without restriction. About 5% of Medicaid plans require a prior authorization for atorvastatin.
Before purchasing your medication, check your plan’s formulary (a list of covered medications) and summary of benefits and coverage. This will help you understand:
Whether atorvastatin is covered under your plan
Your potential out-of-pocket costs, such as copays or coinsurance
Any restrictions, such as prior authorization, quantity limits, or step therapy requirements, before your plan will cover atorvastatin
Ways to save on prescription medications: From using a GoodRx coupon to making the most of your health savings account, here are some ways to save on prescription medications.
Do you have a flexible spending account (FSA)? Consider using your FSA dollars to pay for prescription medications, like atorvastatin, before your money expires.
Common atorvastatin side effects: Learn the most common side effects and when you should contact your prescriber.
How different insurance plans cover atorvastatin
Below is a table summarizing the likelihood of having coverage for atorvastatin, along with prior authorization or step therapy requirements, across various insurance plans.
Insurance coverage for atorvastatin
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for atorvastatin | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
99.8% | 0.1% | 0% | |
Commercial plans (not including ACA plans) | 99.4% | 0% | 0% |
Medicare, including original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans | 99.9% | 0% | 0% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 100% | 5.1% | 1.06% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of January 6, 2025. (See methodology below.)
If your insurance plan does not cover atorvastatin, try one or more of the following:
Ask your prescriber about switching to a different statin, such as rosuvastatin (Crestor). Or try statin alternatives for lowering high cholesterol that might be covered or are more affordable.
Request a formulary exception from your insurance company. If your request is denied, you have the right to appeal the decision to seek coverage.
During open enrollment, consider switching to an insurance plan that better meets your coverage needs.
Ways to save on atorvastatin
Here are five ways you can reduce the cost of atorvastatin whether or not you have insurance coverage.
1. Download a GoodRx coupon
GoodRx provides free coupons that can help you save money on atorvastatin at many pharmacies. These coupons can significantly reduce your cost, and the GoodRx app also lets you compare prices at different locations to find the best deal. To get a coupon, visit www.goodrx.com or download the GoodRx app.
Here’s an example of what you might pay for various quantities and doses of atorvastatin using a GoodRx coupon.
Atorvastatin quantity | Dose | GoodRx price |
|---|---|---|
30 tablets | 10 mg | |
30 tablets | 20 mg | |
30 tablets | 40 mg | |
30 tablets | 80 mg | |
90 tablets | 10 mg | |
90 tablets | 20 mg | |
90 tablets | 40 mg | |
90 tablets | 80 mg |
2. Use a manufacturer savings card
If you’re eligible, the Lipitor Savings Card can help you save on brand-name Lipitor, allowing you to pay as little as $4 for a 30-day supply. Eligible individuals may save up to $1,800 annually, but the savings card works only on brand-name Lipitor.
To qualify, you must have insurance provided by your employer or purchased by you. The program is not available to those with Medicare, Medicaid, or other state or federal health insurance. But those who are uninsured may also be eligible.
Also, the CMP EasyPay Copay Program offers savings on Atorvaliq. Eligible individuals may pay as little as $0 per prescription.
3. Ask about lower-cost options
There may be other statin medications, or statin alternatives, that are more affordable than atorvastatin. Talk to your prescriber about other medications that could effectively treat your condition at a lower cost.
4. Ask for a 90-day prescription
Switching to a 90-day supply of atorvastatin could lower your medication costs. Many insurance plans charge less per month for a 3-month supply, and pharmacies may provide bulk discounts. Talk to your prescriber about switching to a 90-day prescription.
5. Tap into your HSA or FSA funds
If you have access to a health savings account (HSA) or a flexible spending account (FSA), you can use the pretax funds in your account to pay for prescription medications like atorvastatin. You have a limited time to use the funds in your FSA. But your HSA money rolls over, so you can use it to pay for medications in the future.
The bottom line
Without insurance, 30 tablets of atorvastatin 20 mg costs an average of $64.06. With a GoodRx coupon, you could pay as little as $4.20. The exact price you’ll pay depends on factors like your pharmacy and dose and the reason you are taking the medication.
To get the best price on atorvastatin, consider using a GoodRx coupon and comparing pharmacy prices in your area. You can also talk to your prescriber about lower-cost options and use tax-advantaged accounts like a health savings account to pay for your prescription medications.
Why trust our experts?
Methodology
We obtained national prescription coverage data for each medication from Managed Markets Insight & Technology (MMIT). The data reflects health insurance coverage as of January 2025.
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 ACA plans, commercial (excluding ACA) plans, Medicare, and Medicaid (both state-run and managed care plans).
References
HealthCare.gov. (n.d.). Appealing a health plan decision. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Managed care. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
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