Key takeaways:
Benlysta (belimumab) is an injectable medication that treats lupus and lupus-related kidney damage. It comes in a prefilled syringe or autoinjector for at-home use.
Without insurance, a 30-day supply (four 200 mg autoinjectors) of Benlysta costs an average of $6974.98. Most insurance plans cover Benlysta, but you’ll likely need a prior authorization or step therapy first.
GoodRx can help you navigate ways to save on the cost of Benlysta. Options include copay savings cards and patient assistance programs.
Save on related medications
Benlysta (belimumab) is an injectable medication that treats systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the most common form of lupus. It also treats lupus nephritis (kidney damage caused by lupus).
Benlysta is an injectable biologic medication. Biologics are some of the most expensive prescription medications available. So it’s common to wonder how much Benlysta may cost without insurance coverage. Here, we’ll cover how much Benlysta costs, how likely insurance is to cover it, and ways you can save on this medication.
How much does Benlysta cost?
Benlysta comes as a 200 mg prefilled syringe or autoinjector for at-home use. It’s injected under the skin of your lower stomach or thigh. In most cases, the maintenance dose of Benlysta is 200 mg injected once a week. Your first 4 doses may be higher — 400 mg weekly — if you’re treating lupus nephritis. Lower dosages are recommended for adults and children who weigh less than 88 lbs (40 kg).
As of February 2026, the list price of Benlysta is $1,246.94 for a single at-home injection and $4,987.78 for a 4-pack, according to the manufacturer. But the average retail cash price is typically higher because of wholesaler and pharmacy markups.
The table below shows the average retail cost for a typical 30-day supply of the Benlysta dosage forms available for at-home use.
Benlysta dosage form | Average cash price for a 30-day supply (4 injections) |
|---|---|
Benlysta 200 mg/mL prefilled syringe | |
Benlysta 200 mg/mL autoinjector |
Good to know: Benlysta also comes in vials that contain 120 mg or 400 mg of the medication. But this form of Benlysta is given as an infusion into the vein (IV) in a healthcare setting. Since the infusion clinic or medical office typically supplies IV Benlysta for your infusion, it’s usually covered by your medical insurance, not your pharmacy insurance. For this reason, we did not include this form of Benlysta in this savings guide. Your prescriber and insurance company (if applicable) can provide more information on the cost of Benlysta infusions.
What factors affect the cost of Benlysta?
Several factors can affect the cost of Benlysta. These factors can vary depending on whether you have prescription insurance coverage.
Insurance formulary tier: Most insurance plans have tiers, or levels, within their formulary (list of covered medications). Lower-tier medications typically have a lower copay, while higher-tier medications typically have a higher copay. How much you pay for Benlysta will depend on where your insurance plan places it within its formulary.
Dosage and form: What you pay for Benlysta may vary depending on the dosage and form you’re prescribed.
Quantity: The more doses of Benlysta you purchase at one time, the higher your total cost will be.
Location: Where you live plays a role in the cash price of your medication. For instance, prescription medications are generally lower in Tampa, Florida, than in New Orleans.
Pharmacy: Benlysta is typically filled at a specialty pharmacy. But which pharmacy you choose can affect the cash price. Talk to your healthcare team, or use the GoodRx price tool to help you compare prices at different pharmacies.
Does insurance cover Benlysta?
Almost all Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial insurance plans cover Benlysta. It’s also covered by almost 90% of plans accessed through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace. But in many cases, you’ll need a prior authorization or step therapy to get Benlysta covered by your insurance.
A prior authorization requires your prescriber to submit medical information that the insurance reviews to ensure Benlysta is an appropriate treatment for you. Step therapy requires you to try lower-cost treatments first before your insurance will cover Benlysta.
If you have insurance, you can review your plan’s formulary to see if Benlysta is covered. You can also call the customer service number on the back of your prescription insurance card for help with questions about your coverage and any extra requirements needed. You can also check your coverage directly on Benlysta’s website.
How different insurance plans cover Benlysta autoinjector
The following chart shows the percentage of insurance plans that cover Benlysta autoinjector (the most common form of Benlysta prescribed for at-home use). It also shows how likely it is that they require prior authorization or step therapy.
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for Benlysta | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
86.5% | 84.9% | 73.7% | |
Commercial plans (excluding ACA plans) | 98.3% | 87.4% | 79.6% |
Medicare (original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans) | 98.4% | 94.1% | 85.2% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 99.3% | 89.8% | 51% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of January 10, 2026 (See methodology below.)
Tips if Benlysta isn’t covered by insurance
If your insurance doesn’t cover Benlysta, you still have options:
Request a formulary exception from your insurance company. You can also file an appeal if your claim is denied.
Use a free discount program, such as GoodRx, to save on the cost of your prescription.
Talk to your prescriber about a Benlysta alternative, especially if there’s an option that’s covered by your insurance plan.
When your next open enrollment window comes, find a health insurance plan that includes Benlysta as a covered medication.
Ways to save on Benlysta
There are ways to save on the cost of Benlysta. Some options depend on your insurance coverage, while others can help reduce the cash price. GoodRx can help you find ways to save on the cost of your Benlysta prescription.
1. See if you qualify for a copay savings card
If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $0 for Benlysta using a savings card from the manufacturer. This savings program is available only for people with commercial insurance plans. It isn’t available for those with government-funded insurance, such as Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare. There is a maximum benefit of $9,450 per year for most people.
You can enroll in the Benlysta savings program online, through your prescriber, or by calling 1-800-741-0375.
2. Find out if you’re eligible for a patient assistance program
If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Benlysta’s patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of charge. But you’ll need to meet the following eligibility requirements:
You live in the United States, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands
You meet one of these criteria:
Are uninsured
Have private commercial insurance but no coverage
You are not enrolled in an Alternate Funding Program
You are not receiving prescription drug coverage through a government program (excluding Medicare)
You are ineligible or denied coverage for Plan Vital in Puerto Rico
You meet income requirements
You can enroll in Benlysta’s patient assistance program online or by calling 1-877-423-6597.
3. Tap into your HSA, FSA, or HRA
If you have a health savings account (HSA), a flexible spending account (FSA), or a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), you can use it to help cover your out-of-pocket costs for Benlysta. These tax-advantaged health accounts let you pay for eligible expenses with tax-free dollars.
Pay directly with your HSA or FSA card at the pharmacy, or cover the cost yourself and submit a request for reimbursement. The funds in an HSA or an HRA typically roll over annually, but you have to use your FSA dollars before the deadline or they’ll expire.
The bottom line
Benlysta (belimumab) is an injectable biologic medication that treats lupus and lupus-related kidney damage. Without insurance, a 30-day supply (four 200 mg autoinjectors) of Benlysta costs an average of $6974.98.
Most insurance plans cover Benlysta, but you’ll likely need a prior authorization or step therapy first. GoodRx can help you determine if a copay savings card or a patient assistance program can help you save on the cost of your prescription.
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 2026.
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
Anderson, M. K., et al. (2025). Alternative funding programs: Implications for patient care. Network for Collaborative Oncology Development and Advancement.
Benlysta. (n.d.). Be confident in coverage for Benlysta. GSK.
Benlysta. (n.d.). Getting started. GSK.
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GlaxoSmithKline. (2025). Benlysta- belimumab injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution [package insert].
GSK. (n.d.). If you are uninsured.
GSK for You. (n.d.). Find a GSK program for you. GSK.
GSK for You. (n.d.). GSK pricing information for Benlysta. GSK.
Lupus Foundation of America. (n.d.). What is lupus nephritis?
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Managed care. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
