Key takeaways:
Besivance (besifloxacin) is a prescription-only eye drop used to treat bacterial pink eye in adults and children ages 1 year and older.
One 5 mL bottle of Besivance 0.6% costs around $268.84 without insurance or discounts. But you may pay as low as $239.69 with a GoodRx discount.
Insurance coverage for Besivance varies by plan type. If you have commercial insurance and qualify for the manufacturer’s copay savings card, you may pay as little as $25 for a 5 mL bottle of Besivance.
Save on related medications
Besivance (besifloxacin) is a prescription antibiotic eye drop used to treat bacterial pink eye in adults and children ages 1 year and older. It belongs to the fluoroquinolone antibiotic class and works by blocking proteins that bacteria need to grow and survive.
The typical dosage is one drop in the affected eye(s) 3 times a day for 7 days. No generic version of Besivance is available.
A 5 mL bottle of Besivance can cost a few hundred dollars without insurance or discounts, depending on where you fill your prescription and other factors. But you may be able to lower your cost with the manufacturer’s savings program or a GoodRx discount.
How much does Besivance cost?
Without insurance or discounts, one 5 mL bottle of Besivance runs around $268.84. Your cost for the medication can vary widely depending on many factors, including:
Location: GoodRx research shows that cities like New Orleans and Little Rock, Arkansas, often have higher costs. Places like Atlanta and Houston tend to fall below the national average.
Pharmacy: Pharmacies located near one another might charge different prices for the same medication.
Insurance: Even with insurance coverage, you may still have to pay a deductible, a copay, or coinsurance.
Discounts: You may be able to reduce what you pay for Besivance with a GoodRx discount or the manufacturer’s copay savings card.
Does insurance cover Besivance?
Coverage for Besivance varies by insurance type. Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans and commercial insurance cover Besivance for about 8 out of 10 enrollees, and almost everyone with Medicaid has access to the medication. Coverage for Besivance is available for about half of Medicare beneficiaries.
Prior authorization (approval from your insurer before getting the medication) is required for about 3 in 10 ACA enrollees and 8 out of 10 Medicaid enrollees. But this is rarely needed for commercial and Medicare plan members. Step therapy requirements, which involve trying other, usually lower-cost options first, are less common overall. But about 1 in 10 Medicaid enrollees may still encounter them.
Check your plan’s list of covered medications, known as a formulary, or contact your insurer to verify your specific coverage and requirements.
How different insurance plans cover Besivance
The table below details how various insurance types cover Besivance, plus whether prior authorization or step therapy is required.
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for Besivance 0.6% eye drops, suspension | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
82.1% | 30.1% | 2.1% | |
Commercial plans (excluding ACA plans) | 77.6% | 7% | 3.4% |
Medicare (Medicare Advantage and Part D plans) | 51.6% | 0% | 1% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 99.5% | 80.7% | 10.7% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of December 6, 2025. (See methodology below.)
Don’t have insurance coverage for Besivance? Try the following:
See if you qualify for financial assistance through the manufacturer’s copay savings card (details below).
Speak with your prescriber about other eye infection medications that are covered under your plan or have lower out-of-pocket costs.
Ask your prescriber to request a formulary exception to get Besivance covered. They may need to submit a letter of medical necessity and documentation explaining why this medication is the best option for you.
Consider filing an appeal if your insurer denies your exception request.
Looking to save on prescription medication costs? These tips can help lower what you pay for prescription medications.
Pay for Besivance with your health savings account (HSA). Here’s how your HSA can help cover the cost of several qualifying medical expenses, including Besivance.
Pink eye can be contagious, but it depends on the cause. Our experts explain how long pink eye is contagious and answer other questions you might have.
Ways to save on Besivance
One bottle of Besivance can cost a few hundred dollars if you’re paying out of pocket. But there are ways to reduce these expenses. Here are four strategies to help you save on Besivance:
1. Check if you qualify for the manufacturer’s copay savings card
With the Bausch + Lomb Copay Program, you may pay as little as $25 for one 5 mL bottle of Besivance for up to five refills if you have commercial insurance and meet eligibility requirements. If you don’t have insurance or your plan doesn’t cover Besivance, the program offers a $70 price per bottle if you qualify.
To qualify for this program, you must:
Have commercial insurance, or have no insurance
Be 18 years or older
Not be 65 years or older unless you have commercial insurance
Not be enrolled in Medicare (including Medicare Advantage and Part A, B, and D plans), Medicaid, Tricare, Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense programs, the Puerto Rico Government Health Insurance Plan, or any other government insurance
Live in the U.S., the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands
Fill prescriptions at Walgreens or participating independent pharmacies
People with high-deductible or high-coinsurance plans may pay more than $25, and those in Massachusetts or Minnesota may pay as little as $35.
2. Save with a GoodRx discount
With a GoodRx discount, you may pay as low as $239.69 for one 5 mL bottle of Besivance 0.6%.
To get your discount:
Visit www.goodrx.com, or download the app.
Search for “Besivance,” and click on “Find the lowest prices.”
Select the quantity.
Choose how you’d like to receive the coupon: text, email, or printout. If you’re using the app, keep the coupon ready on your phone or save it to your digital wallet.
Tell the pharmacist that you’ll be using a GoodRx discount before they process your prescription to avoid delays at checkout.
3. Shop around for the best pharmacy prices
Pharmacy prices can vary widely, even within the same neighborhood. Search www.goodrx.com to find the best price for Besivance in your area.
4. Consider using your tax-free dollars
You can use funds in your health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), or health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) to pay for Besivance and other qualifying medical expenses.
Keep in mind that you must use the money in your FSA by the end of your plan year or you’ll lose it, unless your employer offers a grace period or allows you to carry over a portion. HSA funds roll over each year and remain available whenever you need them. HRA carryover rules vary by employer, so check with your benefits administrator to understand how your specific plan works.
The bottom line
One 5 mL bottle of Besivance 0.6% costs around $268.84 without insurance or discount programs. What you actually pay can vary based on where you live, which pharmacy you use, your insurance coverage, and whether you qualify for financial assistance.
With the manufacturer’s copay savings card, you may pay as little as $25 for one bottle of Besivance if you have commercial insurance and meet other eligibility criteria. Without insurance coverage, the savings card may reduce your cost to $70 for a bottle.
You could also lower your out-of-pocket costs for Besivance by using a free GoodRx discount, comparing pharmacy prices, or paying with a tax-advantaged account.
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 December 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
Bausch + Lomb Copay Program. (n.d.). Patient copay savings made easy.
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.
