How Much is Cephalexin Without Insurance?

Cephalexin (Keflex) is an FDA-approved cephalosporin antibiotic. It’s often prescribed to treat a range of bacterial infections in kids and adults, including ear infections, respiratory tract issues, and urinary tract infections.

The brand-name version is no longer available, but you can get generic cephalexin as an oral capsule, tablet, or suspension (liquid). And if you’ve just been handed a prescription for cephalexin, you might wonder how much it will cost. Cephalexin is typically an affordable medication, but the price depends on the form, the dosage, and a few other factors.

How much does cephalexin cost?

The cost of cephalexin without insurance varies based on your prescription’s strength and dosage form. For adults, a typical dosage might be 500 mg capsules twice a day for 7 days (14 capsules), which costs around $14.33. If you’re prescribed the 250 mg capsule 4 times daily for the same period (28 capsules), you’ll pay about $14.38.

See the table below for the cost of cephalexin at some pharmacies:

For children and those who have trouble swallowing pills, cephalexin is available in an oral suspension (liquid form). Since children’s dosages are calculated by body weight, the amount needed can vary.

A 100 mL bottle of the 125 mg/5 mL concentration costs about $25.68 without insurance. For the 250 mg/5 mL concentration, expect to pay around $27.79 for the same-size bottle. Your daily dose determines how long a bottle will last. For instance, if you’re taking 1,000 mg of the medication per day, a 100 mL bottle of the 250 mg/5 mL concentration will last 5 days.

What factors affect the cost of cephalexin?

Cephalexin prices vary based on different factors, including:

• Location: Cities like New York and New Orleans tend to have higher-than-average prescription costs, while places like Denver and Atlanta usually offer lower prices, according to GoodRx research.

• Pharmacy: Prescription costs can vary significantly among pharmacies, even those located near one another. So it’s worth comparing prices.

• Insurance: With insurance, your out-of-pocket expenses will depend on your plan’s specifics, like deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.

• Dosage: The dosage prescribed depends on the type and severity of the infection. Higher doses or longer treatment durations generally lead to higher costs.

• Dosage form: Prices can also vary based on which dosage form of cephalexin you need. Some pharmacies may charge less for capsules than for tablets, even at the same dosage.

Does insurance cover cephalexin?

Antibiotics like cephalexin are generally covered by most health insurance plans. Since cephalexin is available as a generic medication, it typically doesn’t require prior authorization or step therapy.

Review your insurance plan’s formulary (a list of covered medications) to see which pricing tier includes cephalexin and what your out-of-pocket costs might be.

How different insurance plans cover cephalexin

Here’s how different insurance plans typically handle cephalexin coverage, including the need for prior authorization and step therapy:

Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, as of September 26, 2024 (see methodology below)

Ways to save on cephalexin

Here are some ways to save on cephalexin regardless of your insurance status:

1. Use a GoodRx coupon

You can get a discount on cephalexin at many pharmacies with a free GoodRx coupon. The table below shows what you can expect to pay for different doses of generic cephalexin with GoodRx:

Visit www.goodrx.com, or download the GoodRx app to get your coupon.

2. Shop around

Even with a coupon, it’s worth comparing prices since medication costs can vary widely between pharmacies. GoodRx makes it easy to check prices in your area. Just type “cephalexin” in the search box, and press enter to see a list of nearby pharmacies and their prices.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• Diarrhea and nausea are common side effects of cephalexin. A pharmacist shares other side effects of this medication and tips on how to manage them.

• Cephalexin can interact with metformin, a medication commonly used to manage blood glucose. Here are some other cephalexin interactions you should know about.

• How much cephalexin do you need? Our pharmacist explains the different doses of cephalexin and what to do if you take too much of the medication.

3. Make the most of your HSA or FSA funds

A health savings account (HSA) or a flexible spending account (FSA) can help cover your cephalexin costs. Simply use your HSA or FSA card at the pharmacy, or pay out of pocket and request reimbursement. FSA funds do expire, so use them before your savings go to waste.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Maggie Aime, MSN, RN

Maggie's writing brings health topics to life for readers at any stage of life. With over 25 years in healthcare and a passion for education, she creates content that informs, inspires, and empowers.

Edited 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:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

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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 October 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).