Key takeaways:
Cephalexin (Keflex) is a prescription antibiotic used to treat many bacterial infections.
A week’s supply of cephalexin 500 mg capsules, taken twice daily, typically costs around $11.30 without insurance or discounts. But your out-of-pocket cost can vary based on your dosage, the pharmacy you choose, and whether you have insurance coverage.
A free GoodRx discount can help lower the cost of cephalexin. You can also use HSA, FSA, or HRA funds to help reduce your out-of-pocket cost.
Save on related medications
Cephalexin (Keflex) is a common cephalosporin antibiotic. It’s prescribed to treat a range of bacterial infections in kids and adults, including ear, respiratory tract, and urinary tract infections.
Cephalexin is available as a low-cost generic medication. But the price you pay can still vary depending on your dosage, the pharmacy you choose, your insurance coverage, and other factors. Let’s look at how much cephalexin typically costs without insurance, which factors influence its price, and simple ways to save money on your prescription.
How much does cephalexin cost without insurance?
The cost of cephalexin without insurance varies based on your prescription’s strength and dosage form. For adults, a typical dosage of 500 mg capsules twice a day for 7 days (14 capsules), costs $11.30 on average without insurance or discounts.
Search and compare options
The table below shows the average cash price of common forms and doses of cephalexin.
Generic cephalexin dose, forms, and quantity | Average retail price without insurance or discounts |
|---|---|
250 mg capsules, #28 | about $11 |
250 mg capsules, #56 | about $15 |
500 mg capsules, #14 | about $11 |
500 mg capsules, #28 | about $13 |
750 mg capsules, #14 | |
250 mg tablets, #28 | |
250 mg tablets, #56 | |
500 mg tablets, #14 | |
500 mg tablets, #28 | |
125 mg/5 mL oral suspension (liquid), 100 mL | |
250 mg/5 mL oral suspension, 100 mL |
Which factors affect the cost of cephalexin?
Cephalexin prices vary based on different factors, including:
Location: New York and New Orleans, for example, tend to have higher-than-average prescription costs, while Denver and Atlanta usually offer lower prices, according to GoodRx research.
Pharmacy: Prescription costs (without insurance) can vary significantly among pharmacies, even those located near one another. GoodRx can help you compare prices in your area to find the most affordable option.
Dosage: The cephalexin form and dosage you’re prescribed depends on the type and severity of the infection. Higher doses or longer treatment generally lead to higher costs.
Insurance: Insurance coverage can help lower your cephalexin cost. But even with insurance, what you pay can vary based on your plan’s specifics, such as deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.
Does insurance cover cephalexin?
Cephalexin and other common antibiotics are generally covered by most health insurance plans. Since cephalexin is available as a generic medication, it typically doesn’t require extra steps, such as prior authorization or step therapy.
Checking your coverage in advance can help you know whether cephalexin is covered and what you can expect to pay. You can typically access your insurance plan’s formulary (list of covered medications) online or by calling the help desk number on your prescription insurance card.
How different insurance plans cover cephalexin
The chart below shows how well different insurance plans cover cephalexin, including the need for prior authorization and step therapy.
Insurance type for generic cephalexin | Enrollees covered for this medication | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans | 99.5% | 0% | 0.02% |
Commercial (not including ACA plans) | 99.4% | 0% | 0% |
Medicare (original Medicare and Medicare Advantage) | 99.2% | 0% | 0% |
Medicaid (including state-run and managed care plans) | 99.9% | 1.2% | 0% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, as of September 26, 2024 (see methodology below)
Ways to save on cephalexin
Here are three ways to save on the cost of cephalexin.
1. Use a GoodRx coupon
You can lower the price of 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.
Generic cephalexin dose, forms, and quantity | Lowest GoodRx price (at certain pharmacies) |
250 mg capsules, #28 | |
250 mg capsules, #56 | |
500 mg capsules, #14 | |
500 mg capsules, #28 | |
750 mg capsules, #14 | |
250 mg tablets, #28 | |
250 mg tablets, #56 | |
500 mg tablets, #14 | |
500 mg tablets, #28 | |
125 mg/5 mL oral suspension (liquid), 100 mL | |
250 mg/5 mL oral suspension, 100 mL |
To save with GoodRx:
Visit www.goodrx.com or download the app.
Search for “cephalexin.”
Select your prescribed dose, form, and quantity.
Choose if you want to receive the discount information by text or email. You can also take a screenshot on your phone.
To avoid delays, provide the discount information to the pharmacy before you pick up your medication.
Keep in mind: GoodRx savings may vary by pharmacy and geographic location. The GoodRx website and app can help you compare prices in your area.
2. Enroll in GoodRx Companion
You can access discounted prescription medications with a GoodRx Companion subscription. Over 250 medications (including some forms of cephalexin) are available for free, with hundreds more under $10 per month.
The GoodRx Companion program also includes benefits to help you cut your self-pay costs, such as lower prices for online care visits, discounts on dental care, and other health service savings.
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 those funds to pay for cephalexin and other qualifying medical expenses.
FSA money must be used by the end of your plan year or you’ll lose it, unless your employer provides a grace period or lets you carry over a portion. HSA funds, however, roll over each year and remain available whenever you need them. HRA rules depend on your employer’s plan design.
The bottom line
What you pay for cephalexin can vary based on your dosage, the pharmacy you choose, and whether you have insurance coverage. The cost of cephalexin without insurance or discounts is around $11.30 for a week’s supply of 500 mg capsules, taken twice daily. But you can pay as low as about $11 for the same prescription with a free GoodRx discount. You can also use HSA, FSA, or HRA funds to help reduce your out-of-pocket cost.
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 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).
Frequently asked questions
No, cephalexin is an antibiotic that’s available only by prescription. That’s because it treats only certain infections. And taking cephalexin when you don’t need it or for the wrong type of infection can lead to antibiotic resistance.
Yes, cephalexin is generally considered a safe antibiotic to take during pregnancy. But your healthcare team will determine the best antibiotic based on the type of infection you have. Be sure to tell them if you’re pregnant or trying to become pregnant so they can choose a safe option.
Cephalexin and other antibiotics typically start working within hours of your first dose. But it can take a few days before you start feeling better. It’s also important to finish your complete course of treatment — even if you feel better. This helps ensure the antibiotic can clear out any lingering bacteria, so you don’t get sick again after you stop taking it. It also helps prevent antibiotic resistance (when antibiotics stop working against certain bacteria).
No, cephalexin is an antibiotic that’s available only by prescription. That’s because it treats only certain infections. And taking cephalexin when you don’t need it or for the wrong type of infection can lead to antibiotic resistance.
Yes, cephalexin is generally considered a safe antibiotic to take during pregnancy. But your healthcare team will determine the best antibiotic based on the type of infection you have. Be sure to tell them if you’re pregnant or trying to become pregnant so they can choose a safe option.
Cephalexin and other antibiotics typically start working within hours of your first dose. But it can take a few days before you start feeling better. It’s also important to finish your complete course of treatment — even if you feel better. This helps ensure the antibiotic can clear out any lingering bacteria, so you don’t get sick again after you stop taking it. It also helps prevent antibiotic resistance (when antibiotics stop working against certain bacteria).
References
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Managed care. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
