How Much is Emgality Without Insurance?
Key takeaways:
Emgality (galcanezumab) is an injectable prescription medication that’s FDA approved for migraine prevention and treating episodic cluster headaches. It’s most commonly available as a 120 mg prefilled injection pen, but it also comes in a prefilled syringe with 100 mg or 120 mg.
Without insurance or discounts, one prefilled injection pen of 120 mg brand-name Emgality costs about $870.59. But you might pay around $693.52 for the same quantity and dose with a GoodRx coupon at certain pharmacies.
Many insurance plans cover brand-name Emgality, but there’s a good chance you’ll need prior authorization or step therapy.
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Table of contents
A typical headache might last only a few hours, but migraines can be more intense and come with symptoms like nausea and vomiting. To help manage these symptoms, a healthcare professional might recommend a subcutaneous (under-the-skin) injection such as Emgality (galcanezumab).
Emgality is FDA approved for migraine prevention and treating episodic cluster headaches. It is a monoclonal antibody that works by blocking calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a protein involved in migraine attacks.
A lower-cost generic does not exist for Emgality. But there are still ways to save on brand-name Emgality, including using a GoodRx coupon.
How much does Emgality cost?
Without insurance or discounts, one prefilled injection pen of 120 mg brand-name Emgality costs about $870.59. The amount you pay depends on several factors, such as how much you need and where you live.
For migraine prevention, you’ll start with two 120 mg injections (240 mg total) as a loading dose. After that, you’ll inject 120 mg once a month. For episodic cluster headaches, you’ll use three 100 mg injections (300 mg total) at the start of a cluster period. Then you’ll repeat the same dose once a month until the cluster period ends. It’s important to follow a healthcare professional’s instructions for when and how to inject Emgality.
Here’s a look at the average retail price for the different doses of brand-name Emgality at some pharmacies:
Emgality (galcanezumab) quantity and dose | Average retail price |
One prefilled pen of 120 mg | |
Two prefilled pens of 120 mg | |
Three prefilled pens of 120 mg |
What factors affect the cost of Emgality?
Emgality is a biologic medication, which means it’s made from living cells and can cost more than other types of medications. How much you pay out of pocket can depend on several things, such as:
Where you live: Medication prices can vary by city and state. GoodRx research shows that people in Atlanta and Denver, for example, may pay less for prescription medications than people in New Orleans and New York.
Which pharmacy you choose: Prices may be different at pharmacies that are only a few blocks apart. If you need to go to a specialty pharmacy, they may have different pricing or deals.
Your dosage: The amount of Emgality you need depends on why you’re taking it. Higher doses may cost more.
Insurance: If your insurance plan covers Emgality, you may still have costs to consider, such as deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.
Discounts: Savings programs, like manufacturer coupons or services such as GoodRx, can help lower your costs.
Does insurance cover Emgality?
Insurance coverage for Emgality depends on your specific plan. Most Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace and commercial insurance plans cover it. But there’s a good chance you’ll need prior authorization. Some plans also require step therapy, which means you have to try a lower-cost medication before Emgality is approved.
Medicare offers the least coverage for brand-name Emgality. Only about 60% of enrollees have access to it, and most will need prior authorization. Medicaid offers broader coverage, but over 60% of those plans also require prior authorization and step therapy.
To find out what your plan covers and what you might pay, check your insurance plan’s formulary or contact your insurer directly.
Make the most of your HSA funds: See how you can use your health savings account (HSA) to cover Cimzia and other eligible expenses.
Looking for ways to save? From manufacturer copay cards to GoodRx coupons, here are some ways to get help paying for your medications.
Common Emgality side effects: Learn the most common side effects and when you should contact your prescriber.
How different insurance plans cover Emgality
The following table shows the likelihood of coverage and prior authorization and step therapy requirements for brand-name Emgality based on the type of insurance plan.
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for Emgality pen 120 mg/mL | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
96.4% | 84.5% | 42.5% | |
Commercial plans (excluding ACA plans) | 94.8% | 62.9% | 34.8% |
Medicare (original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans) | 57.9% | 57.3% | 49.4% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 99.6% | 60.6% | 63.6% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of February 11, 2025. (See methodology below.)
If your insurance doesn’t cover Emgality, here are some options to consider:
Ask a healthcare professional about alternatives. They may be able to prescribe a different migraine medication that’s covered by your insurance or has lower out-of-pocket costs.
Request a formulary exception from your insurer. This is a special request asking your insurance company to cover Emgality, even if it’s not on their approved medication list. If they deny the formulary exception request, you can file an appeal.
Review your insurance options. During open enrollment, check if other plans offer better coverage for Emgality or other medications you take regularly.
Ways to save on Emgality
Whether or not you have insurance, here are five ways to save on brand-name Emgality:
1. Use a GoodRx coupon
A free GoodRx coupon may help you lower the cost of brand-name Emgality at many pharmacies. You can download a coupon by visiting www.goodrx.com or downloading the GoodRx app.
The price of Emgality can vary between pharmacies, so you can also do a quick search on www.goodrx.com to find the best prices in your area.
Here’s what you might pay for Emgality using a GoodRx coupon:
Emgality (galcanezumab) quantity and dose | GoodRx price |
|---|---|
One prefilled pen of 120 mg | |
Two prefilled pens of 120 mg | |
Three prefilled pens of 120 mg |
2. Check your eligibility for a manufacturer’s savings coupon
Lilly offers an Emgality savings card that may lower your out-of-pocket costs, but eligibility depends on your insurance coverage. Here’s what you can save using the manufacturer savings card:
If you have commercial medication insurance that covers Emgality, you may pay as little as $35 for a 1-month (30-day) prescription, for up to 15 fills per calendar year. Savings are capped at $4,900 per year and subject to monthly limits.
If your commercial insurance does not cover Emgality, you may be eligible to pay as little as $0 for your first 1-month fill. This benefit also includes savings on the medication’s full cost and usual pharmacy charges.
To be eligible, you must:
Have a valid prescription for Emgality
Use the medication as prescribed according to FDA-approved product labeling
Be enrolled in a commercial medication insurance plan
Not be enrolled in a government, federal, or state-funded healthcare program, like Medicaid, Medicare, or Tricare
The Emgality savings card is valid through December 31, 2025, but terms and eligibility may change at Lilly’s discretion. You can check your eligibility and apply on Lilly’s website.
3. Look into a patient assistance program
If you meet certain income requirements, are not enrolled in Medicaid, and meet other eligibility criteria, you may be able to get help paying for your medication through a patient assistance program. Emgality is one of the medications listed under the Lilly Cares Foundation’s patient assistance program. You can go on the website to check your eligibility and apply online.
4. Use a tax-advantaged healthcare account
A health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) lets you set aside pretax dollars to pay for healthcare expenses, including prescription medications like Emgality. You can use your HSA or FSA card at the pharmacy, or submit a claim to get reimbursed. If you have an FSA, using it for prescriptions can also help you avoid losing funds at the end of the year, since FSA money must be used by your plan’s annual deadline.
5. Ask about a 90-day supply
Ask a healthcare professional if you can get a 90-day supply of Emgality. Some pharmacies offer lower prices when you fill a larger quantity, and many insurance plans have reduced copays for 3-month prescriptions compared with monthly refills. It’s also more convenient, since you’ll be able to save money and time by making fewer trips to the pharmacy.
The bottom line
One prefilled injection pen of 120 mg brand-name Emgality costs about $870.59 without insurance or discounts. But your actual out-of-pocket costs will depend on factors like your insurance coverage and the pharmacy you choose. To save on costs, use a GoodRx coupon, see if you qualify for the manufacturer savings card, and look into patient assistance programs.
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 February 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
Eli Lilly and Company. (2025). Emgality- galcanezumab-gnlm injection, solution [package insert].
HealthCare.gov. (n.d.). Internal appeals. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Lilly Cares Foundation. (n.d.). Available medications.
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Managed care. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Rashid, A., et al. (2023). Calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor. StatPearls.
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