How Much Do Enbrel Injections Cost? Average Price, Plus Coupons and Other Saving Tips
Key takeaways:
Enbrel (etanercept) is a specialty prescription medication used to treat autoimmune disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis.
The list price of Enbrel is about $1,850 for a 50 mg dose per week, but you could pay more depending on how many weekly doses you’re prescribed and the pharmacy you visit, among other factors.
You can save on Enbrel by using a GoodRx coupon, patient assistance programs, or insurance. If you’re eligible, a manufacturer savings card can help you access Enbrel for as little as $0 per month.
Table of contents
Enbrel (etanercept) is one of the most commonly prescribed brand-name medications in the U.S. It is a biologic that can reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Enbrel is also used to treat other autoimmune disorders, such as plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis (PA), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). In 2023, the medication was approved for the treatment of juvenile psoriatic arthritis. Enbrel can help protect against the progression of joint damage from different types of arthritis conditions.
Enbrel can cost thousands of dollars for a month’s supply without insurance, but there are several ways to save on your medication, such as using a GoodRx coupon.
How much does Enbrel cost?
The list price for Amgen’s Enbrel medication is currently $1,850 per 50 mg dose, but the retail price for consumers is typically higher. This means you could end up paying over $8,000 for a month’s supply of Enbrel (four 50 mg autoinjectors), which adds up to more than $96,000 per year. But steps are being taken to reduce this cost. For example, Enbrel was one of the medications selected for the first round of Medicare medication price negotiations as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.
Enbrel is a specialty medication. That means it may not be carried by every pharmacy. Typically, it comes in 50 mg doses packaged in individual cartridges or syringes, including prefilled autoinjectors. But the prescription medication is also available in 25 mg vials or syringes.
What factors affect the cost of Enbrel?
The price you pay for Enbrel can vary depending on various factors, including:
Number of weekly doses
Pharmacy visited
Dose
Geographic location
Insurance status
Qualification for assistance programs or discounts
4 ways to save on Enbrel
There are numerous ways to save money on your Enbrel prescription, whether or not you have insurance. Here are four cost-saving strategies to consider:
1. Download a GoodRx coupon
With a GoodRx coupon, you could see significant savings off the retail price of medications. For example, you may pay around $7207.48 for 1 carton (four 50 mg doses) of Enbrel, which is much lower than the average retail price of $12488.62. Your actual savings will depend on your location. You can visit the GoodRx website to compare prices near you and download a coupon.
To get a GoodRx coupon for Enbrel, visit https://www.goodrx.com or download the mobile app. Next, enter "Enbrel" and click "set your location." Be sure to select the Enbrel dose and dosage form you use. You'll see a list of available coupons for pharmacies near you. Comparing prices for your prescription always makes sense, whether you're insured or not.
2. Apply to an Enbrel patient assistance program
Amgen offers a patient assistance program for many of its medications, including Enbrel. If you qualify, you can receive Enbrel free of cost through the Amgen Safety Net Foundation. You must meet specific requirements, including:
Live in the U.S. or its territories for at least 6 months
Meet household income guidelines
Be uninsured or have an insurance plan that doesn’t cover Enbrel
If you have Medicare Part D, show proof that you are unable to pay for the medication
3. Get a copay savings card
If you have private or commercial insurance, you may be able to pay as little as $0 per month by applying for an Enbrel manufacturer copay card. Your health insurance must cover Enbrel, and you must be enrolled in Amgen SupportPlus to sign up for a copay savings card.
There are no minimum income guidelines for the savings card, but you may need to meet other eligibility requirements. The program is not available to people who are covered through Medicare, Medicaid, or other government healthcare programs. It’s also not available if you are paying for your prescription medication out of pocket.
4. Use your HSA or FSA
You may be able to use funds in your health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) to pay for prescription medications such as Enbrel. These accounts offer tax advantages that can help you save money when using the funds for qualified medical expenses. If you have an FSA, you’ll need to use the funds in your account and submit your receipt for reimbursement before the yearly deadline or you risk losing the money in your account.
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When will Enbrel be available in generic form?
Biologic medications don’t have generic versions the way other medications do. Instead, they have biosimilars. Biosimilars are highly similar to the reference (brand-name) biologic and are often available at a lower cost. There is no biosimilar for Enbrel on the market currently. Some biosimilars, such as Erelzi and Eticovo, have been FDA-approved. But due to patent decisions, they’re not expected to be on the market until 2029.
Does insurance cover Enbrel?
Yes. Health insurance plans may cover Enbrel. Check your plan’s summary of benefits and coverage for more details. Your coverage may depend on the following:
Plan formulary
Reason for taking Enbrel
Whether you’ve tried other medications
Most Medicare plans cover Enbrel, though you may have to pay a large deductible or copay. You may also need to get a prior authorization from your prescriber, which is an advance approval from your insurance company to cover a medical treatment or procedure. And you may need to go through step therapy before your insurance company pays for Enbrel.
Are there alternative medications to Enbrel?
Suppose your insurance doesn't cover Enbrel, or the medication doesn't work for you. There are alternative medications that your healthcare professional may prescribe, depending on what health condition you’re treating. These include:
Cimzia (certolizumab)
Simponi (golimumab)
Remicade (infliximab) or its biosimilars, Avsola (infliximab-axxq) and Inflectra (infliximab-dyyb)
Talk to your healthcare professional about which medication may best meet your needs. If there’s a medication besides Enbrel that works for you, you may be able to lower your prescription costs.
What about Humira? Is that a good alternative to Enbrel?
Humira (adalimumab) and Enbrel are similar injectable biologic medications. They both work by blocking tumor necrosis factor (TNF) to help reduce inflammation caused by RA and other autoimmune conditions. If you are prescribed Humira, you may be able to save on costs — whether or not you have insurance — through the:
Manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim has partnered with GoodRx to help individuals without commercial insurance, or those whose insurance doesn’t cover it, save on adalimumab-adbm, an interchangeable biosimilar for Humira. If you have commercial insurance, you can pay as little as $0 per dispense for your prescription. However, if you don’t have commercial insurance or your prescription is not covered by your insurance, you can pay as little as $550 for each two-pack kit with a GoodRx coupon.
The bottom line
Enbrel (etanercept) is an injectable biologic medication used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and other autoimmune conditions. The list price for Enbrel is about $1,850 per 50 mg dose. But you can save on Enbrel, with or without insurance. A manufacturer’s copay savings card, patient assistance program, and FSA or HSA are among the ways to reduce out-of-pocket costs. You can also ask your healthcare professional about alternative medications.
Why trust our experts?
Amgen. (n.d.). Amgen SupportPlus co-pay card terms & conditions.
Amgen Safety Net Foundation. (2023). Eligibility.
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. (2023). Inflation Reduction Act Research Series—Enbrel: Medicare enrollee use and spending.
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (2024). Boehringer Ingelheim and GoodRx announce exclusive patient affordability initiative for adalimumab-adbm injection, Boehringer's biosimilar to Humira.
Hagen, T. (2021). NJ court decision means 3 decades of product exclusivity for Enbrel. Center for Biosimilars.
Immunex Corporation. (2024). Enbrel (etanercept) injection, for subcutaneous use [package insert].
Immunex Corporation. (2023). Enbrel (etanercept) injection, for subcutaneous use [package insert].
Immunex Corporation. (2023). Looking for support? You’ve come to the right place.
Immunex Corporation. (2023). Paying for Enbrel (etanercept).
Novartis. (2021). US Supreme Court denies Sandoz petition to review biosimilar Erelzi (etanercept-szzs) case.
Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. (2019). Eticovo (etanercept-ykro) injection, for subcutaneous use [package insert].
U.S. Food & Drug Administration. (2016). FDA approves Erelzi, a biosimilar to Enbrel.
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