Key takeaways:
Epsolay (benzoyl peroxide) is a prescription-only cream used to treat rosacea in adults.
Epsolay is a brand-name medication with no generic alternative. Without insurance, one 30 g pump of Epsolay cream (5%) costs an average of $732.48.
The manufacturer doesn’t offer discounts for Epsolay at this time. But with a GoodRx coupon, you may be able to pay a cash price as low as $563.32.
Save on related medications
Anything that affects your appearance has the potential to cause distress. An estimated 1 in 20 people worldwide have rosacea, a skin condition that causes persistent redness and painful red bumps and blemishes on the face.
Epsolay (benzoyl peroxide) may minimize symptoms of rosacea. The prescription-only cream for adults is prescribed for daily use to treat the inflammatory lesions of rosacea, which typically appear on the forehead, chin, nose, and cheeks. Epsolay is formulated to not cause irritation, so it can work on sensitive skin — though it is not FDA approved for children.
In 2025, a subsidiary of Mayne Pharma purchased the rights to license and sell Epsolay in the U.S. from Sol-Gel Technologies. At the time this article was published, Mayne Pharma had not announced any copay or patient assistance programs for Epsolay.
Keep reading to find out how much Epsolay costs without insurance and how you can access it at the most affordable price.
How much does Epsolay cost?
Without insurance, one 30 g pump of Epsolay cream (5%) costs an average of $732.48. With a GoodRx discount, you may be able to pay a cash price as low as $563.32. There is no generic alternative for Epsolay.
What factors affect the cost of Epsolay?
Without insurance, what you’ll pay for Epsolay depends on several factors, including your:
Pharmacy: Pharmacies (and wholesalers) can set their own prices, so where you fill your prescription matters.
Location: Prescription medication costs can vary by geographic location.
Fill quantity: Medications can be more affordable over time when purchased beyond a monthly supply. In this case, buying more than 1 pump at a time may lower your price per pump.
Does insurance cover Epsolay?
Some health insurance plans cover Epsolay. If you have insurance, review your plan’s summary of benefits and coverage and formulary (list of covered medications) to determine whether Epsolay is covered. If not, contact your plan and ask about your coverage options. You can also discuss alternatives with your prescriber or pharmacist.
How different insurance plans cover Epsolay
Most Medicaid plans cover Epsolay, but prior authorization is almost always required. To get prior authorization, your prescriber will have to provide documentation that demonstrates Epsolay is medically necessary for you.
Step therapy (trying other, usually more affordable, medications first) is most commonly required for people covered by Medicaid and commercial (private) plans not purchased through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace.
The chart below shows how frequently different types of insurance cover Epsolay, and whether prior authorization or step therapy is usually required.
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for one 30 g Epsolay pump (5%) | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
23.6% | 17.1% | 5.7% | |
Commercial plans (excluding ACA plans) | 37.1% | 14.2% | 10.5% |
Medicare (Medicare Advantage and Part D plans) | 7.1% | 3.8% | 4.4% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 98.2% | 92.6% | 11.1% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of January 10, 2026. (See methodology below.)
Tips if your medication isn’t covered by insurance
If your insurance doesn’t cover Epsolay, try these options:
Use a GoodRx coupon to potentially save on your prescription.
Ask your prescriber about less costly treatments that meet your needs. This could mean switching to another brand-name medication that costs less or a medication that has a generic option available. As mentioned, Epsolay doesn’t have a generic alternative available.
Request a formulary exception from your insurance company. If your request is denied, you have the right to file an appeal with your plan.
When it’s time for open enrollment, compare health insurance plans to find one that covers your medications.
Ways to save on Epsolay
Whether or not you have insurance, there are ways to reduce the cost of Epsolay. Here are four options to consider.
1. Use a GoodRx coupon
You may be able to use a free GoodRx coupon to lower the price of your Epsolay prescription. For example, without insurance, you could pay as low as $563.32 for 1 pump with a GoodRx coupon at certain pharmacies.
Visit www.goodrx.com or the GoodRx app to download and use a coupon. Here’s how:
On the app or website, type “Epsolay” in the search field.
Choose the desired quantity. Enter your ZIP code or address, or select “Use my current location,” so you see results for local pharmacies.
Choose how you want to receive your coupon. You may want it emailed or texted to you, or you may want to print it out.
Take your coupon with you to the pharmacy. Present the coupon to the pharmacy’s staff early in the filling process to help avoid delays at the pickup counter.
2. Ask about a larger quantity
You may be able to reduce your overall costs for Epsolay by filling a prescription for 2 or 3 pumps instead of 1 pump of the cream.
3. Tap into your HSA, FSA, or HRA
Consider using a flexible spending account (FSA), a health savings account (HSA), or a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) to pay for your medication. You can enjoy multiple tax benefits, and reduce your out-of-pocket costs, by using an FSA, HSA, or HRA to pay for qualified healthcare expenses. But be sure to review your account’s contribution limits, rollover limits, and eligible expenses.
4. Check for savings updates from the manufacturer
While there are no financial assistance programs currently available through Epsolay’s manufacturer, this could change in the future. In 2025, Mayne Pharma gained the right to sell Epsolay in the U.S. At the time of this article, the company was still in the process of updating its product website for Epsolay. Continue to check this site to see if any manufacturer savings programs become available.
The bottom line
Epsolay (benzoyl peroxide) is a prescription-only cream used to treat rosacea in adults. There is currently no generic version of the medication available.
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 January 10, 2026.
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
Keesecker, N. (2024). New study estimates rosacea’s worldwide prevalence. National Rosacea Society.
Mayne Pharma Commercial. (2025). Epsolay - benzoyl peroxide cream [package insert].
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Managed care.
Sol-Gel Technologies. (2025). Sol-Gel and Mayne Pharma announce the purchase of Epsolay and Twyneo in the U.S.
