How Much Is Erythromycin Without Insurance?
Key takeaways:
Erythromycin is a generic antibiotic with a number of brand names. This medication also comes in several forms, including capsules, topical gels, eye ointments, and tablets. It can treat bacterial infections, such as those of the skin and respiratory tract, in adults and children.
Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic. It works by blocking the creation of certain proteins in bacteria. As a result, the bacteria stop growing.
Without insurance, a course of 28 erythromycin 500 mg tablets could cost an average of $470.15. However, you may be able to save even more by using a GoodRx coupon.
Access savings on related medications
Table of contents
Erythromycin (E.E.S., Ery-Tab, Eryc, Erygel, EryPed, Erythra-Derm, Erythrocin, Erythrocin stearate) is an antibiotic that works by stopping the growth of bacteria in the body. In particular, erythromycin is considered a macrolide antibiotic that hinders the creation of certain proteins in bacteria.
Erythromycin basics
Erythromycin comes in many forms, including capsules, topical treatments, and tablets. Some of this medication’s brand names include Ery-Tab, Eryc, and Erythra-Derm. Several brand names, including Eryderm and Ilotycin, have been discontinued.
The chart below provides a summary of basic information about erythromycin.
Erythromycin Basics
| Generic name | Erythromycin |
| Brand names |
|
| Forms (how it comes) |
|
| FDA-approved uses | Erythromycin is approved for a range of conditions, including:
|
| Benefits |
|
| Possible side effects | Erythromycin capsule
Erythromycin gel
Erythromycin eye ointment
Erythromycin oral suspension
Erythromycin tablet
|
Is erythromycin covered by insurance?
Most insurers cover most forms of generic erythromycin. Erythromycin oral tablets, in various formulations and doses, are covered by most Medicaid and Medicare plans. Most commercial plans also cover erythromycin tablets, including health insurance purchased through an Affordable Care Act (ACA, also known as Obamacare) marketplace.
If you have insurance, review your plan’s summary of benefits and coverage and formulary (list of covered medications) to determine whether your specific prescription for generic erythromycin is covered. If not, contact your prescription plan provider and ask about your coverage options. You can also discuss alternatives with your prescriber or a pharmacist.
How insurance covers erythromycin
The following charts show the likelihood of coverage for different forms of erythromycin, based on the type of insurance plan.
Most health insurance plans don’t require enrollees to get prior authorization or do step therapy. But prior authorization and step therapy are required for some people covered by Medicaid.
Insurance Coverage for Erythromycin (oral tablet, 250 mg)
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for 250 mg erythromycin tablet | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
Commercial (not including plans purchased through an ACA marketplace) | 98.8% | 1.9% | 0.14% |
97.8% | 0.1% | 0.31% | |
Medicare, including original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans | 95.6% | 0% | 0% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 99.9% | 42.8% | 1.49% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of January 6, 2025. (See methodology below.)
Insurance Coverage for Erythromycin (oral tablet, 500 mg)
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for 500 mg erythromycin tablet | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
Commercial (not including plans purchased through an ACA marketplace) | 98.6% | 1.9% | 0.14% |
ACA plans | 98% | 0.2% | 0.31% |
Medicare, including original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans | 95.6% | 0% | 0% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 99.9% | 42.8% | 1.49% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of January 6, 2025. (See methodology below.)
Erythromycin vs. amoxicillin: Compare the uses, side effects, costs, and more for these two common antibiotic medications.
Interactions with other medications: Erythromycin can interact with medications including statins and blood thinners — and increase their risk of side effects.
The case for antibiotics: Find out when to take erythromycin and other medications that fight bacterial infections.
Insurance Coverage for Erythromycin DR (delayed-release tablet, 250 mg)
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for 250 mg erythromycin delayed-release tablet | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
Commercial (not including plans purchased through an ACA marketplace) | 97.8% | 1.8% | 0.12% |
ACA plans | 80.5% | 0.1% | 0% |
Medicare, including original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans | 93.7% | 0% | 0% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 99.7% | 28.5% | 0% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of January 6, 2025. (See methodology below.)
Insurance Coverage for Erythromycin DR (delayed-release tablet, 500 mg)
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for 500 mg erythromycin delayed-release tablet | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
Commercial (not including plans purchased through an ACA marketplace) | 97.8% | 1.8% | 0.12% |
ACA plans | 79.6% | 0.3% | 0% |
Medicare, including original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans | 88.5% | 0% | 0% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 99.7% | 28.5% | 0% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of January 6, 2025. (See methodology below.)
Insurance Coverage for Erythromycin Ethylsuccinate (oral tablet, 400 mg)
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for 400 mg erythromycin ethylsuccinate tablet | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
Commercial (not including plans purchased through an ACA marketplace) | 96.5% | 2.3% | 0.02% |
ACA plans | 83.5% | 0% | 0.31% |
Medicare, including original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans | 67.3% | 0% | 0% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 99.9% | 35.9% | 2.12% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of January 6, 2025. (See methodology below.)
Tips if your medication isn’t covered by insurance
Here are a few options if your health insurance doesn’t cover erythromycin:
If your prescription isn’t covered, ask your prescriber about an alternative antibiotic that may meet your needs.
Discuss switching to a lower-cost generic if you were prescribed a brand-name version of erythromycin.
Request an exception from your prescription medication formulary. This may require you to do step therapy or get prior authorization to be covered.
If you request a formulary exception and are denied coverage, file an appeal with your plan.
Use a GoodRx coupon.
During your next open enrollment period, weigh your options. You may be eligible for another plan with better prescription medication coverage.
How much does erythromycin cost without insurance?
Erythromycin is considered a low-cost generic medication. Without insurance, what you pay for erythromycin depends on several factors, including your:
Medication formulation
Specific pharmacy
Geographic location
Fill amount
Prescribed dosage
The following tables show what you might pay for different quantities, doses, and forms of erythromycin.
Erythromycin Costs
Forms and dosage | Average cash price |
|---|---|
Eye ointment (1 g of 0.5%), 1 tube | |
Eye ointment (3.5 g of 0.5%), 1 tube | |
Tablet (250 mg), 30 tablets | |
Tablet (500 mg), 30 tablets | |
Topical gel (30 g of 2%), 1 tube | |
Topical gel (60 g of 2%), 1 tube | |
Topical solution, 1 bottle |
Erythromycin DR Costs
Dosage | Average cash price |
Capsule, 250 mg (30 capsules) | |
Tablet, 250 mg (30 tablets) | |
Tablet, 333 mg (30 tablets) | |
Tablet, 500 mg (30 tablets) |
Erythromycin Ethylsuccinate Costs
Dosage | Average cash price |
Oral suspension (100 mL of 200 mg/5 mL), 1 bottle | |
Oral suspension (200 mL of 200 mg/5 mL), 1 bottle | |
Oral suspension (100 mL of 400 mg/5 mL), 1 bottle | |
Tablet, 400 mg (30 tablets) |
Ways to save on erythromycin without insurance
Erythromycin could already have a lower price than other antibiotics, but you still may be able to save even more on a prescription. Here are four ways to save on erythromycin without insurance.
1. Use a GoodRx coupon
With a GoodRx coupon, you may be able to pay a lower price for your erythromycin prescription. For example, you could get 28 erythromycin 500 mg tablets for as little as $50.46 at certain pharmacies with a free GoodRx coupon.
Here’s how to get a coupon:
Visit www.goodrx.com, or download the GoodRx app on your mobile device.
Type “erythromycin” in the search field.
Select the correct formulation, quantity, dosage, and location.
Choose to receive your coupon via email or text, or print it out.
Show the coupon at the pharmacy when you pick up your medication. If you present the coupon to your pharmacy staff early in the filling process, such as when you first receive your prescription, this could prevent delays at the pickup counter.
2. Compare prices at various pharmacies
The cost of a medication can vary widely, even among pharmacies in the same region. With GoodRx, you can easily compare costs at different pharmacies to find the best erythromycin price in your area.
3. Ask your prescriber about alternatives
If you’re concerned about the cost of erythromycin, speak with a pharmacist or your prescriber. There may be another medication that adequately treats your condition and fits your budget.
4. Use tax-advantaged healthcare funds
If you have a flexible spending account, health savings account, or health reimbursement arrangement, consider using those funds to buy your medication. This can lower your out-of-pocket costs through tax savings.
The bottom line
Erythromycin (E.E.S., Eryc, Erygel, EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythra-Derm, Erythrocin, Erythrocin stearate) is an antibiotic used to treat many bacterial infections. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria in the body.
While erythromycin may cost less than other antibiotics, the amount you pay depends on the formulation you’re prescribed, as well as your pharmacy, location, quantity, dosage form, insurance coverage, and other factors. If you don’t have insurance, a course of 28 generic erythromycin 500 mg tablets could cost as little as $50.46 with a GoodRx coupon. Other forms, such as capsules or topical formulations, may cost more or less.
If your insurance doesn’t cover erythromycin, another way to save money is to use a GoodRx coupon. You also could use tax-advantaged funds from a healthcare account or compare prices at several pharmacies to find the best price near you. Ask your prescriber if you can use an alternative medication that costs less.
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 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 the ACA, commercial (excluding ACA) plans, Medicare, and Medicaid (both state-run and managed care plans).
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). About rheumatic fever.
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Managed care.
MedlinePlus. (2019). Erythromycin.
Vázquez-Laslop, N., et al. (2018). How macrolide antibiotics work. Trends in Biochemical Sciences.
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