Key takeaways:
Without insurance, 30 tablets of atorvastatin 20 mg costs an average of $61.80. Many insurance plans cover atorvastatin, but about 5% of Medicaid plans require prior authorization.
GoodRx can help lower the cost of brand-name Lipitor 20 mg to as low as $593.39 per month. You could also pay as little as $6.00 for 30 tablets of generic atorvastatin 20 mg with a free GoodRx discount.
A manufacturer savings card can lower the price of brand-name Lipitor to $4 per month for eligible individuals with commercial insurance or who are uninsured.
Atorvastatin (Lipitor, Atorvaliq) is FDA approved to lower cholesterol among adults and children ages 10 and older. Generic tablets are widely available and cost-effective, but the liquid suspension is sold only under the brand name Atorvaliq, with no generic equivalent available.
The cost of atorvastatin varies by pharmacy, dose, and insurance coverage. Most health insurance plans will cover it, but for those without insurance, GoodRx coupons can help.
Here are the average retail prices for various doses and quantities of atorvastatin tablets.
Atorvastatin quantity | Dose | Average retail price |
|---|---|---|
30 tablets | 10 mg | |
30 tablets | 20 mg | |
30 tablets | 40 mg | |
30 tablets | 80 mg | |
90 tablets | 10 mg | |
90 tablets | 20 mg | |
90 tablets | 40 mg | |
90 tablets | 80 mg |
What factors affect the cost of atorvastatin?
The price of atorvastatin depends on several factors, including:
Location: GoodRx research shows that people in some cities — including New York and Milwaukee — typically face higher prescription prices, while those in Denver and Houston, for example, tend to pay below the national average.
Pharmacy: Prescription medication prices can vary significantly among pharmacies, even within the same neighborhood. This is because pharmacies negotiate pricing directly with manufacturers and other related partners, leading to differences in cost.
Insurance: Health insurance plans typically cover atorvastatin, but patients may still have out-of-pocket costs, including deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.
Dosage: The monthly cost of atorvastatin can vary between doses.
Savings cards and discounts: A GoodRx coupon can help reduce out-of-pocket costs for medication, often by a significant amount.
Does insurance cover atorvastatin?
Atorvastatin is covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid. Commercial and Medicare plans typically cover the medication without restriction. About 5% of Medicaid plans require a prior authorization for atorvastatin.
Below is a table summarizing the likelihood of having coverage for atorvastatin, along with prior authorization or step therapy requirements, across various insurance plans.
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for atorvastatin | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
99.8% | 0.1% | 0% | |
Commercial plans (not including ACA plans) | 99.4% | 0% | 0% |
Medicare, including original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans | 99.9% | 0% | 0% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 100% | 5.1% | 1.06% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of January 6, 2025. (See methodology below.)
If a patient’s insurance plan does not cover atorvastatin, you can consider switching to a different statin, such as rosuvastatin (Crestor), or a statin alternative. They can also request a formulary exception from the insurance company. If the request is denied, patients have the right to appeal the decision to seek coverage.
Ways to save on atorvastatin
Here are five ways to reduce the cost of atorvastatin for patients, whether or not they have insurance coverage.
1. GoodRx coupon
GoodRx provides free coupons that can help save money on atorvastatin at many pharmacies. These coupons can significantly reduce cost, and the GoodRx app also lets users compare prices at different locations to find the best deal. Coupons can be found at www.goodrx.com or through the GoodRx app.
Providing GoodRx coupon information to the pharmacy earlier in the prescription filling process can help expedite things for your patient. Consider sending GoodRx coupon information to the pharmacy at the same time as the patient’s prescription. You can also encourage your patient to tell the pharmacy they’ll be using a GoodRx coupon ahead of picking up their prescription.
Here are some example prices for various quantities and doses of atorvastatin using a GoodRx coupon.
Atorvastatin quantity | Dose | GoodRx price |
|---|---|---|
30 tablets | 10 mg | As low as $7.20 Exclusive savings $389.76 for brand-name Lipitor |
30 tablets | 20 mg | As low as $6.00 Exclusive savings $593.39 for brand-name Lipitor |
30 tablets | 40 mg | As low as $6.60 Exclusive savings $557.00 for brand-name Lipitor |
30 tablets | 80 mg | As low as $7.20 Exclusive savings $590.69 for brand-name Lipitor |
90 tablets | 10 mg | As low as $9.90 Exclusive savings $1116.00 for brand-name Lipitor |
90 tablets | 20 mg | As low as $10.29 Exclusive savings $1739.70 for brand-name Lipitor |
90 tablets | 40 mg | As low as $11.70 Exclusive savings $1656.00 for brand-name Lipitor |
90 tablets | 80 mg | As low as $13.50 Exclusive savings $1741.57 for brand-name Lipitor |
2. Manufacturer savings card
The Lipitor savings card can help eligible patients save on brand-name Lipitor, allowing them to pay as little as $4 for a 30-day supply. Eligible individuals may save up to $150 per month and up to $1,800 annually, but the savings card works only on brand-name Lipitor.
To qualify, users must have commercial insurance, either self-purchased or provided by their employer. The program is not available to those with Medicare, Medicaid, or other state or federal health insurance. But those who are uninsured may also be eligible. The Lipitor savings card cannot be used by patients living in Massachusetts or California whose Lipitor prescription is partially or fully reimbursed by insurance.
Also, the CMP EasyPay Copay Program offers savings on Atorvaliq. Eligible individuals may pay as little as $0 per prescription. This copay savings card has similar eligibility requirements as the Lipitor savings card.
3. Prescription changes
Consider switching to other statin medications, or statin alternatives, that are more affordable than atorvastatin. Switching to a 90-day supply of atorvastatin could also lower the cost. Many insurance plans charge less per month for a 3-month supply, and pharmacies may provide bulk discounts.
The bottom line
Without insurance, 30 tablets of atorvastatin 20 mg costs an average of $61.80. A GoodRx coupon can lower the price to as little as $6.00. The exact price depends on factors such as pharmacy choice, location, and dose.
To get the best price on atorvastatin, patients can use a GoodRx coupon, compare local pharmacy prices, or use a manufacturer savings card. Prescribing lower-cost alternatives and/or 90-day medication supplies are other ways you can help your patients save on prescription costs.
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 ACA plans, commercial (excluding ACA) plans, Medicare, and Medicaid (both state-run and managed care plans).
References
HealthCare.gov. (n.d.). Appealing a health plan decision. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
HealthCare.gov. (n.d.). Using your health insurance coverage: Getting prescription medications. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Managed care. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Viatris. (n.d.). Lipitor savings card terms and conditions.
