How Much Is Ibrance Without Insurance?
Key takeaways:
Ibrance (palbociclib) is an oral medication used to treat certain types of advanced or metastatic breast cancer. It helps slow cancer cell growth when taken with hormone therapy or another targeted therapy.
The list price of Ibrance is around $16,462 for a 28-day supply, but you could pay more due to pharmacy markups. Most types of insurance cover Ibrance, with many plans requiring prior authorization and step therapy.
To save on Ibrance, check if you qualify for the manufacturer savings card or a patient assistance program.
Table of contents
Ibrance (palbociclib) is an FDA-approved medication used to treat hormone receptor-positive (HR-positive) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-negative) advanced or metastatic breast cancer. It’s a type of targeted therapy known as a cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK 4/6) inhibitor and is used alongside hormone therapy or another targeted therapy.
Ibrance is available in both capsule and tablet forms. The typical dosage is one 125 mg capsule or tablet taken once daily by mouth for 21 days in a row, followed by a 7-day break. The capsules should be taken with food, while the tablets can be taken with or without food.
Due to the need for special handling and storage, Ibrance is distributed through specialty pharmacies. The medication costs thousands of dollars for a month’s supply, and no generic version is available. But you can lower your costs or even receive Ibrance for free through various savings programs.
How much does Ibrance cost?
The manufacturer’s list price for a 28-day supply (21 capsules) of 125 mg Ibrance is around $16,462. Without insurance or any discounts, the cost could be higher due to pharmacy markups.
Other factors that can affect your out-of-pocket costs for Ibrance include:
Pharmacy: Specialty pharmacies may have different pricing and negotiated rates for Ibrance, which can impact your costs. What you pay may also depend on whether you use a pharmacy that’s in network with your insurance.
Dosage: Ibrance comes in 75 mg, 100 mg, and 125 mg doses. The typical dosage is one 125 mg capsule taken once daily. If you experience side effects or have liver disease, your prescriber may adjust your dosage, which can affect what you pay.
Insurance: Even with insurance coverage, you may be responsible for deductibles, copays, or coinsurance.
Discounts: Your cost for Ibrance may be reduced if you qualify for the manufacturer copay savings card or a patient assistance program.
Does insurance cover Ibrance?
Nearly 9 in 10 people enrolled in an Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plan have coverage for Ibrance. But the majority of covered ACA enrollees will need prior authorization. More than 1 in 3 enrollees may need to do step therapy (try other medications first) before getting coverage for Ibrance.
Commercial insurance plans cover Ibrance for almost all enrollees, but prior authorization is required for about 3 in 4 covered plan members. Roughly 1 in 6 enrollees must complete step therapy.
Medicare provides coverage for Ibrance to everyone enrolled, though prior authorization is almost always required. More than half of Medicare enrollees must go through step therapy.
Considering using your health savings account (HSA) funds to pay for Ibrance? Here’s how your HSA can help cover the cost of Ibrance (palbociclib) and other medications.
Understanding Ibrance’s common side effects: Fatigue, low white blood cell count, and nausea top the list. Read what pharmacists say about these and other Ibrance side effects and how to manage them.
Looking for ways to save on medication costs? These tips can help lower your out-of-pocket costs for prescription medications.
Medicaid plans cover Ibrance for nearly all enrollees. About half will need prior authorization, but very few will need to do step therapy.
To understand how your insurance covers Ibrance, check your health plan’s formulary or contact your insurer.
How different insurance plans cover Ibrance
The tables below outline how likely Ibrance capsules and tablets are to be covered by different types of insurance, along with whether prior authorization or step therapy might be required.
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for Ibrance 125 mg capsules | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
89.2% | 83.8% | 36.7% | |
Commercial plans (not including ACA plans) | 98% | 74.9% | 17.1% |
Medicare, including original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans | 100% | 96.7% | 54.7% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 99.9% | 50.1% | 4.8% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of April 14, 2025. (See methodology below.)
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for Ibrance 125 mg tablets | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
ACA plans | 88.4% | 83% | 36.7% |
Commercial plans (not including ACA plans) | 97.9% | 74.9% | 22.1% |
Medicare, including original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans | 100% | 95.8% | 53.9% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 99.9% | 49.4% | 4.5% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of April 14, 2025. (See methodology below.)
If your insurance doesn’t cover Ibrance, try the following:
Check if you’re eligible for financial assistance through the manufacturer’s savings or patient assistance program. (See details below).
Ask your prescriber about an alternative treatment, like a different CDK 4/6 inhibitor, that might be covered by your insurance or have lower out-of-pocket costs.
Request a formulary exception to get Ibrance covered by your plan. Your prescriber may need to submit documentation and a letter of medical necessity to explain why this medication is needed.
If your formulary exception is denied, appeal the decision.
During the next open enrollment period, compare insurance plans to find one that provides better coverage for your medications.
Ways to save on Ibrance
Ibrance can cost thousands of dollars a month without insurance. But you can save on out-of-pocket expenses or potentially get the medication at no cost, whether or not you have insurance. Here are seven possible ways to save.
1. See if you qualify for the manufacturer’s savings program
If you qualify for the Pfizer Oncology Together copay savings card, you could pay as little as $0 per month for your Ibrance prescription.
To be eligible, you must:
Not be enrolled in a federal or state program like Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits
Have private insurance
The savings card is not valid if your insurance already covers the full cost of your prescription.
2. Check if you’re eligible for Pfizer’s patient assistance program
If you don’t have insurance or have Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, or VA benefits, you may qualify for help through Pfizer’s patient assistance program. It’s income-based, so you’ll need to show proof of income. You must also have a valid prescription and receive outpatient care. If you meet the program’s criteria, you may be able to get Ibrance for free.
Talk to a customer service representative at 1-877-744-5675 for more details on the application process.
3. Look into financial assistance through the PAN Foundation
The Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation offers eligible applicants up to $2,400 per year in financial assistance for breast cancer treatment. This can be used to help pay for many medications, including Ibrance. You must meet certain income and insurance requirements to qualify.
Funding is available at certain times of the year, so it’s a good idea to routinely check the PAN Foundation’s website for updates.
4. Consider Good Days’ patient assistance program
If you have metastatic breast cancer, Good Days might help cover your Ibrance costs. Eligibility depends on insurance and income requirements.
Good Days’ funds often close and reopen during the year. It’s worth checking the organization’s website regularly to see if help is available.
5. Try the Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief Program
The Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief Program provides financial assistance for copays, coinsurance, and deductibles. Eligibility depends on insurance and income requirements.
Like similar programs, funding isn’t always available, so keep an eye on the program’s website for updates.
6. Use your insurance’s preferred specialty pharmacy
If you have insurance that covers Ibrance, make sure to use your insurer’s preferred specialty pharmacy.
Using your plan’s preferred pharmacy can help you avoid higher out-of-pocket costs associated with going out of network. Specialty pharmacies can also assist with finding financial aid. Check with your insurer for a list of preferred pharmacies.
7. Tap into your HSA or FSA funds
Do you have a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA)? If so, you can use the tax-free money in your account to pay for Ibrance. Either pay directly with your HSA or FSA card when ordering your medication, or keep your receipts and request reimbursement.
If you have an FSA, using your account to pay for Ibrance is a good way to use the funds before they expire.
The bottom line
The list price of Ibrance is about $16,462 for a 28-day supply. However, the cost can vary depending on factors like your insurance coverage, the pharmacy you use, and whether or not you’re eligible for financial assistance programs.
If you have commercial insurance, you might qualify for Ibrance’s manufacturer savings card, which could lower your costs to as little as $0 per month. You may also be eligible for help through Pfizer’s patient assistance program or the Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation. Other ways to save include using your insurance’s preferred specialty pharmacy or tax-advantaged funds from a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA).
Why trust our experts?
References
Conner, K. (2025). What are CDK4/6 inhibitors? Breastcancer.org.
Good Days. (n.d.). Metastatic breast cancer.
HealthCare.gov. (n.d.). Internal appeals.
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Managed care.
Pfizer Laboratories. (2025). Ibrance- palbociclib capsule [package insert]. DailyMed.
Pfizer Laboratories. (2025). Ibrance- palbociclib tablet, film coated [package insert]. DailyMed.
Pfizer Oncology Together. (n.d.). Terms and conditions.
Pfizer Oncology Together. (2025). National specialty pharmacy distribution network.
PfizerRxPricing. (n.d.). Ibrance. Pfizer.
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