Key takeaways:
Jardiance (empagliflozin) is a medication used to help control blood sugar in type 2 diabetes. It’s also used to lower the risk of cardiovascular death in people with type 2 diabetes and a history of heart problems.
Jardiance is only available as a brand-name medication. But it may have more benefits and fewer drawbacks than less expensive medications.
There are many ways to save on Jardiance. If you’re eligible, a manufacturer savings card can help you access Jardiance for as little as $10 per month. A patient assistance program is also available.
Table of contents
Treating the physical effects of type 2 diabetes almost always includes concern over potential cardiac events, including heart attacks. Jardiance is shown to be successful at lowering the risk of cardiovascular death among people with type 2 diabetes who also have a history of heart problems. But it’s only available as a brand-name medication, and a generic version won’t be available before 2025 at the earliest.
Below we examine ways to save on Jardiance.
What is the history of Jardiance and its use?
Jardiance is a brand name for empagliflozin. It’s part of a drug class known as sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. Jardiance prevents sugar (glucose) reabsorption in your kidneys so that it ends up leaving your body in urine. This helps to lower the level of sugar in your bloodstream. Unlike other medications, Jardiance helps to lower blood sugar levels independent of insulin. Because of this, Jardiance carries a low risk of blood sugar levels dropping to hypoglycemic (low) levels.
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Jardiance in August of 2014, first as blood sugar medication. In December 2016, the FDA approved Jardiance to lower the risk of heart-disease death among people with type 2 diabetes.
How to save on Jardiance
There are ways to save on Jardiance, which is only available as a brand-name medication. GoodRx can help you navigate between copay savings cards and patient assistance programs to save money on your prescription.
Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $10 for Jardiance using a savings card from the manufacturer.
Save with patient assistance programs. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Jardiance’s patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of cost.
Additional details about these programs are provided below.
Jardiance Savings Card
| Program website | https://www.jardiance.com/support-and-savings/ |
| Phone number | 1-866-279-8990 |
| Manufacturer | Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals |
| How much can I save? | Your copay may be reduced to as little as $10 per month, with maximum savings of $175 per 30-day supply. |
| How do I get the discount? | Download and print a card online. |
| Are there any restrictions? | This discount is only available to commercially insured people. You must be at least 18 years old and live in the 50 United States, Washington D.C., or Puerto Rico. People covered by public programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, or VA benefits aren’t eligible. |
Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) Cares Foundation Patient Assistance Program
| Program website | https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.us/our-responsibility/patient-assistance-program |
| Phone number | 1-800-556-8317 |
| Manufacturer | Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals |
| How much can I save? | If you meet eligibility requirements, your Boehringer Ingelheim medications are free of charge. |
| How do I apply for the program? | Fill out the form to apply for the program. You can ask your healthcare provider to help. |
| Are there any restrictions? | You must be a resident with a physical address in the United States or its territories. You will need proof of your total yearly household income. Contact the program to see if you’re eligible. |
How effective is Jardiance?
In 2015, a study was done with people taking Jardiance who had type 2 diabetes and a high risk of cardiovascular events. The study showed that after 3 years those taking Jardiance had a 38% lower death rate from heart-disease causes and a 32% lower death rate from all causes, when compared with those who took a sugar pill (placebo). Study participants taking Jardiance also had lower hospital admissions for heart failure.
Is Jardiance better than metformin?
Metformin is a mainstay of diabetes treatment, and as a generic medication is relatively inexpensive. It has an average retail price of $15 for a 30-day supply.
Jardiance and metformin are sometimes used together. A study suggested that taking Jardiance along with metformin helps lower hemoglobin A1C levels — which measures your average blood sugar levels over 3 months. A drug called Synjardy combines the two medications into one tablet.
Of the available type 2 diabetes medications, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) treatment guidelines recommend metformin as the first-choice treatment. This means that if you’re diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, your provider will likely discuss getting a prescription for metformin first. But if you have certain underlying conditions or risks, like heart disease, your provider may suggest a medication like Jardiance for its heart-protective benefits instead.
Are there safety warnings for the use of Jardiance?
There are several safety warnings for Jardiance. The most common side effects are urinary tract infection (UTI) and yeast infections in both the vagina and the penis. Jardiance should not be taken by people with severe kidney problems or those who are on dialysis.
Other side effects that can occur with Jardiance include:
Upper respiratory tract infection
More urination than usual
Changes in cholesterol levels
Joint pain
Nausea
When taking Jardiance, you’ll want to be careful to avoid drug interactions. Although it helps to control blood sugar levels independent of insulin, there is a hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) risk when used with other medications like insulin or those that cause insulin to be secreted.
There’s also a risk of low blood pressure and dehydration when Jardiance is taken with diuretics. Diuretics are medications commonly used to treat heart conditions that may cause you to urinate more than usual.
Does insurance cover Jardiance?
More than 90% of Medicare prescription drug plans cover the cost of Jardiance, but some may require prior approval. Your out-of-pocket expense depends on what stage of Medicare coverage you are in, and if you have met your deductible for the year. Many other insurance plans offer coverage as well.
If your insurance doesn’t cover Jardiance, you can ask your doctor to help you submit an appeal.
Are there alternatives to Jardiance?
If you are paying out of pocket, the retail price for Jardiance is going to be more than Invokana but less than Victoza, a similar SGLT2 inhibitor administered differently.
Victoza is a once-daily non-insulin injection that lowers blood sugar. It carries a potential risk of thyroid tumors.
Invokana provides similar benefits as Victoza, plus some benefits for people with kidney disease. But it carries a risk of leading to infection and foot ulcers that require amputation.
Invokamet and Invokamet XR are once or twice daily pills that combine Invokana and metformin into one pill. Invokamet is less expensive than the other medications mentioned. The difference between the two medications is how often they are taken and how quickly they get into the bloodstream.
You may want to ask your healthcare provider about whether a potential switch and its tradeoffs make sense for you.
The bottom line
Jardiance is an effective medication to help lower the risk of cardiovascular death in a person with type 2 diabetes who also has a history of heart problems. You may be able to qualify for a manufacturer savings card or patient assistance program if your insurance doesn’t cover Jardiance. You also can talk to your provider about alternative medications.
Co-contributor: Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD
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References
Baker, C., et al. (2021). Should metformin remain the first-line therapy for treatment of type 2 diabetes? Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Boehringer Ingelheim. (n.d.). BI cares patient assistance program.
Boehringer Ingelheim. (n.d.). BI cares patient assistance program application.
Boehringer Ingelheim. (n.d.). Savings & support.
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (2021). Jardiance [package insert].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Diabetes and your heart.
Diabetes.co.uk. (2016). Study reveals benefits of Jardiance and metformin combination therapy in type 2 diabetes.
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (2020). Invokana [package insert].
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2016). FDA approves Jardiance to reduce cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Zinman, B., et al. (2015). Empagliflozin, cardiovascular outcomes, and mortality in Type 2 diabetes. New England Journal of Medicine.
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