Key takeaways:
Levothyroxine is a synthetic thyroid hormone medication that treats hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland). In addition to the generic, it’s available as the brand-name medications Levoxyl, Euthyrox, Levo-T, Unithroid, Synthroid, and Tirosint, among others.
The average retail price for a 1-month supply of 50 mcg generic levothyroxine is about $11.32. However, the price you pay could be higher or lower depending on your location, the pharmacy, and other factors.
There are many ways to save on levothyroxine, including using a free GoodRx coupon or a manufacturer savings card.
If you have hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland), you may have heard of a generic medication called levothyroxine. You may also be familiar with the brand-name versions of the medication: Levoxyl, Euthyrox, Levo-T, Unithroid, Synthroid, and Tirosint, among others.
Levothyroxine is a prescription-only medication that treats hypothyroidism by providing the body with a synthetic version of the thyroid hormone that is being underproduced. It may also be prescribed as part of thyroid cancer treatment and for other thyroid-related health conditions. Levothyroxine is taken by mouth once a day and comes in tablets, capsules, and several liquid forms.
The cost of levothyroxine can vary depending on many factors, including your location, the pharmacy, and the quantity being filled. But whether you’re buying the generic or a brand-name version of levothyroxine, there are ways you can save money on your medication.
How much does levothyroxine cost?
Without insurance or discounts, 30 tablets of 50 mcg generic levothyroxine costs an average of $11.32. Exactly how much you’ll pay for the medication can depend on the pharmacy you choose, your insurance coverage, and other factors.
Factors that can affect the price of levothyroxine include:
Your location
Your insurance status
The pharmacy you choose
The quantity and dose you’re prescribed
Whether you fill the generic or a brand-name version
Your eligibility for patient assistance programs and other savings opportunities
Your reason for taking levothyroxine may also affect the cost. There are off-label uses for the medication that may not be covered by insurance. These uses include treating female infertility with elevated thyroid antibodies, obesity, and depression.
Does insurance cover levothyroxine?
Levothyroxine was initially FDA approved for the treatment of hypothyroidism and related conditions in 2000. Most health insurance plans cover the medication for these uses. However, the exact level of coverage depends on the specific insurance plan.
Nearly all plans cover generic levothyroxine. About 99% of commercial plans and Medicare plans — and 100% of Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans — cover the generic medication. Medicaid also covers levothyroxine for 99.9% of enrollees, but about 5% need prior authorization before filling their prescription.
Check your health plan’s formulary (list of covered medications) or contact your insurer to see if the brand-name versions of the medication are covered and what requirements you must meet to qualify for coverage.
How different insurance plans cover generic levothyroxine
The table below shows the likelihood of having coverage for generic levothyroxine — as well as prior authorization and step therapy requirements — with different types of insurance plans.
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for levothyroxine 50 mcg tablets | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
100% | 0% | 1.7% | |
Commercial plans (excluding ACA plans) | 99.1% | 0% | 0.4% |
Medicare, including original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans | 99.7% | 0% | 0% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 99.9% | 5.1% | 0% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of June 13, 2025. (See methodology below.)
Save money with a health savings account (HSA). Find out how to use an HSA to save on prescription medications like levothyroxine.
Levothyroxine side effects: Common levothyroxine side effects include diarrhea and heat intolerance. Find out more about levothyroxine’s potential side effects.
What’s it like to take levothyroxine for hypothyroidism? Read about three people’s experiences with levothyroxine and what an expert pharmacist has to say.
How can you get your insurance to cover levothyroxine?
If you need to take levothyroxine for hypothyroidism and you have insurance, the following steps can help ensure you have coverage for the medication:
Take a look at your health insurance plan. Call your insurance provider to find out about the prescription medication coverage included in your health plan. You can also check your plan’s formulary to see if generic levothyroxine or a particular brand-name version is covered.
Request a prescription from your healthcare professional. You will need a prescription to get levothyroxine. Make an appointment with your healthcare professional to discuss your condition and whether levothyroxine may help.
Get prior authorization if necessary. Your insurance company may want confirmation that you have hypothyroidism before covering levothyroxine. If so, you may need prior authorization, which involves your healthcare professional verifying your condition and the need for levothyroxine as a treatment. This is more common for brand-name versions of levothyroxine.
Submit an appeal if needed. If your insurance company says no to your first request for coverage, you can submit an appeal in writing. Review the details of your plan and the reason you were denied coverage to ensure you build a strong case.
Brand-name vs. generic levothyroxine
The cost of Synthroid and other brand-name versions of levothyroxine is generally higher than that of generic levothyroxine. But switching from a brand-name version to the generic (and vice versa) isn’t typically recommended. There have been concerns about consistency in thyroid hormone levels when switching between different versions of levothyroxine.
If you’re taking a brand-name version of levothyroxine and have concerns about the cost, you can talk to your prescriber about switching to the generic version. They may need to monitor your thyroid levels more closely and make dosage adjustments to ensure your levels stay within the desired range.
8 ways to save money on levothyroxine
Whether you have insurance coverage or not, here are eight ways to spend less on levothyroxine.
1. Opt for generic levothyroxine after consulting with your prescriber
Generic medications usually cost about 80% to 85% less than brand-name medications. For example, the average retail price for 30 tablets of 50 mcg Synthroid is $74.50. The same amount and dose of generic levothyroxine, on the other hand, costs around $11.32 on average. But as mentioned, you’ll need to talk to your prescriber before making the switch to generic.
2. Use a GoodRx coupon
Whether you have insurance or not, a free GoodRx coupon for generic levothyroxine may be able to help you save money on the medication. All you have to do is search for levothyroxine at www.goodrx.com, choose your coupon, and print it out or send it to your phone. Then, you can give the information to your pharmacy before picking up your prescription. This can help you avoid delays and make sure you get the discounted price.
With a GoodRx coupon, you may be able to get 30 tablets of 50 mcg generic levothyroxine for as low as $4.00 at certain pharmacies.
3. Get a manufacturer copay savings card
Manufacturer copay savings cards may be able to help you save money on certain brand-name versions of levothyroxine. There are usually requirements and restrictions with these types of savings cards. So read the terms and conditions and contact the specific manufacturer if you have questions about an offer.
The following manufacturers provide savings cards for brand-name levothyroxine, but you must have commercial insurance to be eligible. This list does not include all available savings offers.
Copay savings card | Offer | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|
A 30-day supply for as low as $25 or a 90-day supply for as low as $75 | You can’t access this program if you receive coverage through a federal, state, or government-funded insurance program. Restrictions like monthly maximums may apply. | |
A 30-day supply for as low as $25 or a 90-day supply for as low as $60 | This offer is not valid if you receive coverage for prescription medications through a federal, state, or government-funded insurance program. | |
A 30-day supply for as low as $3 | This offer is not valid if you receive coverage for prescription medications through a federal, state, or government-funded insurance program. You can use this offer 18 times per calendar year or until the program expires. |
The manufacturer of Unithroid also offers an eVoucherRx program. There are no cards or coupons involved, and eligible participants get an automatic copay reduction at participating pharmacies.
4. Apply for a patient assistance program
Patient assistance programs (PAPs) help uninsured and underinsured people afford medications. For example, there’s a Tirosint PAP, but it’s not currently open to new enrollees. But if you’re prescribed Tirosint-Sol, a liquid form of levothyroxine, you can apply for the PAP.
5. Sign up for a prescription delivery program
The manufacturers of Synthroid and Unithroid offer delivery programs to help eligible people save on the cost of these medications. Through the Synthroid Delivers Program, you may be able to pay as low as $25 a month if you get a 90-day prescription. Through the Unithroid at Your Door program, you may be able to pay $28 for a 30-day prescription or $24 a month if you get a 90-day prescription. You may not use insurance with these programs.
6. Ask your healthcare professional to prescribe you a 90-day supply
Some pharmacies may cut you a deal if you buy your medication in bulk. And purchasing a 90-day supply of levothyroxine could result in fewer insurance copays.
However, before you ask your prescriber to write you a 90-day prescription, make sure your insurance plan covers the supply, if applicable. You may also have to adhere to specific prescription refill rules, depending on where you live.
7. Compare prices at different pharmacies
Many people have no idea that the prices for their medications can vary by pharmacy. You can check prices for levothyroxine at pharmacies in your area at www.goodrx.com or on the GoodRx app to find the best deal. A pharmacy switch could help you save on your levothyroxine prescription.
8. Ask about alternative medications
Although levothyroxine is the primary medication used for hypothyroidism, there are alternative thyroid medications, such as liothyronine (Cytomel) and desiccated thyroid (Armour Thyroid), that treat the condition. These aren’t considered first-choice options for most people, so be sure to check with your insurance provider and healthcare professional to see if these medications are covered by your plan, affordable, and suited for your condition.
The bottom line
The average retail price for the generic version of levothyroxine is around $11.32 for thirty 50 mcg tablets. But the price you pay for your medication may be higher or lower depending on your pharmacy, location, dosage, and other factors. You can save money by looking into manufacturer copay savings cards and prescription delivery programs. You can also download a free GoodRx coupon to save on the generic levothyroxine.
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 June 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
Brito, J. P., et al. (2022). Association between generic-to-generic levothyroxine switching and thyrotropin levels among US adults. JAMA Internal Medicine.
HealthWarehouse. (n.d.). Unithroid at Your Door prescription delivery program
Liu, H., et al. (2022). Levothyroxine: Conventional and novel drug delivery formulations. Endocrine Reviews.
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Managed care.
RelayHealth. (n.d.). eVoucherRx search.
Synthroid. (n.d.). Support programs. AbbVie.
Tirosint-SOL. (n.d.). Patient assistance program. IBSA Pharma.
