Key takeaways:
Metronidazole (Flagyl) is a low-cost, generic antibiotic that comes in several forms, including creams, gels, and oral tablets. Most insurance plans cover metronidazole without restrictions.
Without insurance, a typical course of 14 tablets of metronidazole 500 mg cost and average of $16.72. With GoodRx, you may pay as low as $9.66 for the same quantity and dose. GoodRx can also help you save on other forms of metronidazole.
Other ways to save on metronidazole include comparing prices among pharmacies and using tax-advataged healthcare funds to pay for your prescription.
Save on related medications
Metronidazole (Flagyl) is an antibiotic that works by interacting with the DNA of bacteria, causing them to die. It can treat a variety of infections and comes in many dosage forms. Common forms include oral tablets, topical creams, and vaginal gels.
Metronidazole comes as a lower-cost, generic medication. And most insurance plans cover it without restrictions. But if you're uninsured, you're likely looking for ways to lower costs. Below are details on how much metronidazole is without insurance and ways you can save on your prescription.
How much does metronidazole cost without insurance?
Metronidazole is a lower-cost, generic medication. The following table shows what you might pay for different quantities, doses, and forms of metronidazole.
Metronidazole Costs
Metronidazole forms and doses | Average cash price |
|---|---|
Capsule (375 mg), 14 capsules | |
Cream (45 g of 0.75%), 1 tube | |
Lotion (59 mL of 0.75%), 1 bottle | |
Tablets (250 mg), 14 tablets | |
Tablets (500 mg), 14 tablets | |
Topical gel (45 g of 0.75%), 1 tube | |
Topical gel (55 g of 1%), 1 pump | |
Topical gel (60 g of 1%), 1 tube | |
Vaginal gel (70 g of 0.75%), 1 package |
Without insurance, what you pay for metronidazole depends on several factors, including:
The pharmacy you use
Where you live
Whether you've been prescribed a brand-name or generic version of metronidazole
Your prescribed quantity, dose, and dosage form
Is metronidazole covered by insurance?
Most insurers cover generic metronidazole, including nearly all Medicaid and Medicare plans and commercial plans, including those purchased through an Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace.
If you have insurance, review your plan’s summary of benefits and coverage and formulary (its list of covered medications) to determine whether generic metronidazole 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 metronidazole
Most insurance plans don’t require enrollees to get prior authorization or do step therapy (trying other medications first). But there are rare instances where some plans require these extra steps.
The following tables show the likelihood of coverage for metronidazole tablets and vaginal gel, based on the type of insurance plan.
Insurance Coverage for Metronidazole (Oral Tablet, 500 mg)
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for 500 mg metronidazole oral tablet | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
Commercial (not including plans purchased through an ACA marketplace) | 98.6% | 0% | 0% |
85.5% | 0% | 0% | |
Medicare, including original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans | 96.6% | 0% | 0% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 99.9% | 5.2% | 0% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of December 13, 2024. (See methodology below.)
Insurance Coverage for Metronidazole (Vaginal Gel, 0.75%)
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for 0.75% metronidazole vaginal gel | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
Commercial (not including plans purchased through an ACA marketplace) | 97.5% | 0% | 0% |
ACA plans | 85.2% | 0.2% | 0.31% |
Medicare, including original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans | 96.3% | 0% | 0% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 99.9% | 8.1% | 0.92% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of December 13, 2024. (See methodology below.)
Tips if your medication isn’t covered by insurance
Here are a few options if your health insurance doesn’t cover metronidazole:
Use a GoodRx coupon to help lower costs (more on this below).
If you were prescribed a brand-name version of metronidazole, ask your pharmacist or prescriber about switching to a lower-cost generic.
Ask your prescriber about alternatives medications for your infection. Your insurance plan may offer better coverage for them.
Request an exception from your prescription medication formulary. If you request a formulary exception and are denied coverage, file an appeal with your plan.
Ways to save on metronidazole without insurance
Here are three ways to save on metronidazole without insurance.
1. Use a GoodRx coupon
With a GoodRx coupon, you may be able to pay a lower price for your metronidazole prescription. For example, you could get 14 tablets of metronidazole 500 mg for as little as $9.66 at certain pharmacies with a free GoodRx coupon.
The table below shows what you might pay with GoodRx for different forms of metronidazole.
Metronidazole forms and doses | GoodRx price (as low as) |
|---|---|
Capsule (375 mg), 14 capsules | |
Cream (45 g of 0.75%), 1 tube | |
Lotion (59 mL of 0.75%), 1 bottle | |
Tablets (250 mg), 14 tablets | |
Tablets (500 mg), 14 tablets | |
Topical gel (45 g of 0.75%), 1 tube | |
Topical gel (55 g of 1%), 1 pump | |
Topical gel (60 g of 1%), 1 tube | |
Vaginal gel (70 g of 0.75%), 1 package |
Here’s how to get a coupon:
Visit www.goodrx.com, or open the GoodRx app on your mobile device.
Type “metronidazole” in the search field.
Click or tap "Start saving," or press return.
Select the correct quantity, dosage type, 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.
You can access discounted prescription medications with a GoodRx Companion subscription. Over 200 medications are available for free, with hundreds more under $10. The program also includes benefits to help you cut your self-pay costs, such as lower prices for online care visits, discounts on dental care, and other health services.
Keep in mind: GoodRx savings may vary by pharmacy and the state you live in. The GoodRx website and app can help you compare prices in your area.
2. Compare prices at various pharmacies
With GoodRx, you can easily compare costs at different pharmacies to find the best metronidazole price in your area.
3. Tap into your HSA, FSA, or HRA
Consider using a health savings account (HSA), a flexible spending account (FSA), or a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) to purchase metronidazole. These accounts let you use pretax dollars to pay for qualified medical expenses, including prescription medications. This can help you lower your spending through tax savings.
Be sure to review the details for using your HSA, FSA, or HRA funds. FSA funds have an expiration date. But HSA and HRA funds typically roll over and can be saved for later use.
The bottom line
Metronidazole (Flagyl) is a lower-cost, generic antibiotic used to treat many bacterial infections. It comes in many dosage forms, including creams, gels, and oral tablets.
Without insurance, a typical course of 14 tablets of metronidazole 500 mg cost and average of $16.72. With GoodRx, you may pay as low as $9.66 for the same quantity and dose. GoodRx can also help you save on other forms of metronidazole. Other ways to save include using tax-advantaged funds from a healthcare account or comparing prices at several pharmacies.
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 December 2024.
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
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Managed care. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Weir, C. B., et al. (2023). Metronidazole. StatPearls.
