How Much Is Montelukast Without Insurance?
Key takeaways:
Montelukast (Singulair) is an FDA-approved, prescription-only medication used to manage asthma, exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), and allergies.
Without insurance, the average cost for 30 tablets of 10 mg montelukast is around $62.43. The average price for a 1-month supply of 5 mg chewable tablets is $95.21.
There are several ways to save on montelukast, including using a GoodRx coupon and comparing prices at pharmacies in your area.
Montelukast (Singulair) is an FDA-approved, prescription-only medication that’s typically used to manage asthma and allergies. As a leukotriene receptor antagonist, this oral medication works by blocking certain molecules that cause inflammation in the body.
Montelukast is usually prescribed as an add-on treatment for people living with asthma who need support beyond inhalers. When used for allergies, it’s reserved for cases in which standard treatments haven’t worked.
If you’re starting treatment with montelukast, understanding the costs can be helpful, since prices can vary significantly based on a few factors.
How much does montelukast cost?
The cost of montelukast varies depending on the form and dosage you need. The typical dosage for adults is one 10 mg tablet daily, which costs an average of $62.43 for a 1-month supply without insurance.
There are children's formulations that come as chewable tablets or oral granules. Children’s dosages of montelukast are based on age and the condition being treated. Without insurance, the 5 mg chewable tablets run about $95.21 for a 30-day supply on average. But you may pay about $144.46 for 30 packets of the 4 mg granules.
Here's a table showing the average retail prices for various forms and dosages of generic montelukast and brand-name Singulair without insurance.
Montelukast (Singulair) version | Quantity and form | Dose | Average retail price |
|---|---|---|---|
Generic | 30 tablets | 10 mg | |
Generic | 30 chewable tablets | 4 mg | |
Generic | 30 chewable tablets | 5 mg | |
Generic | 30 granule packets | 4 mg | |
Brand name | 30 tablets | 10 mg | |
Brand name | 30 chewable tablets | 4 mg | |
Brand name | 30 chewable tablets | 5 mg | |
Brand name | 30 granule packets | 4 mg |
What factors affect the cost of montelukast?
Various factors can impact the cost of montelukast:
Location: Your city and state can significantly influence how much you pay for montelukast. Based on GoodRx research, cities like Dallas and Denver often have medication prices that are below the national average, while places like New Orleans and Milwaukee tend to have above-average medication prices.
Pharmacy: Pharmacies often have different prices for the same medication, even if they’re located close by. It’s even possible for one pharmacy to charge more than one that’s just down the street.
Insurance: If you’re insured, your out-of-pocket medication expenses — like your deductible, copays, or coinsurance — will determine how much you pay for montelukast.
Generic versus brand-name version: Choosing generic montelukast can offer substantial savings compared to brand-name Singulair.
Dosage: Adults usually take the same dosage of montelukast, regardless of the reason they’re taking the medication. However, children's dosages vary by age and the condition being treated, which can affect the medication’s cost.
Form: Montelukast granules can cost nearly double what you'd pay for the chewable tablets at the same dosage, depending on the pharmacy.
Does insurance cover montelukast?
Most health insurance plans cover generic montelukast without requiring a prior authorization or step therapy. However, coverage can vary among plans when it comes to the brand-name version. Some plans might cover the generic montelukast but place brand-name Singulair on a nonformulary list, which means it isn’t covered unless you’re granted an exception.
To find out your coverage details for montelukast, check your insurance plan’s formulary, which is a list of the medications it covers. You’ll be able to find out whether the generic and/or brand-name version is covered, which pricing tier applies, and what your out-of-pocket costs could be.
How different insurance plans cover montelukast
The following table shows the percentage of people who have coverage for montelukast, and who need a prior authorization or step therapy, with different types of insurance.
Insurance type | Enrollees who have coverage for montelukast | Enrollees required to get a prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans | 99.7% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Commercial (not including ACA plans) | 99.4% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
Medicare (original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans) | 99.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Medicaid (including state-run and managed care plans) | 99.9% | 4.7% | 0.0% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of October 17, 2024. (See methodology below.)
Want to save money on prescription medications? From applying to patient assistance programs to downloading a GoodRx coupon, here are ways to save on your medication.
What medications interact with montelukast? Get experts’ answers to this commonly asked question and others.
Upper respiratory infections, fever, and headaches are common side effects of montelukast. Here are details about these and other side effects you should know about, including tips to manage them.
There are steps you can take if your insurance doesn’t cover montelukast, including:
Speak with your prescriber about trying other medications that your plan might cover.
Contact your insurance to ask for a formulary exception to get montelukast covered.
If your insurance denies your request for a formulary exception, appeal the decision.
During your next open enrollment period, look into insurance plans that offer coverage that better fits your needs.
Ways to save on montelukast
Whether you have insurance or not, there are several ways to reduce your costs for montelukast. Below are five possible ways to save:
1. Get a GoodRx coupon
With a free GoodRx coupon, you may be able to significantly reduce the price of montelukast, especially if you choose the generic version. Many pharmacies accept these coupons, and GoodRx’s price comparison tool makes it easy to find the best deal in your area.
The table below shows what you might pay for a 30-day supply of different doses and forms of generic and brand-name montelukast with a GoodRx coupon.
Montelukast (Singulair) version | Quantity and form | Dose | Price with a GoodRx coupon |
|---|---|---|---|
Generic | 30 tablets | 10 mg | |
Generic | 30 chewable tablets | 4 mg | |
Generic | 30 chewable tablets | 5 mg | |
Generic | 30 granule packets | 4 mg | |
Brand name | 30 tablets | 10 mg | |
Brand name | 30 chewable tablets | 4 mg | |
Brand name | 30 chewable tablets | 5 mg | |
Brand name | 30 granule packets | 4 mg |
Get a coupon by visiting www.goodrx.com or downloading the GoodRx app.
2. Request a 90-day prescription
Getting a 90-day prescription could help you save on montelukast. Many pharmacies offer discounts on larger quantities of medication. And some insurance plans may also charge lower copays for 3-month prescriptions.
Ask your prescriber if switching from monthly to quarterly refills of montelukast is an option for you.
3. Consider using a mail-order pharmacy
Using a mail-order pharmacy could save you both time and money. Many insurance plans offer reduced copays for using their preferred mail-order service.
4. Tap into a tax-advantaged account
You can lower your montelukast costs by using tax-free health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) funds to pay for the medication. You can either pay directly with an HSA or FSA card at the pharmacy or submit your receipts for reimbursement. Unlike HSA funds, FSA funds expire, so be sure to use them before the deadline.
5. Check your eligibility for patient assistance programs
Financial support for Singulair or generic montelukast may be available through the HealthWell Foundation if you meet eligibility requirements. Though their Asthma Fund is temporarily closed to new applicants, the program could reopen in the future. Check the foundation’s website periodically for the latest information on their patient assistance program availability.
The bottom line
A 30-day supply of generic montelukast 10 mg tablets costs an average of $62.43 without insurance.
Your specific pharmacy, insurance benefits, and dosage and form can determine exactly how much you’ll pay for the medication. But you can reduce your costs by using a GoodRx coupon and comparing prices at different pharmacies. You might also consider going through a mail-order pharmacy and using funds from a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) to save money.
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 October 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
Aetna. (2024). Plan for your best health: 2024 Aetna pharmacy drug guide.
Global Initiative for Asthma. (n.d.). Reports.
HeathWell Foundation. (n.d.). Asthma.
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Managed care.
Torrent Pharmaceuticals. (2024). Montelukast sodium tablet, chewable, montelukast sodium tablet, montelukast sodium granule [package insert]. DailyMed.
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