How Much Is Mupirocin Without Insurance?
Key takeaways:
Mupirocin (Centany) is a topical, prescription-only antibiotic that’s FDA approved to treat impetigo and other bacterial skin infections. It may also be prescribed off-label to treat other skin conditions, such as acne.
Most health insurance plans cover mupirocin. While Medicaid covers the highest percentage of enrollees, Medicare is the only insurer that doesn’t place restrictions on accessing the medication.
Without insurance, a 15 g tube of mupirocin 2% ointment costs an average of $34.13. The average price for the equivalent quantity and dose of mupirocin cream runs about $241.84.
Mupirocin (Centany) is a topical, prescription-only antibiotic. It is FDA approved to treat impetigo and various other skin infections caused by certain strains of Staphylococcus (staph) and Streptococcus (strep) bacteria. Mupirocin fights bacteria by blocking the production of proteins the organisms need to survive. Healthcare professionals may also prescribe mupirocin off-label for treating acne.
Mupirocin is generally applied to affected skin 3 times a day for up to 10 days. Mupirocin ointment, cream, and nasal ointment were previously available under the brand name Bactroban. But the manufacturer has since discontinued the brand-name versions of this medication.
What you’ll pay for mupirocin depends on factors like your chosen pharmacy and your prescribed dose and form. If you're paying out of pocket, using a GoodRx coupon can help you save money on your prescription.
Need ways to save on your prescription? Here are some options that could help make your medication more affordable.
Common mupirocin (Centany) side effects: Most mupirocin side effects, including burning or itching, are typically mild. But a severe reaction may occur in some instances.
Got a health savings account (HSA)? You can use your HSA to pay for prescription medications like mupirocin using tax-free dollars.
How much does mupirocin cost?
Without insurance, a 15 g tube of 2% mupirocin ointment costs an average of $34.13. The average cost for the equivalent quantity and dose of Mupirocin cream is $241.84. Mupirocin 2% ointment is available in 15 g and 22 g tubes. The 2% cream comes in 15 g and 30 g tubes.
The table below reflects the average retail price for various quantities, forms, and doses of mupirocin.
Mupirocin dose and form | Quantity | Average retail price |
|---|---|---|
2% ointment | 15 g tube | |
2% ointment | 22 g tube | |
2% cream | 15 g tube | |
2% cream | 30 g tube |
What factors affect the cost of mupirocin?
The cost of mupirocin can vary based on several factors, including:
Location: Where you live significantly influences the price of mupirocin. According to research from GoodRx, prescription medication prices are generally higher in cities like New York and Little Rock, Arkansas. But they tend to be lower in cities like Atlanta and Dallas.
Pharmacy: Prices for mupirocin can differ widely between pharmacies, even those located close to one another.
Insurance: If you have health insurance, your out-of-pocket expenses for mupirocin, which might include a deductible, copays, or coinsurance, will affect the total amount you pay.
Dose, form, and quantity: The details of your mupirocin prescription can affect the cost. The 30 g tube typically costs more than smaller quantities. Additionally, the ointment may be more affordable than the cream.
Does insurance cover mupirocin?
Most health insurance plans, including Affordable Care Act (ACA) and commercial options, generally cover mupirocin. Some commercial plans may require enrollees to get a prior authorization or do step therapy before covering the medication. However, Medicare plans typically cover mupirocin without restrictions. Medicaid plans cover mupirocin for the vast majority of enrollees, though a small number of enrollees may be required to get a prior authorization.
To better understand your coverage and out-of-pocket costs, review your plan’s formulary and reach out to your plan to ask if any additional steps are needed for coverage.
How different insurance plans cover mupirocin
The following table shows the likelihood of having coverage, as well as prior authorization and step therapy requirements, for mupirocin across various types of insurance plans.
Insurance Coverage for Mupirocin
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for mupirocin | Enrollees required to get a prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
85.5% | 0.9% | 0% | |
Commercial (not including ACA plans) | 98.5% | 1.2% | 10.4% |
Medicare, including original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans | 96.7% | 0% | 0% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 99.9% | 5.0% | 0% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of December 13, 2024. (See methodology below.)
If mupirocin is not covered by your insurance, you might consider taking the following steps:
Talk to your prescriber about alternative medications that might be covered or be more affordable.
Request a formulary exception from your insurer. If the request is denied, consider filing an appeal for coverage.
Look into changing your prescription medication insurance during the next open enrollment period.
Ways to save on mupirocin
There are several ways to lower your out-of-pocket costs for mupirocin, whether or not you have insurance. Here are four options to help you save.
1. Save with a GoodRx coupon
By using a free GoodRx coupon, you may be able to significantly reduce the cost of your mupirocin prescription.
The table below shows the potential costs for different doses, forms, and quantities of mupirocin when using a GoodRx coupon.
Mupirocin dose and form | Quantity | GoodRx price |
|---|---|---|
2% ointment | 15 g tube | |
2% ointment | 22 g tube | |
2% cream | 15 g tube | |
2% cream | 30 g tube |
To get your free GoodRx coupon:
Visit www.goodrx.com or download the GoodRx app on your phone.
Search for "mupirocin" and select your prescribed dose, quantity, and form (i.e., ointment or cream).
Click "Find the lowest prices" or press enter.
Choose to receive your coupon via text or email, or print it out.
Show the coupon at your pharmacy when you pick up your medication. Or present the coupon to your pharmacy staff when you first receive your prescription. This will help prevent delays at the pickup counter.
2. Compare pharmacy prices near you
GoodRx can help you easily compare prices for mupirocin at various pharmacies in your area. Check the GoodRx app or visit the website to explore prices at nearby pharmacies. You might find a lower price for mupirocin at a pharmacy you don’t typically visit.
3. Use your FSA funds
If you have a flexible spending account (FSA) through your employer, make sure to use the money in your account before it expires. An FSA lets you set aside pretax money from your paycheck to pay for eligible medical expenses like prescription medications. Before filling your prescription, check with your FSA representative to confirm that mupirocin is an eligible expense.
4. Use your HSA money
If you have a health savings account (HSA), you can use those funds to pay for mupirocin tax-free. You must be enrolled in a high-deductible health plan to add money to your HSA. But unused HSA funds never expire, so you can use them to pay for qualifying expenses at any time, even if you switch insurance plans.
The bottom line
Without insurance, the average retail price for a 15 g tube of mupirocin 2% ointment is approximately $34.13, while the same dose and quantity of the cream costs about $241.84 on average.
To save on your mupirocin prescription, consider using a GoodRx coupon to get discounts at local pharmacies. You might also try comparing pharmacy prices, using funds from a tax-advantaged account, or reviewing your insurance plan's coverage to reduce out-of-pocket costs.
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 ACA plans, commercial (excluding ACA) plans, Medicare, and Medicaid (both state-run and managed care plans).
References
Alembic Pharmaceuticals. (2023). Mupirocin - mupirocin cream [package insert].
HealthCare.gov. (n.d.). Appealing a health plan decision.
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