Key takeaways:
Nucala (mepolizumab) is a prescription biologic medication used to treat asthma and other inflammatory conditions.
The manufacturer’s list price for a single dose of Nucala for self-injection is about $3,837. A syringe of Nucala 100 mg/mL costs approximately $4910.21 without insurance or discounts.
Most insurance types cover Nucala. Prior authorization or step therapy are required for the majority of enrollees.
If you qualify for one of the manufacturer’s patient assistance programs or copay card, you may pay as little as $0 per dose for Nucala.
Save on related medications
Nucala (mepolizumab) is an injectable biologic medication used to treat several conditions caused by high eosinophils (a type of white blood cell), such as severe asthma. It’s also used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps in adults.
Nucala is available as a prefilled autoinjector or syringe that you inject under the skin once a month (every 4 weeks). There’s also a vial form, which is typically used in healthcare settings. The recommended Nucala dosage for adults and teens ages 12 and older ranges from 100 mg to 300 mg every 4 weeks, depending on the condition being treated. For children ages 6 to 11, the recommended dosage to treat severe asthma is 40 mg every 4 weeks.
Due to the need for special handling and storage, Nucala is generally distributed through specialty pharmacies. Out-of-pocket costs for the medication can reach several thousand dollars per month, and no biosimilars are currently available. But you can lower your costs or even receive Nucala for free through various savings programs.
How much does Nucala cost?
The manufacturer’s list price for a single dose of Nucala for self-injection is $3,837.48, as of July 2025. Retail prices can vary based on the pharmacy you use, its wholesale supplier, and other factors.
Without insurance or discounts, one syringe of Nucala 100 mg/mL costs around $4910.21 at some pharmacies.
What you pay for Nucala may differ depending on several factors, such as:
Pharmacy: Specialty pharmacies may have different pricing and negotiated rates for Nucala, which can impact your costs. If you fill your prescription at a physical pharmacy, the cost can vary among retailers. What you pay may also depend on whether you use a pharmacy that’s in network with your insurance plan.
Location: GoodRx research shows that someone in Atlanta often pays less for prescriptions than someone in New Orleans, for example.
Dosage: Your prescribed dosage, which varies by age and condition, can affect what you pay for the medication.
Insurance: Even with insurance coverage, you may be responsible for deductibles, copays, or coinsurance.
Discounts: You can lower your cost for Nucala if you qualify for one of the manufacturer’s financial assistance programs or copay card.
Does insurance cover Nucala?
Most insurance types cover Nucala, with nearly all Medicaid and commercial plan enrollees having access to the medication. Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans cover Nucala for almost 9 in 10 enrollees. About half of Medicare Part D beneficiaries have coverage for Nucala, though it may also be covered under Part B if administered by a healthcare professional
Prior authorization (approval from your insurer before getting the medication) is required for the majority of covered enrollees, regardless of plan type. Step therapy rules (when you’re required to try other, usually lower-cost options first) are also common, affecting about 3 out of 4 people with commercial plans and more than 4 in 5 people with ACA plans.
Check your plan’s list of covered medications, known as a formulary, or contact your insurer to understand how your plan covers Nucala.
How different insurance plans cover Nucala
The tables below show how coverage for Nucala compares across different insurance types, along with the likelihood of having prior authorization and step therapy requirements.
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for Nucala 100 mg/mL autoinjector | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
86.0% | 86.0% | 76.9% | |
Commercial plans (excluding ACA plans) | 96.2% | 90.8% | 83.7% |
Medicare (Medicare Advantage and Part D plans) | 51.1% | 51.1% | 47.5% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 99.2% | 91.0% | 68.5% |
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for Nucala 100 mg/mL prefilled syringe | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
ACA plans | 85.6% | 85.2% | 76.2% |
Commercial plans (excluding ACA plans) | 96.2% | 90.9% | 83.7% |
Medicare (Medicare Advantage and Part D plans) | 51.5% | 51.5% | 47.9% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 99.2% | 90.2% | 67.7% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of September 11, 2025. (See methodology below.)
If your insurance doesn’t cover Nucala, or if your out-of-pocket costs are too high, try the following:
Check if you’re eligible for financial assistance through one of the various financial assistance programs listed below.
Discuss different biologic medications with your prescriber. These alternatives may be covered by your insurance or have lower out-of-pocket costs.
Request a formulary exception to get Nucala covered by your plan. Your prescriber may need to submit documentation and a letter of medical necessity to explain why you need this medication.
If the exception request is denied, file an appeal to have the decision reconsidered.
During open enrollment, compare insurance plans to find one that provides better coverage for your medications.
You can use your health savings account (HSA) to pay for Nucala (mepolizumab). See how your HSA can help cover the cost of several qualifying medical expenses, including Nucala.
Looking to reduce your prescription medication costs? Here are a few tips to help you save money on Nucala and other medications.
Nucala side effects to watch for: Pharmacists explain common Nucala side effects and offer tips on how to manage them and when to contact your prescriber.
Ways to save on Nucala
Nucala can cost thousands of dollars a month without insurance. But you can reduce your out-of-pocket expenses or potentially get the medication at no cost, whether or not you have insurance. Here are six ways to save on Nucala.
1. Check if you’re eligible for the manufacturer’s copay program
The manufacturer’s Together with Nucala Copay Program may reduce your cost to as little as $0 per dose if you qualify. The program can also help cover up to $100 of administration costs when you receive Nucala in a healthcare setting.
To be eligible, you must:
Have commercial or prescription insurance
Have a valid prescription for Nucala with approved coverage through your commercial plan
Be 18 years or older
Live in the U.S., including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands
Not be enrolled in any state or federal insurance program, including Medicare Part B or Part D, Medicaid, Medigap, Veterans Affairs (VA), or Tricare
The program provides up to $9,450 in assistance per calendar year. Office visits, labs, and other services are not included.
Enrollment ends December 31 each year, and benefits reset on January 1 if you continue to meet eligibility requirements. Residents of Massachusetts, Minnesota, or Rhode Island are not eligible for reimbursement of administrative fees.
2. Apply for the manufacturer’s patient assistance program
If you’re uninsured or your commercial insurance doesn’t cover Nucala, you may qualify for the Nucala Patient Assistance Program offered by the manufacturer. The program provides Nucala at no cost if you:
Live in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands
Are uninsured or have commercial insurance that provides no coverage for Nucala, confirmed through the program’s appeals process
Are not enrolled in an alternate funding program
Do not receive prescription coverage through a government program such as Medicaid, VA, Department of Defense (DoD), or Tricare
Are not eligible for Puerto Rico’s government health plan Mi Salud, or have applied and been denied
Meet the program’s income requirements
Work with your prescriber to complete the application form. For more information, speak with a customer service representative at 1-844-CALL-TwGSK (1-844-225-5894).
3. Look into the manufacturer’s patient assistance option for Medicare beneficiaries
You may be eligible for the Nucala Patient Assistance Program even if you have Medicare prescription coverage. If you’re approved, the program may provide Nucala to you at no cost.
To qualify, you must:
Live in the United States, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands
Have a Medicare prescription drug plan
Not be enrolled in Medicare Extra Help (low-income subsidy)
Not currently receive prescription medication coverage through Medicaid, VA, DoD, TriCare, or other government programs, excluding Medicare
Not be eligible for Puerto Rico’s government health plan Mi Salud, or have applied and been denied
Meet the program’s income eligibility requirements
You and your prescriber will need to fill out different parts of the application form. For more information, speak with a customer service representative at 1-844-CALL-TwGSK (1-844-225-5894).
4. Consider the Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief Program
You may qualify for up to $1,800 per year in financial aid through the Patient Advocate Foundation’s Co-Pay Relief Program. This support is available for people receiving Nucala for COPD and can help cover copays, deductibles, and coinsurance for medications and medical care.
Funding isn’t always open, so check the program’s website for updates.
5. Use your insurance’s preferred specialty pharmacy
Check whether your insurance plan has a preferred specialty pharmacy for Nucala, if you have coverage. Using your plan’s preferred pharmacy can help you avoid higher out-of-pocket costs associated with going out of network.
Specialty pharmacies can also help with finding financial assistance. Ask your insurer for a list of preferred pharmacies.
6. Tap into your HSA or FSA funds
If you have a health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), or health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), you can use those funds to pay for Nucala and other qualifying medical expenses.
FSA money must be used by the end of your plan year, or you’ll lose it, unless your employer provides a grace period or allows you to carry over a portion. HSA funds, however, roll over each year and remain available whenever you need them. HRA rules depend on your employer’s plan design.
The bottom line
The manufacturer’s list price of Nucala (mepolizumab) is $3,837.48 for a single self-injection dose. But the cost can vary depending on factors such as your insurance coverage, the pharmacy you use, and whether you’re eligible for financial assistance programs.
If you have commercial insurance, you may qualify for the Together with Nucala Copay Program, which could lower your costs to as little as $0 per dose. You may also be eligible for help through the manufacturer’s patient assistance programs if you’re uninsured, underinsured, or have Medicare and meet income requirements.
Other ways to save on Nucala include using your insurance plan’s preferred specialty pharmacy or tax-advantaged funds.
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 September 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
American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. (2021). Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.
GlaxoSmithKline. (2025). Nucala- mepolizumab injection, powder, for solution; Nucala- mepolizumab injection, solution [package insert].
GSK for You. (n.d). GSK pricing information for Nucala.
GSK Viiv Healthcare Patient Access Programs Foundation. (n.d.). If you are uninsured.
GSK Viiv Healthcare Patient Access Programs Foundation. (n.d.). If you have Medicare.
HealthCare.gov. (n.d.) Appealing a health plan decision.
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Managed care.
Patient Advocate Foundation. (n.d.). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Together with GSK. (n.d.). Discover options that work for you.
Together with GSK. (2025). Together with GSK enrollment form.
