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Opzelura

How Much Is Opzelura Cream Without Insurance?

Tamara E. HolmesChristina Aungst, PharmD
Written by Tamara E. Holmes | Reviewed by Christina Aungst, PharmD
Published on September 29, 2025

Key takeaways:

  • There are no cures for eczema and vitiligo. But Opzelura (ruxolitinib) is a topical cream prescribed to treat both skin conditions in adults and children ages 12 and older. (The manufacturer reported that this medication was approved to treat eczema in children ages 2 to 11 in September 2025.) 

  • Eczema and vitiligo medications can be costly. Without insurance, one 60 g tube of Opzelura costs an average of $2395.69.

  • You can reduce the cost of Opzelura with a manufacturer’s copay savings card (if you have commercial insurance) or through a patient assistance program if you qualify. You may also be able to save money by using a GoodRx coupon.

Save on related medications

As the largest organ of the body, the skin is highly visible in the daily lives of many people. Having a skin condition can result in social, emotional, and even economic consequences.

One such condition is atopic dermatitis, a type of eczema. This condition can cause itchy, dry, or flaky skin. Another is vitiligo, an autoimmune condition that causes the skin to lose color.

There are no cures for eczema or vitiligo. But there are treatments that can bring relief.

Opzelura (ruxolitinib) is a topical cream prescribed to treat mild-to-moderate eczema and nonsegmental vitiligo in adults and children ages 12 and older. (The manufacturer reported that this medication was approved to treat eczema in children ages 2 to 11 in September 2025.) Opzelura is what’s known as a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, a class of medications that can block certain proteins in the body that cause inflammation.

We will explore information about cost and how to save on this cream.

How much does Opzelura cream cost?

The wholesale acquisition cost, or list price, for Opzelura cream was $2,094 per tube at the time of publication. That doesn’t mean this is the amount you would pay, but it illustrates the medication’s hefty price. There is no generic option.

Avg retail price
$2,396.53(Save 13.73%)
GoodRx discount
$2,067.60
How it works
drug-savings-illustration-1Use GoodRx to find medications, pharmacies, and discounts.
drug-savings-illustration-2GoodRx discounts can help you pay less for your prescription.
drug-savings-illustration-3Bring your free coupon or savings card to the pharmacy.

If you’re looking to buy a tube of Opzelura, here’s what you might pay.

Opzelura costs (1 tube of cream, 60 g of 1.5%)

Brand-name form and dose

Average retail price

1 tube of cream

$2395.69

What factors affect the cost of Opzelura?

Without insurance, what you pay for Opzelura depends on several factors, including your:

  • Pharmacy, since pharmacies can set their own prices

  • Location, since medications can vary in cost based on region

  • Fill quantity, since medications can be less expensive when purchased in bulk

  • Tube size, since larger tubes cost more than smaller tubes

How often you apply Opzelura, the size of the area you’re treating, and the number of application sites on your body will influence how often you need to fill your prescription. Opzelura can be used on up to 20% of your body if you’re treating eczema and up to 10% of your body if you’re treating vitiligo. You should use no more than one 60 g tube per week or one 100 g tube every 2 weeks.

Does insurance cover Opzelura?

Some health insurance plans cover Opzelura. You’re most likely to have coverage with Medicaid and with commercial plans not purchased through an Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace.

If you have insurance, review your plan’s summary of benefits and coverage and formulary (list of covered medications) to determine whether Opzelura is covered. If not, contact your plan provider and ask about your coverage options. You can also discuss alternatives with your prescriber or pharmacist.

GoodRx icon
  • Opzelura side effects: This medication may cause side effects, including skin redness, itching, and acne.

  • Living with vitiligo: One woman shares her experience losing pigment in her skin and how she built a community to help others who have the rare condition.

  • How to treat hand eczema: Consider these skin care tips for symptom relief, which include mild cleansing, maintaining moisture, and using gloves.

To get coverage for Opzelura, some health insurance plans require enrollees to get prior authorization. Some plans in every category require enrollees to do step therapy (when you need to try other medications first).

How different insurance plans cover Opzelura

The following charts show the likelihood of having coverage for Opzelura with different types of insurance plans. They also show the likelihood of needing to obtain a prior authorization or complete step therapy.

Insurance type

Enrollees covered for Opzelura

Enrollees required to get prior authorization

Enrollees required to do step therapy

ACA plans

59.1%

56.4%

49.8%

Commercial plans (excluding ACA plans)

92.5%

75.4%

63.5%

Medicare (original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans)

12.5%

8.9%

4.2%

Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans

99.8%

93.7%

51%

Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of June 13, 2025 (See methodology below).

Tips if your medication isn’t covered by insurance

If your insurance doesn’t cover Opzelura, you still have options:

  • Use a GoodRx coupon to save on your prescription.

  • Ask your prescriber about less costly options that meet your needs. This could mean switching to another brand-name medication that costs less or a medication that has a generic version available.

  • Request a formulary exception from your insurance company. If your request is denied, you have the right to file an appeal with your plan.

  • When it’s time for open enrollment, compare different health insurance plans to find one that provides coverage for this medication.

Ways to save on Opzelura

Whether or not you have insurance, there are ways to reduce the cost of Opzelura. Here are four options.

1. Use a GoodRx coupon

You may be able to use a free GoodRx coupon to lower the price of your Opzelura prescription. For example, without insurance, you could pay as low as $2067.60 for one 60 g tube of Opzelura cream with a GoodRx coupon at certain pharmacies. Visit www.goodrx.com, or download the GoodRx app on your mobile device and use a coupon today. Here’s how:

  • On the app or website, type “Opzelura” in the search field.

  • Choose the desired quantity. Input your ZIP code or address, or select “Use my current location,” so you see results for local pharmacies.

  • Choose how to receive your coupon. You may want it emailed or texted to you, or you may want to print it out.

  • Take your coupon with you to the pharmacy. Present the coupon to the pharmacy’s staff early in the filling process to help avoid delays at the pickup counter.

2. See if you qualify for a copay savings card

If you have commercial insurance, you may be able to benefit from a manufacturer’s copay savings card, which is available via text messaging, email, or download. If your commercial insurance plan covers Opzelura, your copay could drop to as little as $0 per tube. If your commercial insurance does not cover Opzelura, you may be eligible to pay $35 per prescription at participating pharmacies.

The copay card is different depending on the condition you need to treat with Opzelura:

3. Check if you’re eligible for a patient assistance program

The IncyteCARES patient assistance program may be able to help you access this medication at no cost if you have an adjusted annual household income that’s less than or equal to 400% of the federal poverty level. Additionally, you must:

  • Be without insurance, or

  • Have Medicare Part D and you cannot afford your copay

You may also be able to get help through other patient assistance programs. If you’re covered by Medicare, the PAN Foundation has an atopic dermatitis (eczema) fund to help you cover copays and other costs. At publication time, this fund was not accepting new or renewal enrollees, but you can join the waitlist.

4. Tap into your HSA or FSA

Consider using a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), or health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) to pay for your medication. These types of accounts have multiple tax benefits when they’re used to pay for qualified healthcare expenses. This can reduce your out-of-pocket costs through tax savings. But be sure to review your account’s contribution limits, rollover limits, and eligible expenses.

The bottom line

Opzelura (ruxolitinib) is a topical cream prescribed to treat vitiligo and mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis (eczema) in adults and children ages 12 and older. (The manufacturer reported that this medication was approved to treat eczema in children ages 2 to 11 in September 2025.) The list price of Opzelura is $2,094 per 60 g tube. But you can pay less depending on your insurance status and whether you’re eligible for the manufacturer’s copay card or patient assistance program.

If you don’t have insurance, the average price of one tube of 60 g Opzelura is $2395.69, but you could pay as little as $2067.60 with a GoodRx coupon at select pharmacies.

If you have commercial insurance, the copay card may be able to bring your out-of-pocket costs down to $35 or as low as $0 per fill. If you’re eligible, the patient assistant program could provide Opzelura at no cost.

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Tamara E. Holmes
Written by:
Tamara E. Holmes
Tamara E. Holmes is a Washington, DC-based freelance journalist and content strategist who has been writing about personal finance, health, and health insurance for more than a decade. Her work has appeared in various print and online publications, such as USA Today, AARP, Working Mother, and Diversity Woman.
Cindy George, MPH, is the senior personal finance editor at GoodRx. She is an endlessly curious health journalist and digital storyteller.
Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

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

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

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