How Much Is Penicillin Without Insurance?

Penicillin is a prescription-only antibiotic that treats a range of bacterial infections, including strep throat and skin infections. Even though it was the first antibiotic ever discovered, penicillin remains a widely used option for both adults and children. It works by preventing bacteria from growing, ultimately eliminating the infection.

An oral version of the medication called penicillin V potassium, or penicillin V, comes in two forms: tablets and a liquid suspension. An injectable version, penicillin G potassium, or penicillin G, is also available, but it’s used primarily in hospitals and medical clinics. Penicillin V is sold only as a generic, as all brand-name versions have been discontinued.

In this article, we’ll talk about the cost of penicillin V, which we’ll refer to simply as “penicillin.” The cost of penicillin depends on several factors such as the form, dose, and the pharmacy where it’s filled. If you have insurance, your plan likely covers penicillin. But if you don’t, there are other ways to save, like using a GoodRx coupon. 

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How much does penicillin cost?

Without insurance, 20 tablets of 500 mg penicillin cost an overage of around $19.51. For 40 tablets of 250 mg penicillin, the price is about $17.68 on average. 

What you’ll actually pay for your penicillin prescriptions depends on several factors. Two important factors are your dose and how long you need to take the medication, which are determined by your prescriber based on the type of infection you have and its severity. For example, adults and children age 12 and older who need oral penicillin for strep throat might be prescribed the 250 mg tablets 4 times daily for 10 days. Or they might take 500 mg tablets twice daily for 10 days.

Here are the average retail prices for various doses and quantities of penicillin tablets.

Penicillin oral suspension (liquid form) may be helpful for children and anyone who finds pills difficult to swallow. Children’s dosages of penicillin are calculated using body weight. 

A 100 mL bottle of the 125 mg/5 mL oral suspension costs about $14.39 on average without insurance. The same-size bottle of the 250 mg/5 mL oral solution runs around $18.33 on average. 

Let’s say your child is prescribed 500 mg of liquid penicillin twice daily. A 100 mL bottle of the 250 mg/5 mL oral suspension will provide about 5 days of treatment, so you may need 2 bottles for a full 10-day course.

What factors affect the cost of penicillin?

As mentioned, how much you’ll pay for penicillin depends on several factors, including:

• Location: Where you live can affect how much you pay for prescription medications. GoodRx research shows that people in New York and New Orleans typically face higher prescription costs, while those in Denver and Atlanta tend to pay lower prices.

• Pharmacy: Prices for medications can vary widely between different pharmacies, even those in the same neighborhood. 

• Insurance: If you have insurance, what you’ll pay depends on the out-of-pocket costs you’re responsible for, which might include deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance.

• Dosage: The type of infection you’re treating and its severity determine your required dosage of penicillin. Treating more serious infections often requires higher doses or longer treatment periods, which increases the overall cost.

• Medication form: The form of penicillin you need can also affect the price. At some pharmacies, tablets might cost less than the oral solution.

• Discounts: Prescription discount services like GoodRx can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs, often by a significant amount.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• Wondering about the different types of penicillin antibiotics? Read how medications in this family differ, common side effects, and potential medication interactions.

• Penicillin is a preferred treatment for strep throat, but it's not your only choice. Here are other effective antibiotics that can clear your strep infection. 

• Were you told you have a penicillin allergy as a child? Pharmacists explain why many reported penicillin allergies aren't true allergies and how to tell if you’re actually allergic.

Does insurance cover penicillin?

Penicillin is widely covered by insurance plans, including commercial insurance, Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medicare, and Medicaid plans. It’s rare for insurance plans to require a prior authorization for penicillin, and step therapy is usually not necessary.

To learn more about your coverage details for penicillin, including pricing tiers and potential out-of-pocket costs, review your plan’s formulary and summary of benefits coverage.

How different insurance plans cover penicillin

Below is a table summarizing the likelihood of having coverage for penicillin, along with prior authorization or step therapy requirements, across various insurance plans.

Insurance Coverage for Penicillin

Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of November 13, 2024. (See methodology below.)

If your insurance plan does not cover penicillin, you have a few options:

• Check the pharmacies in your area to see whether they have a free (or low-cost) antibiotic program. Some pharmacy chains in certain states may fill prescriptions of penicillin for free at or a very low cost. 

• Ask your prescriber about other antibiotics that your insurance covers or that might cost less out of pocket. 

• Contact your insurance company to request a formulary exception. If your request is denied, you have the right to appeal the decision.

• When it's time for open enrollment, consider switching to a different insurance plan that better fits your coverage needs.

Ways to save on penicillin

Penicillin is a relatively affordable medication. But you may still be able to reduce the cost of your prescription, whether or not you have insurance. Here are four options.

1. Use a GoodRx coupon 

A free coupon from GoodRx may be able to save you money on penicillin at many pharmacies. 

To get a coupon, visit www.goodrx.com or download the GoodRx app.

Here’s what you could potentially pay for various quantities, forms, and doses of penicillin using a GoodRx coupon. 

2. Shop around 

GoodRx can help you compare prices for penicillin at different pharmacies in your area. Your regular pharmacy might be convenient, but a quick price comparison could lead to substantial savings at another location nearby.

3. Ask about lower-cost options

There may be other antibiotics that are more affordable than penicillin. Talk to your prescriber about other antibiotics in the penicillin family that could effectively treat your condition at a lower cost.

4. Tap into your HSA or FSA funds

Make your money go further by using your health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) to pay for your prescription. By using the pretax dollars in your account, you'll reduce your overall healthcare costs. HSA funds roll over, but make sure to use the money in an FSA before it expires. 

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Maggie Aime, MSN, RN

Maggie's writing brings health topics to life for readers at any stage of life. With over 25 years in healthcare and a passion for education, she creates content that informs, inspires, and empowers.

Edited by:

Charlene Rhinehart, CPA

Charlene Rhinehart, CPA, is a personal finance editor at GoodRx. She has been a certified public accountant for over a decade.

Reviewed by:

Amy B. Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS

Amy Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. Amy currently holds her pharmacist license in Georgia and California.

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Methodology

We obtained national prescription coverage data for each medication from Managed Markets Insight & Technology (MMIT). The data reflects health insurance coverage as of November 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).