How Much Is Praluent Without Insurance?
Key takeaways:
Praluent (alirocumab) is an FDA-approved injectable medication that helps lower cholesterol levels by blocking the PCSK9 protein in the liver.
Without insurance, two prefilled pens of Praluent 75 mg/mL cost about $629.39. But you could pay around $524.30 with a GoodRx coupon.
Insurance coverage for Praluent varies widely. Medicaid covers nearly all enrollees, but only half of commercial insurance members have coverage. Most plans require prior authorization and step therapy.
Access savings on related medications
Praluent (alirocumab) is an FDA-approved PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) inhibitor used to lower cholesterol levels. The medication is injected under the skin once or twice a month. Praluent works by blocking PCSK9, a liver protein that interferes with the body’s ability to remove low-density lipoprotein — often called “bad” cholesterol — from the blood.
A healthcare professional may prescribe Praluent if statin medications and diet changes aren’t working well enough to lower your cholesterol. Praluent is also FDA approved for adults and children (ages 8 and older) with certain inherited conditions that cause high cholesterol levels.
No generic version of Praluent is available, and the medication can cost hundreds of dollars. But savings options like manufacturer programs and GoodRx coupons can help lower your cost.
How much does Praluent cost?
Without insurance, a carton containing two prefilled pens (a 1- or 2-month supply) of Praluent 75 mg/mL costs about $629.39. You might pay around $624.17 for two prefilled pens of the 150 mg/mL dose. Your actual out-of-pocket costs depend on many factors, such as the dosage, form, and insurance coverage.
The chart below lists the cash price for the different forms and doses of Praluent at some pharmacies:
Praluent quantity and form | Dose | Average retail price |
|---|---|---|
Two prefilled pens (1 carton) | 75 mg/mL | |
Two prefilled pens (1 carton) | 150 mg/mL |
What factors affect the cost of Praluent?
The following factors can affect how much you’ll pay for Praluent:
Location: Where you live plays a role in medication pricing. For example, GoodRx research shows that people living in Little Rock, Arkansas, often pay higher prescription costs, while those in Denver tend to see lower prices.
Pharmacy: Even in the same neighborhood, prices for Praluent can vary between pharmacies.
Insurance: If you have insurance, your cost will depend on your plan’s coverage, including deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.
Dosage: Whether you take Praluent once or twice monthly, along with your prescribed dose, can affect your cost.
Discounts: Manufacturer coupons, patient assistance programs, and prescription discount services like GoodRx can help lower the cost of Praluent.
Does insurance cover Praluent?
Coverage for Praluent depends on your health insurance plan. Many require step therapy since this medication is typically prescribed after other cholesterol-lowering medications haven’t worked. In many cases, prior authorization is also required.
About 1 in 3 people with Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans have coverage for Praluent. Medicare coverage is similar, with 1 in 3 enrollees having access to Praluent. Medicaid provides Praluent coverage to nearly all enrollees, but commercial insurance plans cover about half their members.
Your health plan’s summary of benefits and coverage and formulary (medication list) are good resources to understand what’s covered and your out-of-pocket costs. You can also contact a plan representative to find out what steps are required for coverage.
Reduce the cost of your Praluent prescription. Learn about ways to get help paying for your prescription medications.
Got a flexible spending account? You can use this tax-advantaged account to pay for eligible expenses, including Praluent.
PCSK9 inhibitors are a newer class of cholesterol-lowering medications. Find out how they work and what side effects to watch for.
Choosing between PCSK9 inhibitors and statins? Here’s how these two types of cholesterol-lowering medications compare, including the benefits and drawbacks of each.
How different insurance plans cover Praluent
Check the table below for an overview of Praluent coverage, including the likelihood of prior authorization and step therapy requirements, for different insurance plans.
Insurance coverage for Praluent
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for this medication | Enrollees required to get a prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
38.1% | 36.7% | 32.99% | |
Commercial plans (excluding ACA plans) | 48.3% | 40.0% | 41.08% |
Medicare (original Medicare and Medicare Advantage) | 35.2% | 34.8% | 33.77% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 98.9% | 81.0% | 65.97% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of January 6, 2025. (See methodology below)
If your insurance doesn’t cover Praluent, you have several options:
Ask your prescriber about switching to another PCSK9 inhibitor that might be covered. Repatha (evolocumab) is the only other PCSK9 inhibitor available in the U.S.
Request a formulary exception from your insurance company.
If your request is denied, you can file an appeal for coverage.
Check if you qualify for the manufacturer’s patient assistance program and whether new enrollment is open (more details below).
During open enrollment, consider switching to an insurance plan that includes Praluent in its formulary.
Ways to save on Praluent
Praluent comes with a significant price tag, but there are several ways to reduce your out-of-pocket costs for the medication, whether you have insurance or not:
1. Use a GoodRx coupon
GoodRx offers free coupons that can help lower your Praluent costs at many pharmacies. You can compare prices at different pharmacies in your area using the GoodRx website or app, since prices can vary significantly.
Here’s what you can expect to pay for different doses of Praluent when using a GoodRx coupon:
Praluent quantity and form | Dose | GoodRx price |
|---|---|---|
One prefilled pen | 75 mg/mL | |
One prefilled pen | 150 mg/mL | |
Two prefilled pens (1 carton) | 75 mg/mL | |
Two prefilled pens (1 carton) | 150 mg/mL |
To get your coupon, simply visit www.goodrx.com or download the app, search for “Praluent,” click on “Find the lowest prices,” and choose to receive your coupon by text or email or print it out. Remember to show the coupon when ordering your prescription to avoid any delays.
2. Look into the manufacturer’s copay card
If you have private or commercial insurance, you may qualify for the MyPraluent copay card. This program can lower your out-of-pocket cost to as little as $50 per prescription, with a yearly savings limit of $3,500. Plus, there are no income requirements to qualify.
To be eligible, you must:
Have private or commercial insurance
Have a valid prescription for Praluent for an approved condition
Live in the U.S., including Puerto Rico
Because of federal regulations, this program isn’t available if you have government insurance, like Medicare or Medicaid.
3. Ask about the manufacturer’s patient assistance program
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has a patient assistance program for Praluent that might be worth keeping an eye on. This program typically provides Praluent at no cost for up to 12 months to eligible people, but it’s currently closed to new enrollees.
Already in the program? You may be able to enroll for another 12 months of assistance if you still meet the eligibility and income requirements. If you’re not enrolled, consider checking back periodically, since these programs sometimes reopen to new participants.
4. Check for the PAN Foundation assistance
For those who qualify, the PAN Foundation offers up to $1,900 per year to help with the cost of Praluent. To be eligible, you must be receiving treatment for hypercholesterolemia and meet other criteria.
At the moment, PAN Foundation is not accepting new or renewal applications. But it’s a good idea to check its website for updates.
5. Get a 90-day supply
Switching from monthly to 90-day refills might lower your overall cost and reduce pharmacy visits. Many insurance plans offer lower copays or bulk discounts for 3-month prescription supplies. If your insurance covers Praluent, check if your plan’s mail-order pharmacy offers additional savings.
To make the switch, ask your prescriber to write a 90-day prescription.
6. Pay with your HSA or FSA funds
Tax-free funds from your health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) can help cover Praluent costs. Simply use your HSA or FSA card at the pharmacy, or save your receipts for reimbursement. Remember that FSA funds usually expire at year’s end, while HSA funds roll over annually.
The bottom line
Two prefilled pens of Praluent 75 mg/mL cost about $629.39 without insurance or discounts. You might pay around $624.17 for two prefilled pens of the 150 mg/mL dose.
To lower your costs, check if you qualify for the manufacturer’s copay card program. Other money-saving options include using a GoodRx coupon and comparing pharmacy prices.
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 January 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 the ACA, commercial (excluding ACA) plans, Medicare, and Medicaid (both state-run and managed care plans).
References
HealthCare.gov. (n.d.). Appealing a health plan decision. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Managed care. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Sanofi-Aventis U.S. (2024). Praulent- alirocumab injection, solution [package insert]. DailyMed.
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