Key takeaways:
Sertraline (Zoloft) is an FDA-approved medication that treats depression and other mental health conditions.
A month’s supply of generic sertraline may cost around $30.43 without insurance. Your exact cost will depend on the form and dosage, your pharmacy, and other factors.
Using a GoodRx coupon at participating pharmacies can help you save up to 90% on the cost of sertraline.
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Sertraline is the generic version of the brand-name medication Zoloft. It’s an FDA-approved antidepressant used to treat mental health conditions, including depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and certain types of anxiety disorder. As a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, sertraline works by increasing serotonin levels in your brain. Serotonin is a chemical that regulates your mood, sleep, and digestion. Sertraline is available in tablet, capsule, and liquid solution forms.
Your out-of-pocket costs for sertraline will depend on your insurance coverage, dosage, and pharmacy. But there are ways to save money when filling your prescription.
How much does sertraline cost, and what affects the price?
A 30-day supply of 25 mg tablets of sertraline costs around $23.72 without insurance or coupons. You may pay about $30.58 for a month’s supply of the 100 mg tablets.
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Sertraline capsules — available in 150 mg or 200 mg — cost around $183.17 for a 30-day supply. The capsules are approved for only depression and OCD.
The liquid form of sertraline has a concentration of 20 mg/mL. It typically costs $65.95 for a 60 mL bottle. The duration of a bottle of liquid sertraline depends on your prescribed dosage. If you’re prescribed 50 mg daily of the medication, then one 60 mL bottle will last 24 days.
Still, many factors can affect your out-of-pocket costs, including:
Pharmacy: The cost of sertraline can vary, even within the same city. This is because pharmacies can mark up the price.
Location: According to GoodRx research, prescription medication is more expensive in certain parts of the country. For example, people living in Little Rock, Arkansas, often pay more for their medications than people living in Houston.
Insurance: If your insurance covers sertraline, your out-of-pocket costs will likely be lower. But you may still have expenses, like copayments or coinsurance. Additionally, the tier that sertraline is placed in on your plan’s formulary can affect your cost.
Generic versus brand name: Generic sertraline costs less than the brand-name Zoloft. For example, a 30-day supply of 25 mg tablets of brand-name Zoloft costs about $548.72. A 60 mL bottle of the 20 mg/mL liquid Zoloft costs about $327.97.
Dosage: Sertraline dose is based on the condition being treated. Typically, you’ll begin with a low dose, which will be adjusted as needed. The price of sertraline can vary depending on the dose.
Form: Sertraline tablets cost less than the capsules, even at the same dose. For example, 24 tablets of 100 mg sertraline can cost $24.02. The same amount of the liquid form may be about $127.63.
Discounts: A discount program like GoodRx may lower your out-of-pocket costs for sertraline.
Save on medications: Find ways to save on mental health medications with our GoodRx savings guide.
Save money with Medicare Extra Help: See if you qualify to lower your prescription medication expenses with Medicare Extra Help.
Tap into your HSA benefits: Use money in your health savings account (HSA) to pay for prescription medications and other eligible expenses with tax-free dollars.
Insurance coverage: If your health insurance claim is denied, follow these steps to request an appeal.
Does insurance cover sertraline?
Insurance plans often cover sertraline, but coverage varies by insurer and plan. Check your plan’s formulary to confirm coverage.
Generic sertraline is usually a preferred medication in step therapy for antidepressants. Step therapy means that your insurance plan requires you to try a lower-cost, generic medication, like sertraline. If sertraline doesn’t work well for you or causes significant side effects, then your insurance will likely cover a higher-cost or brand-name antidepressant.
For example, an insurance plan may cover sertraline tablets or liquid as a step 1 medication. Brand-name Zoloft, a step 2 medication, may be covered after trying sertraline.
Sertraline can be prescribed off-label to treat non-FDA-approved conditions. In this case, insurance may not cover the medication.
Does Medicare cover sertraline?
Medicare Part D plans cover medications from certain protected classes, including antidepressants. But coverage specifics vary by plan.
Your Medicare plan may require you to take the generic sertraline first as part of step therapy. In some cases, a Part D plan might cover generic sertraline and not the brand-name medication.
Start with your plan’s formulary to see if sertraline is covered. The formulary may tell you about rules and quantity limits for the medication.
Does Medicaid cover sertraline?
Antidepressant medications, such as sertraline, may also be covered by Medicaid. But each state sets its own coverage rules.
New York Medicaid, for example, considers sertraline tablets and liquid as preferred medications. But sertraline capsules are not preferred. Nonpreferred medications generally require a prior authorization and may have higher out-of-pocket costs.
Consult your plan’s details to learn how your state’s Medicaid program covers sertraline.
How can you get your insurance to cover sertraline?
If you’re prescribed generic sertraline, your insurance may cover it. But some plans may not cover certain forms of the medication, like the capsules. If you need a specific form that isn’t covered or if your plan doesn’t include sertraline at all, here are some steps you can take to increase the likelihood of coverage:
Talk to your healthcare team. If sertraline is the right choice for your treatment, they’ll write you a prescription.
Check your insurance coverage. Review your plan’s formulary for sertraline coverage restrictions. Call your plan’s customer service if you need help understanding your coverage.
Request prior authorization. If your plan requires prior authorization, your prescriber can request it for you. They may need to explain why sertraline, or the specific form of the medication you need, is necessary. They may also need to confirm that you have an FDA-approved diagnosis.
Submit an appeal. If your insurance denies coverage, you and your prescriber can appeal the decision. You may have to provide medical information to support your need for sertraline.
If sertraline isn’t listed on your plan’s formulary, request a formulary exception. Each plan has its own process for this, so contact your insurer for guidance.
Ways to save money on sertraline
Here are four ways to save money on sertraline:
1. Use a GoodRx coupon
With a GoodRx coupon, you can save nearly 90% on the cost of 100 mg sertraline tablets. You could pay as low as $9.58 at certain pharmacies. A GoodRx coupon can reduce the average retail price of the oral liquid by as much as 70%. For the 150 mg capsules, you can pay as low as $124.02 for a month’s supply. This would save you up to 63% of the average retail price.
To get your free coupon:
Visit www.goodrx.com or download the GoodRx app.
Search for “sertraline.”
Press return on your keyboard, or click on “Find the lowest prices.”
Select your pharmacy, and text, email, or print your coupon.
Present the coupon at the pharmacy when picking up your prescription.
2. Ask for a 90-day supply
Ask your prescriber for a 90-day supply of sertraline instead of a 30-day supply. This can lower your costs and reduce pharmacy trips. If your insurance covers sertraline, ask about mail-order pharmacy discounts.
3. Shop around at different pharmacies
Besides providing discounts, GoodRx can help you find the lowest sertraline price. Use the website or app to compare prices at various pharmacies.
4. Use your HSA or FSA funds
If you have a health savings account (HSA) or a flexible spending account (FSA), you can use it to pay for qualified medical expenses. This includes your sertraline prescription. The funds in your HSA don’t expire, but you’ll have to use your FSA funds before your plan’s deadline.
The bottom line
Without insurance, a month’s supply of generic sertraline (Zoloft) costs around $30.43. The price depends on several factors. These include your location, your pharmacy, the form and dosage of the medication, and the quantity you buy.
To save money on sertraline, consider using a GoodRx coupon or getting a 90-day supply. You can also compare prices at different pharmacies. Use your HSA or FSA funds to lower your out-of-pocket costs.
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References
Aetna. (2024). Aetna Medicare HMO/PPO/POS/RPPO 2024 formulary (list of covered drugs).
Almatica Pharma. (2021). Sertraline hydrochloride capsules, for oral use [package insert].
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2016). Medicare prescription drug benefit manual: Chapter 6 – Part D drugs and formulary requirements.
Cigna Healthcare. (2024). Step therapy policy.
HealthCare.gov. (n.d.). Using your health insurance coverage.
NYRx. (2024). The New York State Medicaid pharmacy program.
