Key takeaways:
Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) is an FDA-approved combination inhaler that is used to treat asthma in people ages 6 and up. It is also approved for the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Without insurance, a single inhaler (30-day supply) of brand-name Symbicort 80 mcg/4.5 mcg costs an average of $159.61. For the same dose, generic budesonide / formoterol costs an average of $216.28. And Breyna (the branded generic) costs $159.61 on average.
Anyone with a valid prescription, regardless of insurance status, can use GoodRx to purchase Breyna at an exclusive cash price. You may also be able to save money on brand-name Symbicort or Breyna by using a manufacturer copay savings card or patient assistance program.
Save on related medications
Symbicort (budesonide / formoterol) is a brand-name, prescription-only inhaler that contains two medications: budesonide and formoterol. It is FDA approved to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
A single Symbicort inhaler contains 120 inhalations (puffs). It comes in two doses: budesonide 80 mcg/formoterol 4.5 mcg and budesonide 160 mcg/formoterol 4.5 mcg. The typical Symbicort dosage is 2 puffs taken twice a day, 12 hours apart. Symbicort is available as a brand-name medication, a generic, and branded generic called Breyna.
How much Symbicort costs without insurance will depend on factors such as your location, what pharmacy you use, and what form you’re prescribed. You may be able to save money on your Symbicort prescription by using a GoodRx coupon, manufacturer copay savings card, or patient assistance program.
How much does Symbicort cost?
Without insurance, brand-name Symbicort 80 mcg/4.5 mcg costs an average of $331.56 per inhaler (30-day supply). The price of 1 generic budesonide / formoterol inhaler of the same dose averages $216.28. And the price of 1 Breyna inhaler averages $183.51 for the same dose.
The table below shows the average retail prices for brand-name and generic versions of Symbicort.
Symbicort version | Dose | Average retail price for 1 inhaler |
|---|---|---|
Brand-name Symbicort | 80 mcg/4.5 mcg | |
Brand-name Symbicort | 160 mcg/4.5 mcg | |
Generic budesonide / formoterol | 80 mcg/4.5 mcg | |
Generic budesonide / formoterol | 160 mcg/4.5 mcg | |
Generic Breyna | 80 mcg/4.5 mcg | |
Generic Breyna | 160 mcg/4.5 mcg |
What factors affect the cost of Symbicort?
The cost of Symbicort can be affected by several factors, such as:
Location: What you pay for Symbicort may depend on your location. According to GoodRx research, prescription medications cost less in cities like Houston and Atlanta, but more in cities like New York and New Orleans.
Pharmacy: The price of Symbicort can differ between pharmacies — even ones on the same street.
Insurance: If you have insurance that covers Symbicort, you may still need to pay deductibles, coinsurance, or copays.
Generic vs. brand-name version: Generic versions of Symbicort, including Breyna, are generally more affordable than the brand-name option.
Dose: The prescribed dose of your Symbicort inhaler may impact the cost.
Assistance programs: A patient assistance program could help make Symbicort more affordable, especially if you don’t have insurance or have limited coverage.
Savings cards and discounts: A manufacturer savings card or GoodRx coupons may lower your out-of-pocket costs for brand-name or generic Symbicort.
Does insurance cover Symbicort?
Many health insurance plans provide some form of coverage for inhalers like Symbicort. The majority of people with commercial insurance plans and Medicaid have coverage for brand-name Symbicort. Some Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans and Medicare plans also provide coverage.
However, some insurers may require prior authorization or step therapy before covering Symbicort. Review your health plan’s summary of benefits and coverage and formulary (list of covered medications) to find out if generic or brand-name Symbicort is covered.
Keep in mind that insurance plans may offer better coverage for generic versions of Symbicort. (In general, it’s common for plans to charge lower copays or coinsurance for generic versions of medications.) And they may be less likely to require prior authorization or step therapy.
How different insurance plans cover Symbicort
The following table shows the likelihood of having coverage, as well as prior authorization and step therapy requirements, for brand-name Symbicort with different types of insurance.
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for brand-name Symbicort | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
55.6% | 32.3% | 4.4% | |
Commercial (not including ACA) plans | 71% | 12.8% | 8.1% |
Medicare (original Medicare and Medicare Advantage) | 38.4% | 1.5% | 3.9% |
Medicaid (including state-run and managed care plans) | 99.7% | 21.5% | 10.2% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of October 17, 2024. (See methodology below.)
If your insurance doesn’t cover Symbicort, here are some actions you can take:
Ask your pharmacist if they’re filling a generic version of Symbicort. If not, contact your prescriber to ask if they can write you a prescription for a generic.
Look into savings opportunities, such as GoodRx coupons and other options discussed below.
Talk to your prescriber about alternative inhalers that may be covered.
Request a formulary exception from your insurer. If the request is denied, consider filing an appeal for coverage.
When it’s time for open enrollment, compare different health insurance plans to find one that provides better coverage for what you need.
Ways to save on Symbicort
Here are five ways to potentially save on brand-name and generic Symbicort.
1. Use a GoodRx coupon
A GoodRx coupon could help you save on brand-name or generic Symbicort without insurance. For example, anyone with a valid prescription, regardless of insurance status, can use GoodRx to purchase Breyna at an exclusive cash price.
The table below shows possible GoodRx prices for brand-name Symbicort and generic budesonide / formoterol.
Symbicort version | Dose | GoodRx price (as low as) |
|---|---|---|
Brand-name Symbicort | 80 mcg/4.5 mcg | |
Brand-name Symbicort | 160 mcg/4.5 mcg | |
Generic budesonide / formoterol | 80 mcg/4.5 mcg | |
Generic budesonide / formoterol | 160 mcg/4.5 mcg |
Here’s how to get a coupon:
Go to www.goodrx.com or open the GoodRx app on your mobile device.
Type “Symbicort,” “budesonide / formoterol,” or “Breyna” in the search bar.
Click “Start saving,” or tap or click return.
Select the correct dose and quantity, along with your location.
Choose to get your coupon by text or email, or print it out.
If possible, show the coupon at the pharmacy before they start filling your prescription to avoid delays in processing.
Keep in mind: GoodRx savings may vary by pharmacy and geographic location. The GoodRx website and app can help you compare prices in your area.
2. See if you qualify for a copay savings card
If you have commercial insurance or are uninsured, you may be eligible to save with a manufacturer copay savings card. There are cards available for brand-name Symbicort and Breyna.
Here’s what you might pay for Symbicort or Breyna with a copay card:
Brand-name Symbicort: as low as $35 per month
Generic Breyna: as low as $20 per month (maximum savings of up to $30 per month)
Each copay card has its own eligibility requirements and restrictions. But in general, people with government-funded insurance, such as Medicare or Medicaid, aren’t eligible for either card.
3. Check if you’re eligible for a patient assistance program
Breyna’s manufacturer offers a patient assistance program for the medication, called the Viatris Patient Assistance Program. People who meet certain financial requirements may be able to get Breyna for free through this program. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, consider seeing if you’re eligible.
To qualify, you must:
Meet certain financial requirements and be able to show proof of income
Be a resident of the U.S. or a U.S. territory
Be uninsured or have insurance that doesn’t cover Breyna
Have a valid prescription from a licensed U.S. prescriber
For more information about Breyna’s patient assistance program and to see if you’re eligible, call 1-888-417-5780.
4. Ask about a 90-day supply
Some pharmacies and insurance providers offer a discount when you purchase a 3-month supply instead of three 1-month supplies. This may lower your monthly Symbicort costs over time. Plus, it reduces the number of trips you need to make to the pharmacy.
What’s more, insurance providers may charge a lower copay or coinsurance amount if you use a preferred mail-order pharmacy to fill a 3-month supply.
5. Tap into your HSA, FSA, or HRA
Consider using a health savings account (HSA), a flexible spending account (FSA), or a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) to purchase Symbicort. These accounts let you use pretax dollars to pay for qualified medical expenses, including prescription medications. This can help you lower your spending through tax savings.
Be sure to review the details for using your HSA, FSA, or HRA funds. FSA funds have an expiration date. But HSA and HRA funds typically roll over and can be saved for later use.
Frequently asked questions
If you have commercial insurance or are uninsured, you may be able to get Symbicort for $35 through the manufacturer copay savings card. You can download the card online or call 1-800-687-3755 if you have questions about the program. People with government-funded insurance, such as Medicare or Medicaid, are not eligible to use the copay card.
There are several Symbicort alternatives available. The most similar options are:
Generic versions of Symbicort, such as Breyna
Advair (fluticasone / salmeterol)
Breo Ellipta (fluticasone / vilanterol)
Dulera (mometasone / formoterol)
There are two generic versions of Symbicort available: Breyna and budesonide / formoterol. These contain the same active ingredients and come in the same doses as brand-name Symbicort.
If you have commercial insurance or are uninsured, you may be able to get Symbicort for $35 through the manufacturer copay savings card. You can download the card online or call 1-800-687-3755 if you have questions about the program. People with government-funded insurance, such as Medicare or Medicaid, are not eligible to use the copay card.
There are several Symbicort alternatives available. The most similar options are:
Generic versions of Symbicort, such as Breyna
Advair (fluticasone / salmeterol)
Breo Ellipta (fluticasone / vilanterol)
Dulera (mometasone / formoterol)
There are two generic versions of Symbicort available: Breyna and budesonide / formoterol. These contain the same active ingredients and come in the same doses as brand-name Symbicort.
The bottom line
Without insurance, a single inhaler of brand-name Symbicort 80 mcg/4.5 mcg costs an average of $331.56. For the same dose, generic budesonide / formoterol costs $216.28 on average. And Breyna (the branded generic) costs an average of $183.51.
Anyone with a valid prescription, regardless of insurance status, can use GoodRx to purchase Breyna at an exclusive cash price. You could also save on your generic or brand-name Symbicort prescription by using a manufacturer copay savings card or patient assistance program.
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 October 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).
References
AstraZeneca. (n.d.). Access support options for commercially insured.
Healthcare.gov. (n.d.). Appealing a health plan decision: Internal appeals.
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Managed care.
Mylan Pharmaceuticals. (2025). Breyna - budesonide and formoterol fumarate aerosol, metered [package insert]. DailyMed.
Sportpharm. (2026). Budesonide and formoterol fumarate dihydrate aerosol [package insert]. Daily Med.
Sportpharm. (2026). Symbicort - budesonide and formoterol fumarate dihydrate aerosol [package insert]. Daily Med.
Viatris. (n.d.). Breyna (budesonide and formoterol fumarate dihydrate) inhalation aerosol savings card.
Viatris. (n.d.). Viatris Patient Assistance Program (U.S.).
