Key takeaways:
Xeljanz (tofacitinib) is a prescription medication used to treat several autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. It’s typically taken long term.
On average, a 1-month supply of Xeljanz 5 mg tablets costs about $8953.99 without insurance. The price you’ll pay will vary by pharmacy, formulation, and dosage.
Insurance coverage for Xeljanz varies by plan type. Many commercial and Medicaid plans cover the medication, but prior authorization or step therapy are often required. Coverage for Medicare enrollees is more limited.
There are a few ways to save on Xeljanz. Manufacturer copay savings programs, patient assistance programs, and GoodRx coupons can help lower your out-of-pocket costs.
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Managing chronic inflammatory conditions often means planning for ongoing healthcare costs. Between specialist visits, lab work, and long-term medications, expenses can add up over time. That’s why understanding treatment costs can be an important part of staying on track with care — and your overall household budget.
Xeljanz (tofacitinib) is a prescription medication used to treat several autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and more. It’s typically prescribed when other treatments haven’t worked well enough or aren’t tolerable.
Xeljanz is only available as a brand-name medication. And without insurance, its average retail price can be several thousand dollars per month. The good news is that there are ways to save on Xeljanz, even if you don’t have insurance.
How much does Xeljanz cost?
Xeljanz comes as an oral tablet, extended-release (ER/XR) tablet, and oral solution (liquid). The standard tablets and oral solution are typically taken twice daily, while the ER/XR tablet is a once-daily product.
As of July 2025, the manufacturer list price for a 1-month supply of Xeljanz is about $6,073. But retail prices may differ from the list price, depending on the pharmacy and wholesaler. How much Xeljanz costs also depends on the form you’re prescribed and how much you fill at a time, among other factors.
Below are the average retail prices for a typical 1-month supply of different Xeljanz formulations.
Formulation and dose | Quantity | Average retail price |
|---|---|---|
Xeljanz 5 mg tablet | 60 tablets | |
Xeljanz 10 mg tablet | 60 tablets | |
Xeljanz XR 11 mg tablet | 30 tablets | |
Xeljanz XR 22 mg tablet | 30 tablets | |
Xeljanz 1 mg/mL oral solution | 1 bottle (240 mL) |
Xeljanz only comes as a brand-name medication. A lower-cost generic isn’t available.
What factors affect the cost of Xeljanz?
What you’ll pay for Xeljanz depends on several factors, including:
Insurance: If you have health insurance, the cost will depend on your plan’s coverage details and cost-sharing requirements. You may have to pay out of pocket for a deductible, copays, or coinsurance.
Dosage: Xeljanz comes in multiple formulations. The cost may differ depending on which one you’re prescribed and how much you fill at a time.
Pharmacy: Prices for Xeljanz can vary depending on which pharmacy you use. Specialty pharmacies and standard retail pharmacies can both fill the medication, and the best deal may depend on which your insurance prefers.
Location: Medication prices vary by geography, too. For example, GoodRx research shows that people living in New York and New Orleans often pay more for prescription medications, while those in Denver and Houston tend to see lower prices.
Discounts: You may be able to lower the cost of Xeljanz by using a manufacturer copay savings card or patient assistance program.
Does insurance cover Xeljanz?
Xeljanz is covered by most commercial plans, Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans, and Medicaid plans. But across these insurance types, prior authorization is required for most enrollees. Step therapy requirements are also frequent. In other words, your prescriber may need to confirm that you meet your insurer’s coverage criteria or that you’ve already tried other treatments.
Xeljanz coverage is more limited for Medicare plans. A little more than half of Medicare Advantage and Part D plans cover the medication. Prior authorization and step therapy requirements are also more common than not.
Because requirements can vary significantly from plan to plan, the best way to understand how your insurance covers Xeljanz is to check your plan’s formulary (list of covered medications) or contact your insurer directly.
How different insurance plans cover Xeljanz
The tables below break down the percentage of enrollees who have coverage for Xeljanz by insurance type. They also show the likelihood of having prior authorization and step therapy requirements.
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for Xeljanz 5 mg tablets | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
99.4% | 92.8% | 89.3% | |
Commercial plans (excluding ACA plans) | 99.8% | 88.7% | 87.1% |
Medicare (Medicare Advantage and Part D plans) | 57.6% | 57.4% | 53.6% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 99.9% | 87.7% | 74% |
Insurance type | Enrollees covered for Xeljanz XR 11 mg tablets | Enrollees required to get prior authorization | Enrollees required to do step therapy |
|---|---|---|---|
ACA plans | 99.4% | 95.2% | 89.1% |
Commercial plans (excluding ACA plans) | 99.7% | 79.9% | 87.8% |
Medicare (Medicare Advantage and Part D plans) | 57.6% | 57.4% | 53.6% |
Medicaid, including state-run and managed care plans | 99.9% | 93.7% | 74.8% |
Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of January 10, 2026 (See methodology below.)
If your insurance doesn’t cover Xeljanz or Xeljanz XR, try these options:
Ask your prescriber about other comparable medications that may be preferred by your plan or cost less out of pocket. Several medications work similarly to Xeljanz.
Check to see if you qualify for financial assistance through Xeljanz’s manufacturer copay savings card or patient assistance program.
Request a formulary exception from your insurer. Your prescriber may need to submit paperwork and a letter of medical necessity explaining why Xeljanz is necessary for you.
If your insurer denies your formulary exception request, you have the right to file an appeal.
During the open enrollment period for health insurance, look for a plan that offers better coverage for Xeljanz and your other medications.
Ways to save on Xeljanz
Xeljanz can cost thousands of dollars if you don’t have insurance. But there are ways to lower your out-of-pocket costs with and without insurance. If you’re uninsured, you may even be able to get the medication at no cost. Here are five ways you could save.
1. See if you qualify for a copay savings card
With the Xeljanz Co-Pay Savings Card, some people with commercial insurance may pay as little as $0 per month for their prescription at participating pharmacies. The card works for all three formulations of Xeljanz.
This manufacturer-sponsored savings program helps lower out-of-pocket costs for eligible enrollees. It can significantly reduce what you spend throughout the year. The card offers up to $15,000 in financial assistance each year.
To qualify, you must:
Have a valid Xeljanz prescription for an FDA-approved use
Have commercial insurance
Live in the U.S. or Puerto Rico
If you don’t fill your prescription at a participating pharmacy, or if your pharmacy can’t process the card, you can request reimbursement using the rebate form.
You won’t be eligible for this program if you have Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, or another form of government-funded insurance.
Good to know: Pfizer, the manufacturer of Xeljanz, also offers a one-time voucher for a free 1-month supply of the medication. This option is available only for people who are new to Xeljanz, and it can only be used at certain pharmacies.
2. Check if you’re eligible for a patient assistance program
If you don’t qualify for the copay savings card, you may still be able to receive Xeljanz at no cost through the manufacturer’s patient assistance program. You can apply online, and eligibility is based on your insurance status and household income. Your prescriber or specialty pharmacy can also help you apply.
To qualify, you must:
Have a valid Xeljanz prescription for an FDA-approved use
Be uninsured or underinsured
Meet the manufacturer’s income requirements and submit proof of income
Live in the U.S. or one of its territories
3. Use a GoodRx coupon
Applying your insurance and/or using a manufacturer savings program is usually the best way to lower the cost of Xeljanz. But GoodRx also offers free coupons that may reduce the price.
Here’s how much different formulations of Xeljanz may cost at certain pharmacies with a free GoodRx coupon.
Formulation and dose | Quantity | GoodRx price (as low as) |
|---|---|---|
Xeljanz 5 mg tablet | 60 tablets | |
Xeljanz 10 mg tablet | 60 tablets | |
Xeljanz XR 11 mg tablet | 30 tablets | |
Xeljanz XR 22 mg tablet | 30 tablets | |
Xeljanz 1 mg/mL oral solution | 1 bottle (240 mL) |
To get your coupon:
Go to the GoodRx website or download the app, which is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Search for “Xeljanz” or “Xeljanz XR” and click on “Find the lowest prices.”
Input your prescribed formulation and desired quantity.
Print the coupon or get it by text, by email, or on your phone screen.
If you’re filling your medication at an in-person pharmacy, show the coupon early on in the filling process to avoid delays at checkout. Showing a coupon for the first time at the pickup window will prompt your prescription to be reprocessed.
Filling a prescription through a specialty or mail-order pharmacy works a little differently. The pharmacy staff can review your coverage and discount options before the medication is shipped.
4. Ask about 90-day supplies
Some pharmacies and insurance plans offer discounts for 90-day supplies of medications. In this case, you may pay less per month for Xeljanz over time by filling a larger quantity up front. This can also save you trips to the pharmacy. What’s more, some insurance plans charge lower copays or coinsurance if you use their preferred mail-order pharmacies to fill 90-day supplies.
These bulk discounts can vary. It’s a good idea to check with your pharmacy and insurance provider to see what savings options are available to you.
5. Tap into your HSA, FSA, or HRA
If you have a health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), or health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), you can use those tax-free dollars to cover the cost of Xeljanz.
FSA funds are valid for a limited time. You should use any FSA funds you have by the end of the plan year (before they expire).
The same isn’t true for HSA funds. HSA funds roll over annually and can be used anytime.
The bottom line
A 1-month supply of Xeljanz (tofacitinib) 5 mg tablets costs an average of $8953.99, though prices can vary by pharmacy, dosage, formulation, and more. The good news is that there are a few ways to save on Xeljanz, with or without insurance. Options include enrolling in a manufacturer copay savings program, qualifying for a patient assistance program, or using a free GoodRx coupon.
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 2026.
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
Healthcare.gov. (n.d.). Appealing a health plan decision: Internal appeals. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Managed care. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Pfizer. (2025). Pfizer would like to help you understand what you may potentially pay for your medicine. PfizerRxPricing.com.
Pfizer RxPathways. (2026). Available medications. Pfizer.
U.S. Pharmaceuticals. (2026). Xenjanz- tofacitinib tablet, film coated [package insert]. DailyMed.
Xeljanz.com. (n.d.). Patient affordability options. Pfizer.
Xeljanz.com. (2025). Co-pay rebate form. Pfizer.
Xenjanz.com. (2025). Ready to fill your Xeljanz prescription? Pfizer.
