Cost and Aricept: How to find savings, lower costs, and more
Aricept (donepezil) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Aricept’s cost may depend on factors such as your dosage, whether you have health insurance, and the pharmacy you use.
How much does Aricept cost?
The price you pay for Aricept can vary. Your cost may depend on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage (if you have it), and the pharmacy you use.
To find out how much you’ll pay for Aricept, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. Or look below in the next section to learn how much you can save by using an Optum Perks coupon.
To save money on your Aricept prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons.
Is Aricept available as a generic?
Aricept is available as the generic drug donepezil. A generic contains an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. A generic is considered just as safe and effective as the original drug but tends to cost less.
To find out how the costs of Aricept and donepezil compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
If you’ve been prescribed Aricept and you’re interested in trying donepezil instead, talk with your doctor. They may recommend that you take one version instead of the other. You’ll also need to check with your insurance provider, as it may only cover one drug or another.
Why is there such a cost difference between brand-name drugs and generics?
Years of research and testing are needed to ensure that brand-name drugs are safe and effective. This testing can make the drugs expensive. The manufacturer of a brand-name drug can sell the drug exclusively for up to 20 years. After that, other drugmakers can create generic versions. This competition in the market can lead to lower costs for generics. And because generics have the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs, they don’t need to be studied again. This can also lead to lower generic costs.
How can I lower my long-term drug costs?
If you take Aricept long-term, you may be able to lower your costs in the following ways:
Look into getting a 90-day supply of your medication. You may be able to get a 90-day supply of Aricept if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of Aricept. If you’re interested in getting a 90-day supply of this drug, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
Use a mail-order pharmacy to get your medication. Using a mail-order pharmacy might help lower your cost for Aricept. Plus, you could get your medication without leaving home. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order drugs. You may also be able to get a 90-day supply of the drug through mail order. If you don’t have health insurance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest online pharmacy options that could work for you.
Can I get help paying for Aricept?
If you need help covering the cost of Aricept or understanding your insurance, check out these resources:
On these pages, you can find insurance information, details on drug assistance programs, and links to savings cards and other services.
If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
FAQ about cost and Aricept
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about Aricept and cost.
How does the cost of Aricept compare with that of similar drugs, such as Namenda?
The cost of Aricept compared with the cost of Namenda (memantine) can depend on several factors.
Both Aricept and Namenda come as tablets that are taken by mouth once per day. However, the dosages of these medications to treat Alzheimer’s disease are different. So, the form of the drug that you take and your dosage may affect your cost.
Other factors that may affect how much you pay include:
- whether there are any savings programs available for the drug you’re prescribed
- whether you have insurance or are paying out of pocket
- how long your treatment last?
If you have questions about the cost of Aricept compared with the cost of similar medications, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They can share more details on treatment costs based on your specific situation.
Is Aricept covered by Medicare?
It’s possible. To find out whether your Medicare plan covers the cost of Aricept, call your plan provider. There are many different types of Medicare plans, and your cost and coverage depend on your particular plan’s benefits.
Keep in mind that your plan may have prior authorization requirements before it’ll cover Aricept. (See the “Prior authorization” section below for more information.) And in some cases, insurance will only cover the generic form of a drug. (The generic form of Aricept is called donepezil.)
You can also ask your doctor about the cost of Aricept if you have Medicare.
How much does Aricept cost without insurance?
What you’ll pay for Aricept without insurance depends on several factors. Generally, your cost will be higher without insurance.
Factors that could affect your cost include:
- your treatment plan and dosage
- the pharmacy you choose
- the supply of medication you receive (such as a 30-day or 90-day supply)
To find out the exact cost of Aricept without insurance, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Also, you may want to check with a few pharmacies to compare prices.
You can also visit Optum Perks* to get price estimates for Aricept when you use coupons from the site. It’s important to note that Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.
Optum Perks is a sister site of Healthline.
Prior authorization
If you have insurance, you may need to get prior authorization before your insurance provider will cover Aricept. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss Aricept in regard to your treatment. Then, the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If Aricept requires prior authorization and you don’t receive it before you start treatment, you could pay the full cost of the drug.
Be sure to ask your insurance company whether Aricept requires prior authorization.
What should my next steps be?
If you still have questions about the cost of Aricept, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to give you a better idea of how much you’ll pay for this drug. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual price you’d pay for Aricept.
Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor or insurance provider include:
This is such a helpful guide! Aricept can be really expensive, so finding ways to save on prescriptions is crucial. Thanks for sharing these tips and resources. It can make a big difference for those managing Alzheimer’s and their families.
This article is super helpful! My mother takes Aricept and the costs have really been piling up. Thanks for providing so many tips on how to save money on prescriptions. I never knew there were so many resources available. Definitely going to check out some of the discount programs mentioned. Thanks again!
Great article! It’s invaluable to have tips and resources on how to manage the costs associated with Aricept. Prescription medications can be such a financial burden, so every bit of advice helps. Keep up the good work in sharing these insights with those in need!
Certainly! Here’s the comment:
Thank you for this informative post! As someone with a loved one on Aricept, managing costs has been a significant concern. Your tips on looking for generic alternatives, assistance programs, and checking with various pharmacies are super helpful. I also found that some online resources and patient advocacy groups offer additional support and can guide families through the financial maze. Every bit of savings helps, and it’s great to have a consolidated guide. Keep up the great work in spreading valuable information!