How to save on Rinvoq: Copay card, patient assistance & more

Rinvoq (upadacitinib) is an oral prescription medication that belongs to a class of drugs called Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, which work by targeting specific pathways in the immune system to reduce inflammation. It is used to treat moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, which is the most common type of eczema. 

Rinvoq can also be used to treat other conditions, including:

• Ulcerative colitis 
• Crohn’s disease 
• Ankylosing spondylitis 
• Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis

“Rinvoq is an effective treatment option for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis,” says Richard Linsky, MD, an emergency medicine and concierge physician in New York City. “Rinvoq has been shown to be especially effective for patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease who haven’t responded to treatments like Xeljanz.”

How much does Rinvoq cost?

While Rinvoq is an effective medication, its cost can be prohibitive. Without insurance, the current average retail price of Rinvoq is $8,319 for 30 extended-release tablets. Keep in mind, however, that the price you pay ultimately depends on various factors, such as the pharmacy you choose, whether you have prescription drug coverage, the type of insurance you have, and the details of your insurance policy if you have one. 

Insurance coverage for Rinvoq

Coverage for Rinvoq varies by plan, so be sure to check with your health insurance company for details on how much you’ll be expected to pay for Rinvoq. If you have Medicare prescription coverage, your coverage also varies by plan. 

If your health insurance company or Medicare plan covers Rinvoq, it may require the prescription to be filled by a specialty pharmacy, which fills medications that require special dosage, handling, administration, storage, or shipping requirements.

How to save on Rinvoq

There are ways to save on Rinvoq and make it more affordable in the long term. 

SingleCare prescription discount card

The SingleCare prescription discount card is free and can save you over $2,000 on a month’s supply. To use a Rinvoq coupon from SingleCare, choose your prescribed dosage, number of tablets, and preferred pharmacy. Next to your preferred pharmacy, click “Get free coupon,” and either print it or text it to yourself so you can show it to your pharmacist. At the time this article was written, the average retail price of Rinvoq was $8,319 for 30 extended-release tablets, but you can pay $5,896 with the SingleCare card, depending on your choice of pharmacy.

Rinvoq copay card

The Rinvoq copay card, also called the Rinvoq Complete Savings Card, could bring your copay down to $5 for your monthly refill if you meet eligibility requirements. You need commercial health insurance to be eligible for the Rinvoq copay card.

To sign up for the Rinvoq copay card, head over to the drug manufacturer’s website for information on their savings program and how to sign up. They also have an app available to download so you can always access your savings card at the pharmacy and keep track of your prescribed treatment plan.

With the Rinvoq copay card, the $8,319 price for a month’s supply can cost you just $5. When you speak to your specialty pharmacy, you must mention your Rinvoq Savings Card. They will verify your coverage and your out-of-pocket costs. Keep in mind that the maximum annual benefit under the copay assistance program is $14,000 per calendar year.

If your pharmacy isn’t able to process your Rinvoq Complete Savings Card for instant savings, hold on to your receipt. You may be eligible for a rebate for part of the cost. There are three ways to submit your receipt: online, through the Rinvoq Complete app, or by calling 800-2RINVOQ (800-274-6867) for a paper form. However, your prescription won’t be eligible for reimbursement if you are paying for Rinvoq with a flexible spending account, health savings account, or health reimbursement account or if your insurance provider prohibits participation in the program.

Abbvie patient assistance program

The manufacturer of Rinvoq, AbbVie, offers a patient assistance program called myAbbVie Assist for patients who are uninsured, underinsured, or unemployed. It is free to apply, and qualified applicants can get Rinvoq for free without paying any copays or shipping fees. To qualify, patients need to:

• Be treated by a licensed U.S. healthcare provider on an outpatient basis
• Lack or have limited health insurance coverage
• Demonstrate financial need and meet income criteria
• Live in the United States

The copay assistance program is not available to patients receiving prescription reimbursement under any federal, state, or government-funded insurance programs such as Medicare or VA benefits.

To apply for Rinvoq patient assistance, complete an online application or print a paper application and fax it to AbbVie. 

Medicare Extra Help

With the Medicare Extra Help program, people who need help paying for prescriptions like Rinvoq may get a low-income subsidy. With Extra Help, brand-name drugs like Rinvoq cost no more than $11.20 per fill. To be eligible, you have to have limited income and resources, which include stocks, bonds, and money in a checking, savings, or retirement account.

For 2024, the income limits are $22,590 for individuals and $30,660 for couples. Resource limits are $17,220 for individuals and $34,360 for couples. 

Eligible individuals can apply for Medicare Extra Help online through the Social Security Administration.

Medicaid coverage

State Medicaid programs may provide coverage for Rinvoq, but it depends on your state of residence. Visit your state’s Medicaid website or call a Rinvoq insurance specialist at 800-2RINVOQ (800-274-6867) to see how much it covers. You could pay $20 or less for a 30-day supply.

Can you get Rinvoq for free?

In order to get Rinvoq for free, you need to be eligible for its patient assistance program, myAbbvie Assist. Eligible enrollees can receive their medication for free for up to a year with no copays or shipping costs. At the end of 12 months, they’ll need to reapply for continued assistance.

Is there a cheaper alternative to Rinvoq?

Rinvoq is a brand-name drug. There is no generic version. That said, there are some Rinvoq alternatives you can ask your healthcare provider about, including some generic medications, that may be less expensive:

• Adalimumab-adaz is a biosimilar (like a generic) version of Humira, which is also used to treat inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, plaque psoriasis, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. With a SingleCare coupon card, you can pay $1,317 for two 2 mL injectable pens of adalimumab-adaz. There are multiple biosimilars for Humira.
• Otrexup is a prescription injection approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat rheumatoid arthritis, polyarticular (multiple joints) juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and severe, debilitating psoriasis. Otrexup normally costs $886 at full price for four, 4 mL pens. But with a SingleCare Otrexup coupon, you could pay $665.
• Azulfidine (sulfasalazine) is an FDA-approved anti-inflammatory drug used to reduce the swelling of ulcerative colitis as well as the swelling of the joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The retail price of brand-name Azulfidine is $129 for 60, 500 mg tablets, but you could pay $5 for generic sulfasalazine with a SingleCare coupon.

Until there is a generic Rinvoq available, you can reduce the cost by using the manufacturer’s copay card or a SingleCare prescription discount card. You can also apply for patient assistance through AbbVie, the drug’s manufacturer. Eligible individuals may be able to get Rinvoq for free or pay as low as $5 per refill.