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Is hydrochlorothiazide covered by insurance? | How much does hydrochlorothiazide cost without insurance? | How to get hydrochlorothiazide without insurance
Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) is a generic prescription diuretic (water pill) that increases the body’s elimination of water and electrolytes through the urine. It’s commonly prescribed for high blood pressure, often used early in treatment, and nearly always combined with other blood pressure drugs. Many of the most common high blood pressure drugs are single combination drugs with hydrochlorothiazide, such as benazepril-HCTZ, lisinopril HCTZ, metoprolol HCTZ, enalapril HCTZ, and many others. Hydrochlorothiazide is also FDA-approved to treat fluid retention (edema) due to congestive heart failure, kidney disease, and liver disease or to treat side effects of other medications.
Related: Hydrochlorothiazide side effects
What is the brand name for hydrochlorothiazide?
The brand-name versions of hydrochlorothiazide—Microzide, Esidrix, and HydroDIURIL—are no longer available in the United States.
Is hydrochlorothiazide covered by insurance?
Hydrochlorothiazide is a lower-priced, commonly prescribed thiazide diuretic and hypertension drug. Health insurance, Medicare Part D, and Medicaid usually cover prescriptions for hydrochlorothiazide for FDA-approved medical conditions, but coverage may vary by plan. Most insurance plans have hydrochlorothiazide in their lowest copay tiers, but the final out-of-pocket cost is often determined by other issues such as co-insurance and coverage gaps.
How much does hydrochlorothiazide cost without insurance?
The average cash price for thirty 25 mg tablets of hydrochlorothiazide is about $17. With once-daily dosing, 30 tablets will last a month, so the average cost per tablet is slightly more than 50 cents. A year of hydrochlorothiazide treatment will cost about $200 for people paying the average retail price.
Hydrochlorothiazide is the lowest-priced thiazide diuretic used to treat hypertension or edema. For edema, other generic diuretics such as generic Lasix (furosemide) and generic Aldactone (spironolactone) cost about the same or more. Besides cost, other diuretics will have different side effects and drug interactions, which may make them unsuitable alternatives. However, hydrochlorothiazide may cause allergic reactions in people allergic to sulfa drugs, so a different diuretic must be prescribed.
Among blood pressure drugs, hydrochlorothiazide prices are among the lowest. A 30-day supply of hydrochlorothiazide is about the same price or lower than the cheapest blood pressure medications, such as benazepril or lisinopril. Hydrochlorothiazide is less than half the price of other commonly-prescribed blood pressure medications such as losartan potassium or amlodipine.
For hypertension, hydrochlorothiazide is usually prescribed with other prescription medications that lower blood pressure. It may cost less to fill a prescription for a combination of hydrochlorothiazide with another blood pressure medication than to fill two separate prescriptions. Ask the prescribing healthcare professional for medical advice about combination blood pressure drugs. Pharmacists are the ones to know the cost of the medications.
There are no over-the-counter medications or supplements that are effective substitutes for prescription hydrochlorothiazide.
RELATED: Hydrochlorothiazide alternatives: What can I take instead of hydrochlorothiazide?
Compare hydrochlorothiazide prices to related drugs |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Price without insurance of brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Hydrochlorothiazide | $17 per 30, 25 mg tablets | $0.70 per 30, 25 mg tablets of generic hydrochlorothiazide | See latest prices |
| Furosemide | $19 per 30, 20 mg tablets | $0.50 per 30, 20 mg tablets of generic furosemide | See latest prices |
| Spironolactone | $20 per 30, 25 mg tablets | $3 per 30, 25 mg tablets of generic spironolactone | See latest prices |
| Amlodipine-olmesartan | $255 per 30, 10-40 mg tablets | $14 per 30, 10-40 mg tablets of generic amlodipine-olmesartan | See latest prices |
| Ramipril | $28 per 30, 10 mg capsules | $3 per 30, 10 mg capsules of generic ramipril | See latest prices |
| Losartan potassium | $55 per 30, 50 mg tablets | $4 per 30, 50 mg tablets of generic losartan | See latest prices |
Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing. The listed price without insurance references the price of brand-name drugs (unless otherwise specified). The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs, if available. Click the “Savings options” link to see the latest drug prices.
How to get hydrochlorothiazide without insurance
Hydrochlorothiazide is a lower-cost prescription drug that can be prescribed for months, years, or even decades. The cost will add up for uninsured patients at $200 per year. Finding savings will also add up. For instance, with a SingleCare prescription discount card, 12 months of hydrochlorothiazide could cost less than $9 at the lowest SingleCare discount price.
1. Use a SingleCare savings card
With a free coupon from SingleCare, the lowest pharmacy price for a 30-day supply of hydrochlorothiazide is 70 cents. That’s only two cents per pill and less than $9 annually. SingleCare discounts vary by participating pharmacy, so browse available savings prices on SingleCare’s hydrochlorothiazide coupons page. Be sure to consult the FAQs section on this free coupon page for more savings and drug information.
2. Shop for the lowest price
At the lowest pharmacy price, you can buy hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg tablets for less than $5 for a month’s supply. That’s $12 less than the average retail price.
3. Ask the prescriber for a 90-day supply
Many low-cost generics are cheaper per pill when purchased in larger quantities. Ask the prescriber for a 90-day prescription. It will be slightly more expensive than a 30-day fill but could save money in the long run.
4. Ask the pharmacist about combination HCTZ drugs
If hydrochlorothiazide is being taken for hypertension, chances are one or two other blood pressure drugs are also being taken. Purchasing a combination drug—one in which hydrochlorothiazide is mixed with one or two other high blood pressure medications, such as an ACE inhibitor or calcium channel blocker—could cost less than buying two separate prescriptions. Ask the pharmacist to help compare prices. Then ask the prescribing healthcare provider to make the switch.
5. Use community resources
Talk to a local health department official for information about community or low-income services. A hydrochlorothiazide prescription may cost only a few dollars or even be free if the prescription is filled at a community health clinic or 340B provider.
6. Consider Medicaid
Medicaid is a government-subsidized health insurance plan to minimize or even eliminate out-of-pocket costs for those that qualify. If a lower-cost prescription like hydrochlorothiazide is hard to manage with all the other expenses, visit your state’s Medicaid website to see if you qualify.
