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Is Simbrinza covered by insurance? | How much does Simbrinza cost without insurance? | How to get Simbrinza without insurance
Simbrinza is a brand-name prescription medication administered as eye drops to relieve high pressure in the eye (ocular hypertension) or treat open-angle glaucoma, a medical condition caused by high intraocular pressure. Simbrinza can be used in children as young as 2 years of age. Combining two active ingredients, brinzolamide and brimonidine, Simbrinza both reduces the production of fluid in the eye and increases its outflow. Common side effects include blurred vision, dry mouth, and eye irritation. Simbrinza is a higher-priced medication with no exact generic equivalents or over-the-counter substitutes. Still, there are effective ways to reduce the cost.
What is the generic for Simbrinza?
While no generic version of Simbrinza is currently available, each of the active ingredients, brinzolamide and brimonidine, can be purchased as generic prescription eye drops. Unfortunately, paying for both will cost nearly twice as much as an equivalent prescription for Simbrinza.
Is Simbrinza covered by insurance?
Private health insurance plans and Medicare prescription drug plans usually cover Simbrinza. However, it’s not a sure thing. The plans that don’t include Simbrinza coverage may cover separate prescriptions for generic brinzolamide and generic brimonidine eye drops. Medicaid plans may be less likely to include Simbrinza in their formularies, but both the VA and Tricare will cover Simbrinza prescriptions for FDA-approved uses.
How much does Simbrinza cost without insurance?
Without insurance coverage, an eight-milliliter eyedropper bottle of 1-0.2% solution of Simbrinza will cost $274 on average. That represents about a month of use for one eye. Unused medicine should be discarded after four weeks. Each dose costs about $9. At that price, a year of Simbrinza treatment adds up to almost $3,300.
Health insurance will help reduce that cost. Insurance companies usually group Simbrinza into their second or third drug tiers. Copays will be higher than common generic drugs, but may not be too burdensome. The final out-of-pocket cost can be hard to predict. The plan’s formulary, copay cost, coinsurance, and other factors will influence what needs to be covered in cash.
RELATED: Simbrinza alternatives: What can I take instead of Simbrinza?
Compare Simbrinza prices to related drugs |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Price without insurance of brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Simbrinza | $274 for 1, 8 mL bottle of 1-0.2% suspension | $172 for 1, 8 mL bottle of 1-0.2% suspension of brand-name Simbrinza | See updated prices |
| Latanoprost | $81 for 1, 2.5 mL bottle of 0.005% solution | $8 for 1, 2.5 mL bottle of 0.005% solution of generic latanoprost | See updated prices |
| Brimonidine | $203 for 1, 5 mL bottle of 0.15% solution | $52 for 1, 5 mL bottle of 0.15% solution of generic brimonidine | See updated prices |
| Cosopt (dorzolamide/timolol) | $252 for 1, 10 mL bottle of 22.3-6.8 mg/mL solution | $13 for 1, 10 mL bottle of 22.3-6.8 mg/mL solution of generic Cosopt | See updated prices |
| Rhopressa | $357 per 1, 2.5 mL bottle of 0.02% solution | $301 for 1, 2.5 mL bottle of 0.02% solution of brand-name Rhopressa | See updated prices |
| Travoprost | $201 per 1, 2.5 mL bottle of 0.004% solution | $50 for 1, 2.5 mL bottle of 0.004% solution of generic travoprost | See updated 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 link under “Savings options” to see updated drug prices.
How to get Simbrinza without insurance
Although Simbrinza is a lower-priced brand-name drug, its cost still may be a challenge without insurance. The manufacturer may offer a patient assistance program or manufacturer coupons, but these may involve income eligibility requirements. There are, however, certain ways to make a Simbrinza prescription more affordable. The first place to start is a SingleCare prescription discount card, which can reduce the cost for cash-paying customers.
1. Save up to 80% with a SingleCare savings card
Visit SingleCare’s Simbrinza coupon page to compare discount prices offered by participating pharmacies. Currently, the lowest SingleCare price for a 30-day supply of Simbrinza is $172, a savings of over $100 off the average retail price. The actual discount will likely depend on the local pharmacy where the SingleCare savings card is used.
2. Find lower prices for Simbrinza
Savings can also be found by comparing pharmacy prices for Simbrinza. These can vary by as much as $50 between pharmacies, so it makes sense to look for the lowest price. A free coupon from SingleCare will lower the price even more.
3. Ask the prescribing healthcare provider about more affordable treatment options
There are other, more affordable generic drugs that lower eye pressure. These include drugs similar to brinzolamide called carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, prostaglandins like latanoprost or travoprost, or beta blocker eye drops like timolol. These drugs work differently than Simbrinza and have different side effects. This means that they may not always be a suitable substitute for Simbrinza, so ask the prescriber for medical advice about switching.
