How much is Keppra (levetiracetam) without insurance?

Is Keppra covered by insurance? | How much does Keppra cost without insurance? | How to get Keppra without insurance

Keppra is a brand-name prescription anticonvulsant. The generic version is levetiracetam. Both are FDA-approved to treat partial or generalized tonic-clonic seizures in adults and some children. They’re also used to treat children with myoclonic seizures. 

People take Keppra or levetiracetam every day. Keppra comes in four dosage forms: immediate-release and extended-release oral tablets, oral solution, and an injection. Generic Keppra is available in all four forms as well. The most common side effects include drowsiness, weakness, headache, and dizziness. The most serious side effects include depression, hostility, and allergic reactions. For uninsured patients, the retail price will depend on the type of levetiracetam prescribed. Brand-name Keppra will cost around $700 per month, but the equivalent levetiracetam prescription costs about $140. 

Related: Levetiracetam side effects

What is the generic version of Keppra?

The generic version is levetiracetam and sells at a lower price than the brand-name versions. Keppra (immediate-release tablets) and Keppra XR (extended-release tablets) are premium-priced prescription drugs. So are other brand-name versions of levetiracetam, including Roweepra (tablets) and Spritam (tablets for oral suspension). 

Is Keppra covered by insurance?

Keppra and Keppra XR are usually not covered by health insurance plans because lower-priced, generic levetiracetam can be readily substituted. When Keppra is covered, health insurance formularies typically place it in the high-cost copay tiers. 

On the other hand, generic levetiracetam is commonly covered by health insurance plans, Medicare drug plans, Medicaid, Tricare, and the VA. Copay costs for the generic version should be low because insurance companies typically place levetiracetam in their lowest copay tiers. However, the final out-of-pocket costs may be affected by co-insurance, deductibles, or coverage gaps. 

How much does Keppra cost without insurance?

If health insurance coverage is lacking, a 30-day supply of Keppra tablets costs over $700 for 60, 500 mg tablets. Spread out over an entire year, the total cost could easily reach $8,000.

Substituting generic Keppra immediately saves money. A 30-day supply of generic levetiracetam tablets will cost $140 on average. A 60-day supply of generic levetiracetam extended-release tablets—60, 500 mg tablets—costs $180 on average. This brings the annual cost of generic levetiracetam treatment to somewhere between $1,100 and $1,600.

Other commonly prescribed generic anticonvulsants are lower priced. Phenytoin is perhaps the cheapest generic anticonvulsant. A month’s worth of carbamazepine costs $85 on average. A 30-day supply of lamotrigine costs almost $100. Another commonly prescribed anticonvulsant, topiramate, costs around $108 per month. Generic Depakote (divalproex sodium) costs about the same as levetiracetam. Many of these are prescribed for generalized or partial-onset seizures, but not all of them are FDA-approved for juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. 

In any case, uninsured patients can use a SingleCare prescription discount card to get significant savings on levetiracetam or other anticonvulsants.

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 the latest drug prices.

How to get Keppra without insurance

Keppra is a premium-priced brand-name anticonvulsant. The average annual cost of Keppra treatment could top $8,000. Manufacturer coupons or patient assistance programs may help but only for those few people who meet the stringent eligibility requirements. Saving money on a Keppra prescription may be easier and quicker than that. Only two steps are required: using a SingleCare prescription discount card and switching to generic Keppra.

1. Immediately save money with a SingleCare savings card

With a free coupon from SingleCare, the price of a 30-day supply of immediate-release generic Keppra drops from $700 to $7. Ask the prescribing healthcare provider first, but the generic may be substitutable at the pharmacy without a prescription adjustment. Participating pharmacies may have different discount prices, so browse the available savings on SingleCare’s coupon pages.

2. Ask the prescribing healthcare provider about other generic anticonvulsants

If insurance coverage is lacking, don’t be afraid to talk about the cost with the prescriber. There may be lower-cost anticonvulsants that are reasonable treatment options. They are different drugs, however. They may not be ideal in terms of effectiveness, side effects, or drug interactions. But you won’t know that until you get medical advice from the prescriber.

3. Enroll in Medicaid

Switching to generic levetiracetam and using a SingleCare prescription discount card will reduce the monthly cost of Keppra treatment to $10 or less. That may still be a challenge in the light of other medical costs. If so, you may be eligible for subsidized health insurance, including Medicaid or Medicare Low Income Subsidy. Visit your state’s Medicaid website for more information about eligibility requirements and the enrollment process.