What if I Can’t Afford My Asthma Medication

If you cannot afford the cost of your asthma medications, you can:

Shop around – at pharmacies and online.

Compare prices at other pharmacies or check prices at GoodRx, Singlecare, Medical Assistance Tool, Amazon Pharmacy, WebMDRx, and NeedyMeds.

In 2024, drug companies Boehringer Ingelheim and AstraZeneca voluntarily capped patient out-of-pocket costs for their inhaler products at $35 per month. In addition, AstraZeneca reduced the list price for Symbicort®.

Go generic.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if a generic version of your prescription medication is available. Generics have the same active ingredients as brand-name asthma drugs, are equally as safe and effective, and cost less. Two membership-based online websites offer cost savings for generic medications:

1. Amazon Prime members can obtain eligible generic medications for one flat fee of $5 per month through its Amazon Prime RxPass benefit.
2. Mark Cuban CostPlus Drug Company offers a limited number of  generic medications at cost to members. The company says it cuts out the many middlemen involved in the sale of prescription drugs and instead buys them directly from pharmaceutical companies and sells them almost at cost.

If a pharmacy doesn’t regularly stock a certain generic asthma medication, ask if it can be ordered for you at no additional cost.

Contact non-profit organizations that help uninsured and under-insured people

If you are uninsured or under-insured, non-profit organizations and foundations are available to help reduce financial barriers. Organizations that help uninsured people include NeedyMeds, RX Assist, RX Hope, Accessia Health, and Partnership for Prescription Assistance. Organizations that help the under-insured include the Healthwell Foundation and Patient Advocate Foundation.

You should never pay fees or provide your credit card information to any assistance program.

Compare total out-of-pocket cost from one asthma medication to another.

Sometimes prices of medications will vary. Depending on whether you have insurance that covers your prescription, switching to another device may save you money.

Just remember: if you do switch medications, learn how to use the new device since they all operate a bit differently. Read the package instructions and watch the training videos on the manufacturer’s website to familiarize yourself with proper use of the medication you bring home.

Contact the manufacturer for patient assistance programs.

Some pharmaceutical companies offer coupons, discounts and rebates. Use the list below to find out about patient assistance programs and contact drug companies about discounts.

Please note that as of 2024, Teva is no longer offering patient assistance programs or coupons for the following inhalers: ProAir® Digihaler™, ProAir® RespiClick, ArmonAir™ Digihaler™, AirDuo® Digihaler™, AirDuo™ RespiClick® and QVAR® Redihaler™. If you want to contact Teva about an inhaler, visit Teva’s website for Patient Assistance Programs or call 888-838-2872.