What if I can’t Afford my Asthma Medication?

Asthma inhalers and other types of respiratory medications vary in price.

Some asthma medications are expensive while others are more affordable. Many are covered by health insurance, but this will depend on what type of insurance plan you have or if you have insurance at all.

It’s very important to use your asthma medications as prescribed. Ask your doctor for help you so you don’t go without taking your medication and your asthma symptoms worsen.

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, SinglecareMedical Assistance Tool, Amazon Pharmacy, WebMDRxand 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 NeedyMedsRX AssistRX HopeAccessia 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 asthma 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.

Note: Teva is no longer offering patient assistance or coupon programs for the following medications: ProAir® Digihaler™, ProAir® RespiClick, ArmonAir™ Digihaler™, AirDuo® Digihaler™, AirDuo™ RespiClick® and QVAR® Redihaler™. If you want to contact Teva about these asthma inhalers, visit Teva’s website for Patient Assistance Programs or call 888-838-2872.

Use the list below to contact drug companies and find out about their patient assistance programs and discounts.

If you are still unable to afford the prescribed medication, talk with your doctor. It’s very important to take your medication as prescribed. Be sure to ask your doctor for help you so you don’t go without taking your asthma medication or other respiratory medication.

Short-acting beta2-agonist bronchodilators


Proventil® HFA

Manufacturer: Merck

Contact:

https://www.merckhelps.com

855-257-3932

$15 off Out of Pocket Expense


Ventolin® HFA

Manufacturer: GSK

Contact:

https://www.gskforyou.com/

888-825-5249


Long-acting beta2-agonist bronchodilators


Brovana®

Manufacturer: Novartis

Website: https://www.novartis.com/us-en/patients-and-caregivers/patient-assistance

Contact: 888-669-6682


Perforomist®

Manufacturer: Viatris

Website: https://www.viatris.com/en-us/lm/united-states/patient-assistance-program

Patient Assistance Program Application: https://www.viatris.com/-/media/project/common/viatris/pdf/us/pap-medicine-drop-down/pap-app-cr-v4.pdf

Contact: 888-417-5780


Serevent® Diskus®

Manufacturer: GSK

Website: https://www.gskforyou.com/

Contact: 800-745-2967


Striverdi® Respimat®

Manufacturer: Boehringer Ingelheim

Website: https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/us/bi_cares_patient_assistance_program

Mail-in form to Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation, Inc.: https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/sites/default/files/us/2023-01/bi_cares_pap_application.pdf

Contact: 800-556-8317


Inhaled corticosteroids


Alvesco® HFA

Manufacturer: Covis

Website: https://www.alvesco.us/savings-card

Pay as little as $60.

Contact: 844-749-1023


Arnuity® Ellipta®

Manufacturer: GSK

Website: https://www.gskforyou.com/

Contact:

800-745-2967


Asmanex® HFA

Manufacturer: Organon (part of Merck)

Website: https://www.activatethecard.com/8043/#

Pay as little as $15 per prescription.

Contact: 800-727-5400


Asmanex® Twisthaler®

Manufacturer: Organon (part of Merck)

Website: https://www.activatethecard.com/8043/#

Pay as little as $15 per prescription.

Contact: 800-727-5400


Pulmicort Flexhaler®

Manufacturer: AstraZeneca

Website: https://www.azandmeapp.com/prescriptionsavings/

Contact:

800-AZandMe (800-292-6363)


Pulmicort Respules®

Manufacturer: AstraZeneca

Website: https://www.azandmeapp.com/prescriptionsavings/

Contact: 800-AZandMe (800-292-6363)


Combination Medications


Advair® HFA

Manufacturer: GSK

Website: https://www.gskforyou.com/

Contact:

800-745-2967


Breo® Ellipta®

Manufacturer: GSK

Website: https://www.gskforyou.com/

Contact:

800-745-2967


Breyna™

Manufacturer: Viatris

Website: https://www.viatris.com/en-us/lm/united-states/patient-assistance-program

Patient Assistance Program Application: https://www.viatris.com/-/media/project/common/viatris/pdf/us/pap-medicine-drop-down/pap-app-cr-v4.pdf

Contact: 888-417-570


Dulera®

Manufacturer: Merck

Website: https://www.dulera.com/savings-offer/

Eligible patients pay as little as $15.

Contact: 800-727-5400


Symbicort®

Manufacturer: AstraZeneca

Website: https://www.azandmeapp.com/prescriptionsavings/

Contact:

800-AZandMe (800-292-6363)


Wixela™ Inhub™

Manufacturer: Viatris

Website: https://www.viatris.com/en-us/lm/united-states/patient-assistance-program

Patient Assistance Program Application: https://www.viatris.com/-/media/project/common/viatris/pdf/us/pap-medicine-drop-down/pap-app-cr-v4.pdf

Contact: 888-417-5780


Anoro® Ellipta®

Manufacturer: GSK

Website: https://www.gskforyou.com/

Contact:

800-745-2967


Bevespi Aerosphere®

Manufacturer: AstraZeneca

Website: https://www.bevespiaerosphere.com/patient-assistance-and-savings.html

Eligible commercially insured patients may pay as low as $0 per month.

Contact: 844-327-3401


Stiolto™ Respimat®

Manufacturer: Boehringer Ingelheim

Website: https://patient.boehringer-ingelheim.com/us/products/stiolto/savings-and-support/sign-up-for-savings

Eligible patients pay as little as $0.

Contact: 844-449-4704


Trelegy® Ellipta®

Manufacturer: GSK

Website: https://www.trelegy.com/savings-and-coupons/

Eligible patients pay as little as $0.

Contact: 888-825-5249


Breztri Aerosphere®

Manufacturer: AstraZeneca

Website for BREZTRI Zero Pay: https://www.breztri.com/savings-support/zero-pay-program

Savings card: Eligible people pay as little as $0 per month.

Contact: 833-458-0440


Combivent® Respimat®

Manufacturer: Boehringer Ingelheim

Website for Savings Card: https://patient.boehringer-ingelheim.com/us/combivent/savings-support

Eligible patients pay as little as $10.

Contact: 800-867-1052


AirSupra®

Manufacturer: AstraZeneca

Website: https://www.azhelps.com/content/dam/website-services/us/293-azhelps-com/pdf/airsupra-savingcard.pdf

Savings card: Eligible people pay as little as $0* per month.

Contact: 866-480-0030


Muscarinic antagonist (anticholinergic) bronchodilators


Atrovent® HFA

Manufacturer: Boehringer Ingelheim

Website: https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/us/bi_cares_patient_assistance_program

Mail-in form to Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation, Inc.: https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/sites/default/files/us/2023-01/bi_cares_pap_application.pdf

Contact: 800-556-8317


Incruse® Ellipta®

Manufacturer: GSK

Website: https://www.gskforyou.com/

Contact:

800-745-2967


Spiriva® HandiHaler®

Manufacturer: Boehringer Ingelheim

Website: https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/us/bi_cares_patient_assistance_program

Mail-in form to Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation, Inc.: https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/sites/default/files/us/2023-01/bi_cares_pap_application.pdf

Contact: 800-556-8317


Spiriva® Respimat®

Manufacturer: Boehringer Ingelheim

Website: https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/us/bi_cares_patient_assistance_program

Mail-in form to Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation, Inc.: https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/sites/default/files/us/2023-01/bi_cares_pap_application.pdf

Contact: 800-556-8317


Tudorza™ Pressair™

Manufacturer: AstraZeneca

Website: https://www.tudorza.com/savings-program.html

Eligible patients pay as little as $0.

Contact: 844-749-1023


Yupelri®

Manufacturer: Viatris

Website: https://www.viatris.com/en-us/lm/united-states/patient-assistance-program

Patient Assistance Program Application: https://www.viatris.com/-/media/project/common/viatris/pdf/us/pap-medicine-drop-down/pap-app-cr-v4.pdf

Contact: 866-255-9018


Biologics (Severe Asthma Treatments)


Cinqair

Manufacturer: Teva

Website: https://www.tevasupportsolutions.com/patients/financial-assistance/

Contact: 877-237-4881


Dupixent

Manufacturer: Sanofi and Regeneron

Website: https://www.dupixenthcp.com/patient-support/dupixent-myway

Contact: 844-387-4936


Fasenra

Manufacturer: AstraZeneca

Website: https://www.fasenra.com/savings-support

Eligible patients pay as little as $0.

Contact: 833-360-4357


Nucala

Manufacturer: GSK

Website: https://www.nucala.com/severe-asthma/steps-to-start/coverage-options/index.html

$0 co-pay program.

Contact: 844-468-2252


Tezspire™

Manufacturer: AstraZeneca

Website: https://www.tezspire.com/savings-and-support.html

Eligible patients pay as little as $0.

Contact: 888-897-7473


Xolair

Manufacturer: Genentech Novartis

Website: https://www.xolair.com/allergic-asthma/financial-support/assistance-options.html

Includes Xolair co-pay program; Independent Co-pay Assistance Foundations; The Genentech® Access to Care Foundation (GATCF)

Contact: 866-422-2377


PDE4 Inhibitors


Daliresp®

Manufacturer: AstraZeneca

Website: https://www.daliresp.com/savings-program.html

$25 savings program.

Contact: 866-459-2015


Leukotriene Modifiers


Singulair®

Manufacturer: Merck

Website: https://www.merckhelps.com

Contact: 855-257-3932

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Last updated : 6/24/2024

What if I can’t Afford my Asthma Medication? originally published by Allergy & Asthma Network - Asthma

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