Fasenra and cost: Reducing long-term drug costs and more Health ConditionsHealth ConditionsAlzheimer's & DementiaAnxietyArthritisAsthma & AllergiesBreast CancerCancerCardiovascular HealthCOVID-19Dermatology & SkincareDiabetesEnvironment & SustainabilityExercise & FitnessEye HealthHeadache & MigraineHealth EquityHIV & AIDSHuman BiologyInflammatory Bowel DiseaseLeukemiaLGBTQIA+Men's HealthMental HealthMultiple Sclerosis (MS)NutritionParkinson's DiseasePsoriasisSexual HealthWomen's HealthDiscoverNewsLatest NewsOriginal SeriesMedical MythsHonest NutritionThrough My EyesNew Normal HealthPodcastsHow to understand chronic painWhat is behind vaccine hesitancy?The amazing story of hepatitis C, from discovery to cureNew directions in dementia researchCan psychedelics rewire a depressed, anxious brain?Why climate change matters for human healthToolsGeneral HealthDrugs A-ZHealth HubsHealth ToolsBMI Calculators and ChartsBlood Pressure Chart: Ranges and GuideBreast Cancer: Self-Examination GuideSleep CalculatorHealth ProductsAffordable Therapy OptionsBlood Pressure MonitorsDiabetic SuppliesFitness TrackersHome GymsGreen Cleaning ProductsHow to Shop for CBDQuizzesRA Myths vs FactsType 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood SugarAnkylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or FictionConnectAbout Medical News TodayWho We AreOur Editorial ProcessContent IntegrityConscious LanguageNewslettersSign UpFollow UsMedical News TodayHealth ConditionsDiscoverToolsConnectSubscribe Fasenra and costMedically reviewed by Dena Westphalen, Pharm.D. — By Malini Ghoshal, RPh, MS on September 30, 2022 Overview of FasenraFasenra (benralizumab) is a brand-name prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to treat a type of asthma called severe eosinophilic asthma in adults and some children. Fasenra contains the active ingredient benralizumab. For more information about Fasenra’s uses, refer to this article. Drug details Here are some details about Fasenra, which is a biologic:How it’s given: subcutaneous injection in single-dose prefilled syringes or single-dose auto-injector penBiosimilar: not currently available Read on to learn about the price of Fasenra, as well as how to save money on prescriptions. Fasenra cost As with all medications, the cost of Fasenra can vary. Factors that may affect the price you’ll pay include:your treatment planyour insurance coveragethe pharmacy you usethe cost of the visit to your healthcare professional to receive doses of Fasenrawhether Fasenra has a savings program (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section below) To find out what the cost of Fasenra will be for you, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. Insurance considerationsBelow is information you may want to consider if you have insurance and receive Fasenra. Prior authorization. If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers Fasenra. This means the company and your doctor will discuss Fasenra in regard to your treatment. The insurance company will then determine whether the medication is covered. If a drug requires prior authorization and you start treatment without the prior approval, you could pay the full cost of the medication. You can ask your insurance company whether Fasenra requires prior authorization. Type of insurance coverage. Fasenra may be given by your doctor or another healthcare professional, or you may be able to give yourself the dose at home. If you have insurance, the price of your Fasenra doses may be billed through your primary health insurance instead of the prescription drug portion of your insurance. This depends on your insurance coverage and where you receive your Fasenra doses, such as at your doctor’s office or clinic, or whether you give yourself Fasenra at home. If you have questions about this process, contact your doctor or your insurance provider. Common questions about cost and Fasenra Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about drug cost and Fasenra. What is Fasenra s cost with insurance compared with the cost without insurance Fasenra’s cost with insurance compared with the cost without insurance depends on several factors. Typically, Fasenra’s cost with insurance is lower than the cost without insurance. Factors that may affect cost include:your insurance plan benefitsyour treatment planhow you receive Fasenra (given by a healthcare professional or yourself at home)the pharmacy you use (if paying out of pocket)whether you’re eligible for any cost savings programs To find out how much Fasenra may cost with insurance, you can talk with your insurance provider. You can talk with your doctor to find out the cost of Fasenra without insurance. They may also be able to provide you with cost-saving resources. Refer to the “Financial and insurance assistance” section below to learn about other cost-savings options for Fasenra. How much do Fasenra injections cost per month and per year The cost of Fasenra injections per month and per year depends on whether you have insurance or are paying out of pocket for the drug. Your cost per month and per year may also depend on other factors. These factors can include your treatment plan, where you receive Fasenra injections, and whether you’re eligible for any cost savings programs. Your cost may also depend on the pharmacy you use (without insurance). Keep in mind that the cost per injection of Fasenra may be different than the cost per dose. This depends on where you receive your doses. For example, the cost per dose of Fasenra may be higher compared with the cost per injection if you receive the injection from a healthcare professional rather than giving yourself the dose at home. For more information about the cost per month and per year to get Fasenra injections, ask your doctor or insurance provider (if you have one) for more information. Financial and insurance assistance If you need financial support to pay for Fasenra, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available. For example:A copay assistance program called Fasenra 360 is available for those with private insurance who qualify. For more information and to find out whether you’re eligible for support, call 833-360-HELP (4357) or visit the program website.Some websites provide details about drug assistance programs, ways to make the most of your insurance coverage, and links to savings cards and other services. Two such websites are:Medicine Assistance ToolNeedyMeds To learn more about saving money on prescriptions with or without insurance, check out this article. Brand-name vs generic biosimilar drugs Fasenra contains the active ingredient benralizumab, and it’s available only as a brand-name biologic drug. It doesn’t come in a biosimilar version. A biosimilar medication is a drug that’s similar to a brand-name biologic drug (Fasenra). Also, biosimilars tend to cost less than brand-name medications.WHY ARE COSTS DIFFERENT FOR BIOLOGIC DRUGS VS. BIOSIMILAR DRUGS? Biologic drugs can be expensive because of the research needed to test their safety and effectiveness. The manufacturer of a biologic drug can sell it for up to 12 years. When the biologic drug’s patent expires, multiple manufacturers can create biosimilar versions. This marketplace competition may lead to lower costs for biosimilars. Also, because biosimilars are very similar to biologic drugs, they don’t require the same costly testing. Ways to reduce long-term drug costs If you take Fasenra long term, you may be able to lower its cost in the following ways. Getting a 3-month supply You may be able to get a 90-day supply of Fasenra in some cases. If approved by your insurance company, getting a 90-day supply of the drug could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost. If you’re interested in this option, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. Using a mail-order pharmacy Fasenra may be available through a mail-order pharmacy in some situations. Using this type of service may help lower the drug’s cost and allow you to receive your medication without leaving home. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order medications. You may also be able to get a 90-day supply of the drug via mail order. If you don’t have health insurance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest online pharmacy options that could work for you. Next steps Now that you’ve learned about cost and Fasenra, you may still have some questions. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who can provide personalized guidance about cost issues related to Fasenra. However, if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you would pay for Fasenra. Here are some other resources you may find helpful:Medicare drug coverage. To learn about Medicare coverage for drugs, see these articles about Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, drug coupons and Medicare, and the Medicare drug list.More details. For details about other aspects of Fasenra, refer to this article.Information about asthma. For more information about your condition, see our asthma and allergies hub. Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses. Last medically reviewed on September 30, 2022AsthmaRespiratoryPharmacy / PharmacistDrugsMedically reviewed by Dena Westphalen, Pharm.D. — By Malini Ghoshal, RPh, MS on September 30, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related CoverageDiet recommendations for people with asthmaMedically reviewed by Grant Tinsley, PhD There is no specific diet recommended for people with asthma, but several foods may reduce asthma symptoms, while others could worsen them. 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