Duopa Cost 2024: Savings Tips And More

As with all medications, the cost of Duopa can vary. Duopa enteral suspension is a liquid delivered into the small intestine through a portable infusion pump worn around your waist. An infusion is a liquid medication that is administered to the body over a certain amount of time.

Factors that may affect the price you pay include:

• your treatment plan
• your insurance coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• the cost of Duopa pump surgery to create a stoma needed for using this medication
• whether Duopa has a savings program — see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section

To find out what the cost of Duopa will be for you, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. Or read the next section to learn how much you can save using an Optum Perks coupon.

Note: Duopa is only available at specialty pharmacies. This type of pharmacy is authorized to carry drugs that aren’t typically available at other pharmacies. These are drugs that may be expensive, such as Duopa, or require help from healthcare professionals to be taken safely and effectively. You may want to contact several pharmacies to compare their prices for Duopa. For more information, talk with your doctor.

To save money on your Duopa prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons.

The Duopa pump system is only available as a brand-name drug. It does not come in a generic version. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication.

Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

Duopa’s active ingredients — carbidopa and levodopa — are available together as an oral tablet, while a generic version of this form is also available. If you are interested in this form of the drug, talk with your doctor to see if it is suitable for your condition.

WHY ARE COSTS DIFFERENT FOR BRAND-NAME DRUGS VS. GENERIC DRUGS?

Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the research needed to test their safety and effectiveness. The manufacturer of a brand-name drug can sell it for up to 20 years. When the brand-name drug’s patent expires, multiple manufacturers can create generic versions. This marketplace competition may lead to lower costs for generics. Also, because generics contain the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs, they do not require the same costly testing.

If you take Duopa long term, you may be able to lower its cost in the following ways.

You may be able to get a 90-day supply of Duopa. 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 costs. If you are interested in this option, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Duopa may be available through a mail-order pharmacy. 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 do not have health insurance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest online pharmacy options that could work for you.

If you need financial support to pay for Duopa or need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available. For example:

• A program called myAbbVie Assist may help lower the cost of Duopa. For more information and to determine your eligibility for support, call 800-222-6885 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 include:
  • Medicine Assistance Tool
  • NeedyMeds

Learn more about saving money on prescriptions with or without insurance.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about drug cost and Duopa.

What you pay for Duopa annually depends on several factors, including whether you have insurance and your particular plan. Other factors that could affect what you pay for this drug include:

• the quantity you are prescribed, such as a 30- or 90-day supply
• whether you apply and qualify for any available savings programs
• the pharmacy you use
• the cost to maintain the infusion pump used to administer Duopa
• any prior authorization requirements you have for drug coverage

To learn the exact cost you would pay for this medication, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider if you have one.

You can also visit Optum Perks* for price estimates for this drug when using coupons from their site. However, Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance benefits or copays.

* Optum Perks is a sister site of Medical News Today.

Possibly. You can call your Medicare plan provider to learn whether your particular plan covers the cost of this drug. There are many types of Medicare plans, so your coverage and what you pay for prescriptions will be based on your particular plan’s benefits.

The total price you pay for this medication also depends on the cost of the medical procedures and infusion pump needed when you first start Duopa treatment.

Your doctor may also be able to provide information about your costs for Duopa if you have Medicare.

Below is information you may wish to consider if you have insurance and receive Duopa.

Prior authorization: If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers Duopa. This means the company and your doctor will discuss the medication regarding your treatment. The insurance company will then determine whether to cover the medication.

If a drug requires prior authorization but you start treatment without the prior approval, you could pay the full cost of the medication. You can ask your insurance company whether Duopa requires prior authorization.

Type of insurance coverage: When you first start Duopa treatment, you will need certain medical procedures. If you have insurance, your insurance company may bill the price of your Duopa doses through your medical coverage instead of the prescription drug portion of your insurance plan. This depends on your specific insurance plan and where you receive your medical procedures, such as at your doctor’s office or the hospital.

If you have questions about this process, contact your doctor or your insurance provider.

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.