What empagliflozin costs if you have no insurance

What empagliflozin costs without insurance

Empagliflozin lowers blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes, according to MedlinePlus, a health site from the National Library of Medicine. It also lowers the risk of heart problems in some people, including some who have heart failure or kidney disease.

The company that makes this medicine lists its price for a 30-day supply at $350 as of January 1, 2026. Its website says that people with no prescription coverage should expect to pay the full retail price. A pharmacy may add its own costs on top of that.

The maker also runs a direct program for people without insurance. Eligible patients can get a 30-day fill for a cash price of $249. The maker calls this a cash-only offer, so insurance cannot be used with it. A program sheet from June 2026 shows the same price for eligible uninsured patients. You need a prescription from your doctor. The maker's terms say you must be a US patient with no prescription drug coverage through government or commercial insurance.

What pharmacies pay for empagliflozin

A weekly price survey called NADAC comes from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a federal health agency. Pharmacies report what they pay wholesalers for each drug, and the survey averages those amounts. It does not show counter prices, but we found no government list of counter prices for this medicine, so we used it.

In the survey for the week of October 21, 2026, each tablet cost pharmacies about the same amount in both strengths.

• The 10 mg tablet cost pharmacies about $11.19 each.
• The 25 mg tablet cost pharmacies about $11.19 each.

To estimate a month, multiply the price per tablet by 30. That gives about $336 for 30 tablets, and your doctor decides the strength and the number of tablets. The maker's $249 cash price is lower than this survey figure, so compare the program with the cash price at your own pharmacy.

Medicare's public spending data give one more real-world number. Drug plans and their members spent an average of about $1,006 per prescription fill of this medicine in 2024. A fill can cover more than 30 days, and this is not a cash price. It does show how large the bills can be.

Why there is no cheaper generic yet

A generic medicine is a copy that other companies may sell after the original maker's legal protections end. The FDA's drug database lists only brand-name applications for empagliflozin, including pills that combine it with another medicine. We found no sign that a generic is on sale in the United States in 2026, and the price survey lists none.

The FDA says competition from generics usually lowers prices. It reports that one generic maker can bring prices down about 30 percent, and five makers can bring them down nearly 85 percent. With no generic on sale, that kind of price drop has not started for this medicine.

Medicare members get a lower price

Medicare is the federal health plan for people 65 and older and for some younger people with disabilities. It started using negotiated drug prices on January 1, 2026, and empagliflozin was one of ten drugs on the first list. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says the agreed price for a 30-day supply is $197, compared with a 2023 list price of $573. The maker's own site now lists $350 as of January 2026, so the list price has changed since the 2023 figure.

That price applies only to people who get drug coverage through Medicare Part D. It does not lower the price for someone who has no insurance, so the cash options on this page matter more if you are uninsured.

Ways to get help paying

The maker also has a patient assistance program, which gives medicine at no charge to people who meet its rules. The maker's website lists the toll-free number 1-800-556-8317, open 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern time. Your doctor's office can often help with the forms, because the staff usually know how the process works.

Some community health centers can lower the price of a prescription as well. They take part in a federal program called 340B, which lets them buy outpatient drugs at reduced prices, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration, or HRSA. HRSA does not report what share of the savings patients see, so ask the center for its price. To find one near you, read our guide on community health centers.

You can also call a few pharmacies and ask for their cash price, using the steps in our guide on comparing prescription prices. Our guide to diabetes medicine costs shows what many other medicines for diabetes cost. Seeing a doctor is a cost too, and a direct primary care practice covers visits and refills for a monthly membership, usually $50 to $200. You can search for a cash-pay doctor near you.

Asking your doctor about lower-cost options

Other medicines treat type 2 diabetes, and some cost much less. Whether a different one is safe for you depends on your health and on why you take this one, along with your other medicines. That choice belongs to you and your doctor, and this page cannot make it for you.

You can tell your doctor that cost is a problem, either at a visit or in a call before your supply runs out. Our pages on metformin and dapagliflozin show what two other diabetes medicines cost. We cannot tell you whether either one fits your care.

Please do not stop this medicine on your own

MedlinePlus says empagliflozin helps control diabetes but does not cure it. It says to keep taking the medicine even if you feel well, and not to stop without talking to your doctor. If cost is the reason you want to skip doses, please call your doctor or pharmacist first.

MedlinePlus lists warning signs that need care right away. Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, unusual tiredness or trouble breathing can be signs of ketoacidosis, a buildup of acids in the blood. Rash, hives, or swelling of the face, lips or throat can be signs of an allergic reaction. For these, call your doctor right away or get emergency medical treatment.

MedlinePlus also says the medicine can cause dehydration, so ask your doctor or pharmacist how much water to drink. If you have trouble breathing or swelling of the throat, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. This page is general information and does not replace advice from your own doctor.

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