What if I Can’t Afford My Asthma Medication?

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

graphic Image of asthma inhaler

Steps to help with asthma medication costs.

  1. Shop around
  2. Contact the medication manufacturer
  3. Discuss alternatives with your doctor

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, WebMDRx, and NeedyMeds.

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. Organization 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 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. 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 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 the manufacturer to find out about its patient assistance program.

If you are still unable to afford the prescribed medication, talk with your doctor. It’s very important to use 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


Image of Proventil Asthma InhalerProventil® HFA

Manufacturer: Merck

Contact:

https://www.merckhelps.com

855-257-3932

$15 off Out of Pocket Expense


Image of Ventolin HFA asthma inhalerVentolin® HFA

Manufacturer: GSK

Contact:

https://www.gskforyou.com/

888-825-5249


Long-acting beta2-agonist bronchodilators

Brovana nebulizer medication vialBrovana®

Manufacturer: Novartis

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

Contact: 888-669-6682


Perforomist medication vial imagePerforomist®

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


Photo of Serevent Diskus inhaler

Serevent® Diskus®

Manufacturer: GSK

Website: https://www.gskforyou.com/

Contact: 800-745-2967


Photo of Striverdi Respimat asthma inhaler

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/us/sites/default/files/2023-02/primary-care-pap-application-fillable-pdf.pdf

Contact: 800-556-8317

 


Inhaled corticosteroids


Photo of Alvesco HFA asthma inhalerAlvesco® HFA

Manufacturer: Covis

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

Pay as little as $60.

Contact: 844-749-1023


Photo of Arnuity Ellipta asthma inhalerArnuity® Ellipta®

Manufacturer: GSK

Website: https://www.gskforyou.com/

Contact:

800-745-2967


Asmanex Asthma Inhalers in 3 dosesAsmanex® HFA

Manufacturer: Organon (part of Merck)

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

Pay as little as $15 per prescription.

Contact: 800-727-5400


Photo of Asmanex Twisthaler asthma inhaler

Asmanex® Twisthaler®

Manufacturer: Organon (part of Merck)

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

Pay as little as $15 per prescription.

Contact: 800-727-5400


Photo of Pulmicort Flexhaler  asthma inhalerPulmicort Flexhaler®

Manufacturer: AstraZeneca

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

Contact:

800-AZandMe (800-292-6363)


Pulmicort Respules nebulizer medication vial imagePulmicort Respules®

Manufacturer: AstraZeneca

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

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

 

 


Combination Medications


Photo of Advair Diskus Asthma InhalerAdvair Diskus®

Manufacturer: GSK

Website: https://www.gskforyou.com/

Contact:

800-745-2967


Photo of Advair HFA asthma InhalerAdvair® HFA

Manufacturer: GSK

Website: https://www.gskforyou.com/

Contact:

800-745-2967


Breo® Ellipta® image of inhalers 3 dosagesBreo® Ellipta®

Manufacturer: GSK

Website: https://www.gskforyou.com/

Contact:

800-745-2967


Breyna asthma inhaler imageBreyna™

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


Photo of Dulera asthma inhalerDulera®

Manufacturer: Merck

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

Eligible patients pay as little as $15.

Contact: 800-727-5400


Photo of Symbicort HFA Asthma and COPD inhalerSymbicort®

Manufacturer: AstraZeneca

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

Contact:

800-AZandMe (800-292-6363)


Wixela asthma inhaler deviceWixela™ 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


Photo of Anoro Ellipta COPDAnoro® Ellipta®

Manufacturer: GSK

Website: https://www.gskforyou.com/

Contact:

800-745-2967


photo of Bevespi Aerosphere COPD inhalerBevespi 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


Photo of Stiolto Respimat COPD inhalerStiolto™ 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 inhaler devices in 2 dosesTrelegy® Ellipta®

Manufacturer: GSK

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

Eligible patients pay as little as $0.

Contact: 888-825-5249


Breztri AerosphereBreztri 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


Photo of Combivent Respimat COPDCombivent® 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 inhaler device imageAirSupra®

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


Photo of Atrovent COPD inhalerAtrovent® 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/us/sites/default/files/2023-02/primary-care-pap-application-fillable-pdf.pdf

Contact: 800-556-8317


Photo of Incruse Ellipta COPDIncruse® Ellipta®

Manufacturer: GSK

Website: https://www.gskforyou.com/

Contact:

800-745-2967


Photo of Spiriva HandiHaler COPD InhalerSpiriva® 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/us/sites/default/files/2023-02/primary-care-pap-application-fillable-pdf.pdf

Contact: 800-556-8317


Photo of Spiriva_Respimat Asthma and COPD InhalerSpiriva® 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/us/sites/default/files/2023-02/primary-care-pap-application-fillable-pdf.pdf

Contact: 800-556-8317


Photo of Tudorza Pressair COPD InhalerTudorza™ Pressair™

Manufacturer: AstraZeneca

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

Eligible patients pap as little as $0.

Contact: 844-749-1023


Yupelri nebulizer vial 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)


Photo of Cinqair injectable asthma medicationCinqair

Manufacturer: Teva

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

Contact: 877-237-4881


the variety of Dupixent injection productsDupixent

Manufacturer: Sanofi and Regeneron

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

Contact:

844-387-4936


Fasenra injection medications Fasenra

Manufacturer: AstraZeneca

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

Eligible patients pay as little as $0.

Contact: 833-360-4357


Nucala biologic medication injection devicesNucala

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 injection devices biologic medicationTezspire™

Manufacturer: AstraZeneca

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

Eligible patients pay as little as $0.

Contact: 888-897-7473


Xolair Asthma self-injectable medicationXolair

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


Photo of Daliresp COPD medication bottleDaliresp®

Manufacturer: AstraZeneca

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

$25 savings program.

Contact: 866-459-2015


Leukotriene Modifiers


Singulair pill bottleSingulair®

Manufacturer: Merck

Website: https://www.merckhelps.com

Contact: 855-257-3932

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