Minoxidil is a generic prescription oral tablet that’s used to treat high blood pressure. Minoxidil’s cost may depend on factors such as your dosage, whether you have health insurance, and the pharmacy you use.
Note: Minoxidil also comes as a topical solution that’s available over the counter. That form is used to treat hair loss. This article covers the oral tablet form only, which is used for high blood pressure and requires a prescription from your doctor.
The price you pay for minoxidil can vary. Your cost may depend on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage, and the pharmacy you use.
To find out how much you’ll pay for minoxidil, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. Or look below in the next section to learn how much you can save by using an Optum Perks coupon.
To save money on your minoxidil prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons. (Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.)
Save on your minoxidil prescription
Save on minoxidil without insurance.
Enter your information:
Location
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Dosage
2.5mg minoxidil (60 Tablets)
Save money without using insurance
Simply show the Optum Perks coupon at your preferred pharmacy or order online and instantly save up to 80% without using insurance. The coupon doesn’t expire, so be sure to save it for refills.
Retail price refers to the manufacturer’s published list price and is up to date as of 3/2023. Retail and discounted prices are U.S.-only and can vary based on region and pharmacy. We cannot guarantee that the discounted price listed here will exactly match the price at your pharmacy. Please contact your pharmacy for the exact price.
Optum Perks and Healthline are subsidiaries of RVO Health.
Pricing source:Perks.optum.com
Minoxidil only comes as a generic drug. It’s not currently available in a brand-name version. A generic drug contains an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication but tends to cost less. Minoxidil was based on the brand-name drug Loniten, which is no longer available.
Why is there such a cost difference between brand-name drugs and generics?Years of research and testing are needed to ensure that brand-name drugs are safe and effective. This testing can make the drugs expensive. The manufacturer of a brand-name drug can sell the drug exclusively for up to 20 years. After that, other drugmakers can create generic versions. This competition in the market can lead to lower costs for generics. And because generics have the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs, they don’t need to be studied again. This can also lead to lower generic costs.
If you take minoxidil long term, you may be able to lower your costs in the following ways:
Look into getting a 90-day supply of your medication: You may be able to get a 90-day supply of minoxidil if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of minoxidil. If you’re interested in getting a 90-day supply of this drug, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
Use a mail-order pharmacy to get your medication: Using a mail-order pharmacy might help lower your cost for minoxidil. Plus, you could get your medication without leaving home. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order drugs. You may also be able to get a 90-day supply of the drug through 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.
If you need help covering the cost of minoxidil or understanding your insurance, check out these resources:
On these sites, you can find insurance information, details on drug assistance programs, and links to savings cards and other services.
If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about minoxidil and cost.
How much does minoxidil cost without insurance?
The cost of minoxidil without insurance depends on several factors. But in general, your cost will be higher without insurance.
Your cost for minoxidil may depend on factors such as:
- your treatment plan and dosage
- whether you qualify for any savings programs
- the pharmacy you choose
- the supply of medication you receive (such as a 30-day or 90-day supply)
To find out the exact cost of minoxidil without insurance, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Also, you may want to check with a few pharmacies to compare prices.
You can also visit Optum Perks* to get price estimates for minoxidil when you use coupons from the site. It’s important to note that Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.
* Optum Perks is a sister site of Healthline.
Does Medicare cover minoxidil?
It’s possible. To find out whether your Medicare plan covers the cost of minoxidil, call your plan provider. There are many different types of Medicare plans, and your cost and coverage depend on your particular plan’s benefits.
Your final cost may also depend on the price to receive minoxidil at a doctor’s office or clinic.
Keep in mind that your plan may have prior authorization requirements before it will cover minoxidil. (See the “Prior authorization” section below for more information.)
You can also ask your doctor about the cost of minoxidil if you have Medicare.
If you have insurance, you may need to get prior authorization before your insurance provider will cover minoxidil. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss minoxidil in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If minoxidil requires prior authorization and you don’t receive it before you start treatment, you could pay the full cost of the drug.
Be sure to ask your insurance company whether minoxidil requires prior authorization.
If you still have questions about the cost of minoxidil, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to give you a better idea of what you’ll pay for this drug. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual price you’d pay for minoxidil.
Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor or insurance provider include:
- Are there other lower cost drugs that could treat my condition?
- If I get a larger quantity of minoxidil, will it lower my daily cost of the drug?
- Will my dosage of minoxidil affect the cost?
To learn more about minoxidil, see this article.
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Disclaimer: Healthline 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.