Aimovig

Introduction

Written by Julz Richterman, PharmD, MBA, BCGP
Medically reviewed by Melissa Badowski, PharmD, MPH, FCCP
Updated on June 7, 2024

Aimovig is a brand-name medication that’s prescribed to prevent migraine symptoms in adults. Aimovig is not available in a biosimilar version. The cost of Aimovig with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

Read on to learn about Aimovig and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about Aimovig, including its uses, refer to this overview article.

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Cost of Aimovig

Like other medications, the cost of Aimovig can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• the cost to purchase supplies to use with Aimovig
• the amount prescribed

To find out how much Aimovig costs, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They may be able to suggest ways to save money on your prescription, including those described in this article. To find out what you’d pay using savings coupons, read the “Coupons for Aimovig” section.

Coupons for Aimovig

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of Aimovig. The Optum Perks coupons above can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

Available app for coupons

To make finding and using these coupons easier, you can download the Optum Perks app. To learn more about this prescription discount app, see this article.

Insurance and other considerations for Aimovig

Here’s a list of things to consider about the cost of prescription drugs:

• Prior authorization: If you have prescription drug insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers the cost of Aimovig. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for Aimovig. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin using it without this, you may have to pay the full price of the drug.
• A 3-month supply: If you’re using Aimovig long term, your doctor may suggest a 90-day supply of the medication. This will have to be approved by your insurance company. Getting a 90-day supply could help lower the drug’s cost. It could also save you time having to make trips to your pharmacy.
• Savings accounts: If you’re eligible for a health savings account (HSA) or a flexible spending account (FSA), you can likely use funds from these accounts to pay for your prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications. HSA and FSA plans help people save money by using pretax dollars to pay for eligible healthcare expenses, such as prescription and OTC drugs. To learn more about whether you’re eligible for these savings accounts and how to use them, talk with your insurance provider or employer.

If you have questions about any of these considerations, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Or contact your insurance company and talk with a representative.

If you don’t have a health insurance plan, let your doctor or pharmacist know. They may suggest online pharmacy options you could use. You can also ask them about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Brand names vs. biosimilars

Aimovig injection is a brand-name biologic medication. (A biologic drug is sourced from living organisms.) Aimovig is not available in a biosimilar version.

How biosimilars and generics compare

A biosimilar medication is a drug that’s similar to a brand-name biologic drug (the parent drug). A generic medication is an identical copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.)

Biosimilars tend to cost less than brand-name medications. Like generics, biosimilars are thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name drug version.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about biosimilar and brand-name medications.

Why costs are different for brand-name biologic drugs vs. biosimilar drugs

Biologic drugs can be expensive because of the studies needed to test how safe and effective they are.

Makers of a biologic drug can patent and sell their drug for up to 12 years. When the patent for a brand-name biologic drug expires, other drugmakers can make and sell biosimilar versions.

This competition may help keep the costs of biosimilar medications lower. Also, biosimilar medications are very similar to biologic drugs. So they don’t require the same testing, which may be costly.

If you’d like to know more about the cost differences between brand-name biologic drugs and biosimilar drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Common questions about Aimovig and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Aimovig.

Is Aimovig covered by Medicare?

Usually. Aimovig is covered by most Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. But your copay depends on your specific insurance plan.

Aimovig is only available as a brand-name biologic drug. So insurance providers usually list it on a higher tier on the formulary. A formulary is a list of the drugs that are covered by the insurance provider. The higher the tier a drug is on, the higher the copay tends to be.

Talk with your pharmacist or insurance provider to find out how much Aimovig will cost you.

How does the cost of Aimovig 70 mg compare with the cost of Aimovig 140 mg per month?

Without insurance, the cost of Aimovig 140 mg per month tends to be slightly higher than the cost of Aimovig 70 mg per month. But this depends on the pharmacy you use and the insurance you have. With insurance, you may have the same copay for each strength.

Talk with your pharmacist or insurance provider to learn the cost of the two different Aimovig strengths.

What does Aimovig cost with and without insurance?

The cost of Aimovig is usually higher without insurance and can be expensive. This is because Aimovig is only available as a brand-name biologic drug.

Prescription drug coupons could help lower your cost of Aimovig. See the “Coupons” section for more details.

If you have prescription insurance, some or all of your cost of Aimovig may be covered. But your insurance may require prior authorization before any of the cost is covered. In this case, your doctor will speak with your insurance provider about why Aimovig is best for you.

Speak with your pharmacist or insurance provider about your options to lower your cost of Aimovig.

Resources

• Aimovig (erenumab-aooe) injection, for subcutaneous use. (2023). https://www.pi.amgen.com/-/media/Project/Amgen/Repository/pi-amgen-com/Aimovig/aimovig_pi_hcp_english.pdf
• Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Purple Book: Database of licensed biological products. https://purplebooksearch.fda.gov

Disclaimer: Optum Perks 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.