Balcoltra

Introduction

Written by Kirstyn Hill, PharmD, MPH
Medically reviewed by Paul Hetrick, PharmD
Updated on March 1, 2024

Joyeaux is a branded-generic* medication that’s prescribed to help prevent pregnancy. The brand-name version of this drug is Balcoltra. The cost of Joyeaux, with or without insurance, can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

Read on to learn about Joyeaux and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about Joyeaux, including its uses, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

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* Usually, generic drugs are referred to by the name of their active ingredient. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.) But branded-generic drugs, such as Joyeaux, are generic medications given a trade name by the drugmaker.

Cost of Joyeaux

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

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use 
• the quantity you’re prescribed

To find out how much Joyeaux 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 Joyeaux” section.

Coupons for Joyeaux

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of Joyeaux. 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 Joyeaux

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 Joyeaux. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for Joyeaux. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin taking it without this, you may have to pay the full price of the drug.
• A 3-month supply: If you’re taking Joyeaux 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.

Generics vs. brand names

Joyeaux is a branded-generic medication. The brand-name version of this drug is Balcoltra.

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.) Usually, generic drugs are referred to by the name of their active ingredient. But branded-generic drugs are generic medications given a trade name by the drugmaker.

If your doctor has prescribed Joyeaux, but you’re interested in Balcoltra, let them know. They may have a reason to prescribe one medication over the other. Also, check which version of the drug your insurance plan covers, as it may not cover all of them.

To learn how the cost of Joyeaux compares with its brand-name version, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company. 

Common questions about Joyeaux and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Joyeaux.  

How does the cost of Joyeaux compare with the cost of other birth control pills, such as Vienva?

The cost of Joyeaux and other birth control pills, such as Vienva, depends on numerous factors. These include whether you have insurance coverage, the pharmacy you use, and whether you get a 90-day supply of the drug.

Note the active ingredients of other birth control pills may differ from the active ingredients in Joyeaux. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.) It’s important to discuss with your doctor which birth control option may be best for you.

To find out how much Joyeaux may cost compared with other birth control pills, talk with your insurance provider or pharmacy.

Why are costs different for brand-name drugs vs. generic drugs?

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

Makers of a brand-name drug can sell their drug for up to 20 years. When the patent for a brand-name drug expires, other drugmakers can make and sell generic versions. 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.)

This competition may help keep costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active ingredients as brand-name medications. So, they don’t require the same testing, which can be costly.

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

What to ask about Joyeaux

This article provides cost information related to Joyeaux. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription. Above on this page, you’ll find coupons for Joyeaux.

If you have more questions about paying for this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also contact your insurance company.

Here’s a list of questions you may want to ask regarding the cost of your medication:

• Is Joyeaux covered by my insurance?
• Why are my options if I can’t afford Joyeaux?
• Are there lower cost drugs that could be used to prevent pregnancy?

Resources

• Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm   
• Joyeaux (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets and ferrous fumarate tablets) for oral administration. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/655b2c93-cfae-d44f-c128-c816bbd88e45/spl-doc

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.