Elinest, Turqoz, Low-ogestrel, Cryselle-28

Introduction

Written by Skyler Todd
Medically reviewed by Patricia Weiser, PharmD
Updated on December 6, 2023

Elinest is a branded-generic medication that’s prescribed to prevent pregnancy in people who can become pregnant. Elinest is not available in a generic version. The cost of Elinest with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon. 

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Elinest to prevent pregnancy in females* who can become pregnant.

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

*Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use the term “female” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.

Cost of Elinest

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

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use 

To find out how much Elinest 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 Elinest” section.

Coupons for Elinest

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

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 Elinest. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for Elinest. 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.
• Insurance coverage. The cost of your doses will depend on your specific insurance plan. If you have questions about this process, contact your doctor or your insurance provider.
• A 3-month supply. If you’re taking Elinest 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.

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. generics

Elinest is a branded-generic medication. Usually, generic drugs are referred to by the name of their active ingredients. But branded-generic drugs are given propriety names by the drugmaker.

A branded-generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) 

Branded-generics may cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name version.

Common questions about Elinest and cost

Here are some common questions about Elinest and their answers.  

How does the cost of Elinest compare with the cost of other birth control pills?

The cost of Elinest compared with other birth control pills depends on your insurance, if you have it, and the pharmacy you use. Some generic birth control pills may cost less than Elinest. Talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider about the cost of different brand-name and generic birth control pills.

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 drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that 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 Elinest

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

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 Elinest less expensive if I get a 3-month supply?
• Are there alternative birth control pills that cost less than Elinest?
• Is Elinest less expensive if I use my insurance or a coupon?

Resources

• Elinest – norgestrel and ethinyl estradiol. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/aa7f4a83-71cf-4306-b0a1-01784f67bae2/spl-doc
• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm   

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.