Emgality, Emgality (300 MG Dose)

Introduction

Written by Kirstyn Hill, PharmD, MPH
Medically reviewed by Christina Bookwalter, PharmD, MS MEd, BCPS, BCACP
Updated on June 5, 2024

Emgality is a brand-name medication that’s prescribed to treat and prevent certain types of headaches. Emgality is not available in a biosimilar version. The cost of Emgality 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 Emgality to:

• treat episodic cluster headaches
• prevent migraine

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

Need a diagnosis or prescription quickly? For certain health conditions, Optum Perks offers personalized on-demand care with no appointment required. For $25, answer a few questions online and receive a diagnosis and treatment plan from a board certified healthcare professional in 15 minutes or less. Get started here.

Cost of Emgality

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

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

To find out how much Emgality 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 Emgality” section.

Coupons for Emgality

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

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 Emgality. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for Emgality. 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 Emgality 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

Emgality is a brand-name biologic medication. (A biologic drug is sourced from living organisms.) Emgality 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 considered as safe and effective as the brand-name drug versions.

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 Emgality and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Emgality.

Is Emgality covered by Medicare?

It depends on your Medicare drug plan. Each Medicare plan has its own drug list, also called a formulary. If Emgality is not on your plan’s drug list, a different medication may be available to treat your condition.

If your drug plan does cover Emgality, the cost may differ based on your Medicare plan and whether you have paid your deductible for the year. Other factors that may affect your cost include which pharmacy you use and whether you get a 90-day supply.

If you’d like to know more about whether Emgality is covered by Medicare, talk with your insurance provider, doctor, or pharmacist.

How much does Emgality cost?

Emgality is a biologic medication, and like other biologic medications, it can be expensive. The amount you pay for Emgality depends on multiple factors. This includes whether you have insurance that covers Emgality, the pharmacy you use, and whether you get a 90-day supply of the drug.

To find out how much you can expect to pay for Emgality, contact your insurance provider or pharmacy. You can also visit the Emgality manufacturer’s website to find out whether you’re eligible for any of their savings and support options.

Resources

• Emgality (galcanezumab-gnlm) injection, for subcutaneous use. (2022). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2022/761063s006lbl.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.