Entresto

Introduction

Written by Patricia Weiser, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Victor Nguyen, PharmD, MBA
Updated on July 11, 2024

Entresto is a brand-name medication that’s prescribed for heart failure. Entresto is not available in a generic version. The cost of Entresto with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

More specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Entresto to:

• reduce the risk of death and hospitalization in adults with chronic (long-lasting) heart failure
• treat heart failure that’s causing symptoms in certain children ages 1 year and older

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

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Cost of Entresto

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

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

To find out how much Entresto 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, see the “Coupons for Entresto” section.

Coupons for Entresto

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

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

Entresto is a brand-name medication. It’s not available in a generic version.

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.) 

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

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

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

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

Makers of a brand-name drug can patent and 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.

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.

Common questions about Entresto and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Entresto.

Does Medicare cover Entresto?

Possibly. There are several types of Medicare plans. If you have a Medicare Part D prescription plan, it’s likely that your plan will cover Entresto. But this depends on your specific plan.

In some cases, Medicare prescription insurance plans may need prior authorization before they cover Entresto. With prior authorization, your insurance company needs information about your health condition and health history before they cover a drug. For example, your doctor may need to provide details about medications you’ve already tried for your condition.

To find out if your Medicare plan covers Entresto, talk with your plan representative.

What is the cost of Entresto without insurance?

The cost of Entresto without insurance is usually higher than the cost of Entresto with insurance. But the exact cost may depend on several factors, such as your location, your specific plan benefits, and the form of Entresto you’re prescribed.

One way to find out how much Entresto will cost without insurance is to search for the list price on the drug manufacturer’s website. But keep in mind that your cost may be less than the list price. The cost of Entresto may be lowered by using insurance, a coupon, or assistance programs.

Talk with your pharmacist to learn more about ways to save on medications such as Entresto.

Resources

• Entresto (sacubitril and valsartan) tablets, for oral use; Entresto Sprinkle (sacubitril and valsartan) oral pellets. (2024). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/000dc81d-ab91-450c-8eae-8eb74e72296f/spl-doc
• Food and Drug Administration. (2024). 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.