Ferotrinsic, Tricon, Foltrin

Introduction

Written by Sarah Lewis, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Elizabeth Scheffel, PharmD
Updated on March 7, 2024

Tricon is a brand-name medication that’s prescribed for certain kinds of anemia. Tricon isn’t available in a generic version. The cost of Tricon, with or without insurance, can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t approved Tricon. This is because the drug has been available since before the FDA began its drug approval process. If you have questions about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

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

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Cost of Tricon

Like other medications, the cost of Tricon 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 Tricon 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 Tricon“ section.

Coupons for Tricon

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

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

Tricon 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 versions.

Common questions about Tricon and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Tricon.

How does the cost of Tricon compare with the cost of a multivitamin with iron?

It depends. The cost for a Tricon prescription may or may not be less than the cost of an OTC multivitamin with iron.

There are many factors that go into the price you’ll pay for a prescription medication. But insurance coverage is the main one. Insurance plans differ in how they cover drugs and the copay they require. If you have health insurance, your plan will determine how much you’ll pay for a Tricon prescription. This could end up being less than the price of an OTC multivitamin with iron.

You can find out how much a prescription for Tricon is likely to cost by contacting your insurance provider. Or you can ask someone at your 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 patent and sell their drug for up to 20 years without anyone else making their drug. 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 the costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active ingredients as brand-name medications, which have already been tested. So, generic medications don’t require the same kind of costly testing as brand-name medications.

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 Tricon

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

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:

• Are there other lower cost drugs that could treat my condition?
• How does the cost of my prescription Tricon compare with the cost of an OTC vitamin?
• What are my options if I can’t afford my medication?

Resources

• Tricon capsules. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/d891ab47-4a05-4b5b-b372-7ddf91699c29/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.