Ferumoxytol

Introduction

Written by Dena Westphalen, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Amber Watson, PharmD
Updated on January 25, 2024

Ferumoxytol (fer ue MOX i tol) is a generic medication that’s prescribed for low iron levels in adults. The brand-name version of this drug is Feraheme. The cost of ferumoxytol with or without insurance can depend on several factors.

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ferumoxytol to treat iron deficiency in certain cases. These include when oral iron supplements haven’t worked or can’t be used due to conditions, such as kidney disease.

Read on to learn about ferumoxytol and cost. If you’d like more information about ferumoxytol, including its uses, talk with your doctor. 

Cost of ferumoxytol

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

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• whether ferumoxytol is covered under your medical insurance or your prescription benefit
• the cost to visit a healthcare professional to receive doses of ferumoxytol

To find out how much ferumoxytol costs, ask your doctor or insurance provider.

Coupons for medications

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of ferumoxytol. Optum Perks coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

However, coupons aren’t available for medications, such as ferumoxytol, that are only given by a healthcare professional.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with 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 ferumoxytol

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 ferumoxytol. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for ferumoxytol. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin receiving it without this, you may have to pay the full price of the drug.
• Insurance coverage. Even if your policy has prescription drug coverage, the price of ferumoxytol may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because a doctor or another healthcare professional gives doses of ferumoxytol. The cost of your doses will depend on your specific insurance plan and whether you receive the doses at your doctor’s clinic or a hospital. If you have questions about this process, contact your doctor or your insurance provider.
• 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 copays. These include copays for a doctor’s office or clinic visits to receive doses of ferumoxytol. HSA and FSA plans allow people to save money by using pretax dollars to pay for eligible healthcare expenses, such as copays, and prescription and over-the-counter 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 contact your insurance company and talk with a representative.

If you don’t have a health insurance plan, let your doctor know. You can also ask them about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Generics vs. brand-names

Ferumoxytol is a generic medication. The brand-name version of this drug is Feraheme.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. An active ingredient is what makes medication work. Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re believed to be as safe and effective as the brand-name version.

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

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

Common questions about ferumoxytol and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about ferumoxytol.  

How does the cost of ferumoxytol compare with the cost of Venofer?

Both ferumoxytol and Venofer are used to treat low iron levels in certain people. The cost you’ll pay for either medication depends on several factors. These include your insurance coverage, if you have any, and where you receive your doses of medication, such as at a hospital, clinic, or doctor’s office.

Venofer is a brand-name medication that doesn’t come in a generic version. So it may cost more than ferumoxytol, which is a generic medication. (For more details about the costs of brand-name drugs and generics, see the question just below.)

If you have questions about how much either ferumoxytol or Venofer will cost, talk with your doctor or your insurance provider.

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 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. 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 ferumoxytol

This article provides cost information related to ferumoxytol. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription. Above on this page, you’ll find coupon information. However, coupons aren’t available for medications, such as ferumoxytol, that are only given by a healthcare professional.

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

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

• How much will it cost me to receive doses of ferumoxytol?
• Are there lower cost medications that can treat my condition?
• Will it be cheaper if I receive my ferumoxytol doses at a different clinic?

Resources

• Ferumoxytol injection, for intravenous use. (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/cf94c7fc-13a0-4ac9-bb85-9c38aa704d35/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.