Foscavir

Introduction

Written by Dena Westphalen, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Patricia Weiser, PharmD
Updated on January 26, 2024

Foscarnet (fos KAR net) is a generic medication that’s prescribed for certain viral infections. The brand-name version of this drug is Foscavir. The cost of foscarnet with or without insurance can depend on several factors.

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved foscarnet to treat:

• cytomegalovirus retinitis (a serious infection of the eyes that can occur in people with AIDS)
• herpes simplex virus infection that’s resistant to the drug acyclovir in people with a weakened immune system

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

Cost of foscarnet

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

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

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

Coupons for medications

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

However, you may not be able to use coupons for medications, such as foscarnet, that are only given by a healthcare professional

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 foscarnet

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 foscarnet. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for foscarnet. 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 foscarnet may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because a doctor or another healthcare professional gives doses of foscarnet. 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 visits to the doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital to receive doses of foscarnet. 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. They may suggest ways to lower your cost. You can also ask them about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Generics vs. brand-names

Foscarnet is a generic medication. The brand-name version of this drug is Foscavir.

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.

If your doctor has prescribed foscarnet but you’re interested in taking Foscavir, let them know. They may prefer one medication over the other. Also, check whether your insurance plan covers only one version of the drug.

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

Common questions about foscarnet and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about foscarnet. 

Is foscarnet covered by Medicare?

Possibly. Whether Medicare covers foscarnet depends on your specific Medicare plan. Foscarnet may also be billed through a different part of your plan than other prescription medications. This is because it’s given by a doctor or another healthcare professional in an office, clinic, or hospital. (For more information, see the “Insurance and other considerations for foscarnet” section.)

If you have questions about your coverage of foscarnet, talk with your doctor or Medicare plan 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 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 foscarnet

This article provides cost information related to foscarnet. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on medications. Above on this page, you’ll find coupon information. However, you may not be able to use coupons for medications, such as foscarnet, 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 to receive each dose of foscarnet?
• Are there lower cost options to treat my condition?
• What are my options if I cannot afford my medication?

Resources

• Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm 
• Foscarnet sodium injection. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/8a7caffd-9d8a-4d45-ad48-70d511a89c29/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.