Hydro 40 Foam, Cem-urea, Uramaxin

Introduction

Written by Rachel Maynard, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Christina Bookwalter, PharmD, MS, MEd, BCPS, BCACP
Updated on February 19, 2024

Umecta is a brand-name topical medication that’s prescribed to help treat certain skin conditions. Umecta is not available in a generic version. The cost of Umecta with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon. 

Specifically, Umecta is prescribed to help clear away dead skin and promote healing with certain skin conditions, such as:

• dry and rough skin
• dermatitis
• psoriasis
• eczema
• corns and calluses
• damaged or ingrown nails

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

Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved Umecta. 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.

Cost of Umecta

Like other medications, the cost of Umecta 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 Umecta 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 Umecta” section.

Coupons for Umecta

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

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 Umecta. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for Umecta. 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.
• Insurance coverage: The cost of your prescription will depend on your specific insurance plan. If you have questions about this, contact your doctor or your insurance provider.
• A 3-month supply: If you’re using Umecta 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

Umecta 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.

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

Common questions about Umecta and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Umecta.

How does the cost of Umecta compare with other similar drugs?

It depends. The active ingredient in Umecta is urea 40%. Umecta comes as a mousse (foam) that you apply to your skin.

There are several other skin care products that contain urea as the active ingredient. These may come in different strengths, such as 10% or 20%. They may also come in different dosage forms, such as lotions or creams.

Some urea products are available by prescription or OTC. They may be recommended for different uses. Or some products may combine urea with other active ingredients.

For these reasons, the costs of Umecta compared with other similar drugs can vary widely. If you have questions about how the cost of Umecta compares with other similar medications for your condition, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

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. 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.

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 Umecta

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

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:

• Does my insurance cover the cost of Umecta?
• Could I use an OTC product instead of Umecta to save money?
• What options are available if I can’t 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 
• Umecta mousse urea – urea foam aerosol, foam. (2017). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/bbd41217-bcfa-4910-a1fd-0f24bc34372a/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.