Motegrity

Introduction

Written by Kirstyn Hill, PharmD, MPH
Medically reviewed by Paul Hetrick, PharmD
Updated on July 5, 2024

Motegrity is a brand-name medication that’s prescribed to treat chronic constipation of unknown cause. Motegrity is not available in a generic version. The cost of Motegrity with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon. 

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Motegrity to treat chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) in adults.

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

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Cost of Motegrity

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

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• the quantity or amount prescribed

To find out how much Motegrity 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” section.

Coupons for Motegrity

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

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

Motegrity 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. The active ingredient of Motegrity is prucalopride. 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 is Motegrity so expensive?

Brand-name drugs like Motegrity often are expensive because of the costly 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.

Generic versions contain the same active ingredients as brand-name medications. So they don’t require the same costly testing that a brand-name drug requires. This often makes the cost of generic drugs less expensive than the brand-name medication with the same active ingredient.

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 Motegrity and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Motegrity.

How much will I pay for Motegrity?

The amount you’ll pay for Motegrity depends on multiple factors. These include whether you have insurance, whether the drug is covered by your insurance, the pharmacy you use, and whether you get a 30-day supply of the drug.

To find out how much you can expect to pay for Motegrity, contact your insurance provider or pharmacy. Also, see the “Coupons” section to learn about potential cost savings on Motegrity with Optum Perks coupons. 

Additional Motegrity cost-savings information can be found on the manufacturer’s website.

Is Motegrity covered by insurance?

It depends. Each insurance plan has its own drug list, also called a formulary. If Motegrity is not on your plan’s drug list, a different medication may be available to treat your condition. 

If your drug plan does cover Motegrity, the cost may differ based on your insurance plan and whether you have paid your deductible for the year. Other factors that may affect your cost include which pharmacy you use and whether you get a 90-day supply.

If you’d like to know more about whether Motegrity is covered by your insurance, talk with your insurance provider, doctor, or pharmacist. 

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
• Motegrity (prucalopride) tablets, for oral use. (2020). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2020/210166s002lbl.pdf

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.