Omnipaque

Introduction

Written by Dedra Weiss, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Melissa Badowski, PharmD, MPH, FCCP
Updated on June 4, 2024

Omnipaque is a brand-name medication that’s prescribed for some imaging tests to help diagnose certain conditions. Omnipaque is not available in a generic version. The cost of Omnipaque 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:

• Omnipaque injection to provide contrast during X-ray imaging tests for oral, rectal, spinal, body cavity, intravascular (into a blood vessel), and intraarticular (into a joint) use
• Omnipaque oral solution for abdominal CT scans along with Omnipaque injection

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

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Cost of Omnipaque

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

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the cost to visit a healthcare professional to receive doses of Omnipaque
• the amount you’re prescribed
• the drug form you’re prescribed

To find out how much Omnipaque 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 Omnipaque” section.

Coupons for Omnipaque

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

However, you might not be able to use coupons for medications like Omnipaque, as these may be only given by a healthcare professional.

Note: Optum Perks coupons can’t 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 Omnipaque

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 Omnipaque. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for Omnipaque. 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 Omnipaque may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because a doctor or another healthcare professional gives doses of Omnipaque. 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.

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 healthcare team know. You can ask them about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Brand names vs. generics

Omnipaque 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 version.

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

Why costs are 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.

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.

Common questions about Omnipaque and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Omnipaque.  

Is there a cost difference between Omnipaque 300 and the other strengths?

Possibly, but the cost difference may not be that different. If you have insurance, your cost of Omnipaque 300 may depend on factors such as your coverage type, the cost for a doctor to give the medication, and your treatment plan. Omnipaque 300 refers to 300 milligrams (mg) of iodine per milliliter (mL), which is one of the strengths of Omnipaque injection.

Before your procedure, your healthcare team can help you review your insurance information. They can tell you if there’s a difference in cost based on the drug’s strength.

Does the cost of the 100-mL dose of Omnipaque 350 differ from the 50-mL dose?

Most likely. There may be a cost difference for different quantities of Omnipaque 350 that you’re prescribed. Omnipaque 350 refers to 350 mg of iodine per mL, which is one of the strengths of Omnipaque injection. It can be given in a 100-mL or 50-mL dose depending on where your doctor injects it. Your doctor will prescribe the right amount of Omnipaque 350 for your procedure.

Your cost of Omnipaque 350 may also depend on other factors, such as your insurance coverage and how much it costs for your doctor to give you the drug.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about the cost of different doses of Omnipaque 350.

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
• Omnipaque (iohexol) injection, for intrathecal, intravascular, oral, rectal, intraarticular, or body cavity use; Omnipaque (iohexol) oral solution (2023). https://www.gehealthcare.com/-/jssmedia/GEHC/US/Files/Products/Contrast-Media/Omnipaque/omnipaque-uspi.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.