Polycin, Bacitracin-polymyxin B

Introduction

Written by Patricia Weiser, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Brittany A. Duke, PharmD, RPh
Updated on March 12, 2024

Polycin is a generic medication that’s prescribed for bacterial infections of the eye, such as pink eye. It contains the active ingredients bacitracin/polymyxin B. The cost of Polycin with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

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

Need a diagnosis or prescription quickly? For certain health conditions, Optum Perks offers personalized on-demand care with no appointment required. For $25, answer a few questions online and receive a diagnosis and treatment plan from a board certified healthcare professional in 15 minutes or less. Get started here. 

Cost of Polycin

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

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• the cost to visit a healthcare professional to receive doses of Polycin
• the amount prescribed

To find out how much Polycin 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 Polycin” section.

Coupons for Polycin

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

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 Polycin. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for Polycin. 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: Even if your policy has prescription drug coverage, the price of Polycin may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because a doctor or another healthcare professional may give you doses of Polycin. Polycin can also be self-administered. The cost of your doses will depend on your specific insurance plan and whether you receive the doses at your doctor’s clinic or if you self-administer them. 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 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.

Generics vs. brand-names

Polycin is a generic medication that’s been given a trade (proprietary) name by the drugmaker. It contains the active ingredients bacitracin and polymyxin B. It isn’t available in a brand-name 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(s).

Common questions about Polycin and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Polycin.

Is Polycin covered by Medicare?

Yes, if you have Medicare Part D. This is the part of Medicare that covers prescription drugs, such as Polycin. The exact price you’ll pay depends on the specific plan you’ve chosen (if you’ve enrolled in a prescription plan).

For more information, contact your Medicare plan administrator.

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. (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 Polycin

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

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:

• Is there a cost difference between Polycin and similar drugs, such as Neosporin eye ointment?
• How does the cost of Polycin eye ointment compare with that of bacitracin/polymyxin B eye drops?
• Will one tube of Polycin be enough to treat the infection, or will I need to order a refill?

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 
• Polycin- bacitracin zinc and polymyxin B sulfate ophthalmic ointment. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/8108496d-a5d0-45cc-bbbe-93d905bde167/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.