Propofol
Generic Diprivan
Propofol (PROE po fole) is a generic medication that’s prescribed for anesthesia during surgery. The brand-name version of this drug is Diprivan. The cost of propofol with or without insurance can depend on several factors.
Propofol (PROE po fole) is a generic medication that’s prescribed for anesthesia during surgery. The brand-name version of this drug is Diprivan. The cost of propofol with or without insurance can depend on several factors.
- Generic
- • Emulsion
- • 100ml of 1000mg/100ml
- • 1 Vial
Dosage settings
Set your dosage
Make sure your dosage values are correct! In order for Optum Perks to provide the most accurate discount pricing for your prescription, take a moment to verify your dosage above.
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Intro
Introduction
Written by Jen Seabright, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBA
Updated on December 20, 2023
Propofol (PROE po fole) is a generic medication that’s prescribed for anesthesia during surgery. The brand-name version of this drug is Diprivan. The cost of propofol with or without insurance can depend on several factors.
Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved propofol to:
- induce sleep during surgery for adults and children ages 3 years and older
- maintain sleep during surgery for adults and children ages 2 months and older
- induce and maintain sedation for monitored anesthesia care (MAC) in adults
- sedate adults who need regional anesthesia
- sedate adults who need mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit (ICU)
Read on to learn about propofol and cost. If you’d like more information about propofol, including its uses, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Cost
Cost of propofol
Like other medications, the cost of propofol can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:
- your insurance plan, if you have coverage
- whether propofol is covered under your medical insurance or your prescription benefit
- the cost of having a healthcare professional give doses of propofol
To find out how much propofol costs, ask your doctor or insurance provider.
Coupons
Coupons for medications
Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of certain medications. The Optum Perks coupons above can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.
However, coupons aren’t available for medications, such as propofol, 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
Insurance and other considerations for propofol
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 propofol. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for propofol. 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 propofol may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because a doctor or another healthcare professional gives doses of propofol. 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 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
Generics vs. brand-names
Propofol is a generic medication. The brand-name version of this drug is Diprivan.
A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that 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.
Prior to your procedure, ask your doctor whether generic propofol or Diprivan will be prescribed for you. The hospital or health system may have a financial representative who can discuss possible costs with you.
FAQ
Common questions about propofol and cost
Here are some common questions and answers about propofol.
Is propofol covered by Medicare?
It may be covered by Medicare. Propofol is given by a healthcare professional in a hospital or outpatient surgery setting. For this reason, propofol may be covered under your medical plan instead of your drug plan. If you have questions about this, you can ask your doctor or your 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 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 drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.)
This competition may help keep costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active drugs 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
What to ask about propofol
This article provides cost information related to propofol. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription. Above on this page, you’ll find coupon information. However, coupons aren’t available for medications, such as propofol, that are only given by a healthcare professional.
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:
- Will the dosage of propofol that’s prescribed for me affect the cost?
- Are there other lower cost medications available to me?
- What options do I have if I can’t afford this medication?
Resources
Resources
- Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
- Propofol injectable emulsion, for intravenous use. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/5ec25932-6c21-4cd5-8f60-80761f2e20a6/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.
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