Truvada

Written by Gary Heiting
Medically reviewed by Philip Ngo, PharmD
Updated on August 19, 2024

Cost of emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate

Like other medications, the cost of emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 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 emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 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 the drug costs when using Optum Perks coupons, see the prices shown on this page.

Coupons for emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. The Optum Perks coupons on this page can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

Drug prices often vary between pharmacies, such as CVS, Walmart, Rite Aid, and local pharmacies. Check the Optum Perks coupon list on this page to find discounts available at pharmacies near you.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot 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.

Common questions about emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate’s cost

Here are some common questions and answers about emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate.

Why is Truvada priced so much higher than emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate?

Truvada is a brand-name medication. Brand-name drugs often are expensive because of studies needed to test how safe and effective they are before they can be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the United States. These studies often are costly and time consuming.

Makers of a brand-name drug can patent and sell their drug for up to 20 years. When the patent for a brand-name medication expires, other drug manufacturers can make and sell generic versions of the drug.

Generic medications contain the same active ingredients as brand-name medications. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.) So they don’t require the same costly testing for approval.

Emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate is the generic version of Truvada. It has the same active ingredients as Truvada but costs significantly less because it’s a generic medication.

Is an emtricitabine/tenofovir copay card available to lower my cost of the drug?

Copay cards are offered by some drug manufacturers to lower the cost of brand-name drugs for people who have commercial or private insurance. These cards typically aren’t available for generic medications.

Gilead Sciences offers a copay card for Truvada, which is the brand-name version of emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. For details and to see if you’re eligible for this card, visit this page.

How much is Truvada with insurance?

The cost of Truvada may or may not be covered by health insurance. It depends on your specific insurance policy.

To find out if Truvada is covered by your policy, call the number on the back of your insurance card. Also, ask about your policy’s deductible amount and whether a copay is required.

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
• PDR by ConnectiveRx. (n.d.). https://www.pdr.net/

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.