The price you pay for Xeljanz per month or year may depend on certain factors. These include the form you take, whether you have health insurance, and whether you’re eligible for any financial assistance.

Several factors can affect the price you’ll pay for Xeljanz. These include:

  • your treatment plan
  • your insurance coverage (if you have it)
  • the pharmacy you use
  • the form of Xeljanz you take
  • whether you get a 30-day or 90-day supply of the medication (see the “Ways to reduce long-term drug costs” section for details)
  • available financial assistance for X drug (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section for details)

To find out your cost for Xeljanz, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Note: Unless otherwise noted, “Xeljanz” refers to both “Xeljanz” and “Xeljanz XR” throughout this article. Xeljanz XR is the extended-release (long-acting) form of the drug, while Xeljanz is an immediate-release (fast-acting) form.

Xeljanz only comes as a brand-name drug. It’s not currently available in a generic version. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. But generics tend to cost less.

Why is there such a cost difference between brand-name drugs and generics?

Years of research and testing are needed to ensure that brand-name drugs are safe and effective. This testing can make the drugs expensive. The manufacturer of a brand-name drug can sell the drug for up to 20 years. After that, other drugmakers can create generic versions. This competition in the market can lead to lower costs for generics. And because generics have the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs, they don’t need to be studied again. This can also lead to lower generic costs.

If you take Xeljanz long term, you may be able to lower your costs in the following ways:

  • Look into getting a 90-day supply of your medication. You may be able to get a 90-day supply of Xeljanz if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce the number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of Xeljanz. If you’re interested in getting a 90-day supply of this drug, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
  • Use a mail-order pharmacy to get your medication. Using a mail-order pharmacy might help lower your cost for Xeljanz. Plus, you could get your medication without leaving home. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order drugs. You may also be able to get a 90-day supply of the drug through mail order. If you don’t have health insurance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest online pharmacy options that could work for you.

If you need financial support to pay for Xeljanz or help understanding your insurance coverage, assistance is available. For example:

  • A Xeljanz Copay Savings Program is available. For more information and to find out whether you’re eligible for support, call 844-935-5269 or visit the program website.
  • If you don’t have insurance or can’t afford your prescription, you may qualify for the Pfizer Patient Assistance Program (PAP). You may also be eligible for PAP if you have government-sponsored insurance, such as Medicare.
  • Some websites provide details about drug assistance programs, ways to make the most of your insurance coverage, and links to savings cards and other services. Two such websites are:

Below are answers to some common questions about Xeljanz and cost.

How much does Xeljanz cost without insurance and with insurance?

The cost of Xeljanz with and without insurance will vary from person to person. Factors such as the pharmacy you use can affect Xeljanz’s cost per month or year. (For more details, see the “Xeljanz cost” section.)

You can use the drug’s manufacturer pricing tool to get an estimate of what Xeljanz may cost both with and without insurance.

If you have insurance coverage, call your insurer to learn exactly what you’ll pay for the drug.

Does Xeljanz XR cost more than Xeljanz?

Possibly. Xeljanz and Xeljanz XR may be prescribed to treat the following conditions in adults in certain cases:

Xeljanz is also used to treat juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children. But Xeljanz XR isn’t approved for this use. For this reason, Xeljanz and Xeljanz XR aren’t interchangeable and they may have different costs.

Xeljanz and Xeljanz XR also come in different strengths, which may affect the price you pay.

If you want to learn more about the Xeljanz XR price you may pay, talk with your pharmacist, doctor, or insurance provider.

You may want to consider the following information if you have insurance and take Xeljanz.

If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers Xeljanz. This means the company and your doctor will discuss the drug in regard to your treatment. The insurance company will then determine whether Xeljanz is covered.

If a drug requires prior authorization, but you start treatment without the prior approval, you could pay the full cost of the medication. You can ask your insurance company whether Xeljanz requires prior authorization.

Disclaimer: Healthline 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.