How Much Is Benzonatate Without Insurance

Benzonatate (Tessalon) is an FDA-approved cough suppressant for people age 10 and older. The medication is only available by prescription and comes in capsules that should be swallowed whole. Breaking or chewing the capsules can lead to numbing of your mouth and throat, which can cause a choking hazard.

The brand-name version, Tessalon Perles, is no longer available, so you can only purchase benzonatate as a generic medication. Benzonatate is available in 100 mg, 150 mg, and 200 mg doses, which can be taken up to three times a day as needed. The maximum dosage is 600 mg per day.

How much does benzonatate cost?

Without insurance, the cost of benzonatate capsules varies based on dose and quantity. Ninety capsules of 100 mg benzonatate cost an average of around $59.85 without insurance or coupons. If you need a higher dose, you may pay more. Ninety capsules of 150 mg benzonatate cost an average of around $226.73, while 90 capsules of 200 mg benzonatate cost an average of $122.00.

What factors affect the cost of benzonatate?

The price you'll pay for benzonatate will likely depend on the following factors:

• Pharmacy: Because of differences in pharmacy contracts, the price of benzonatate can vary between pharmacies, even pharmacies in the same area.

• Location: Prescription medication costs can also vary widely by geography. GoodRX research, for example, shows that prescription medications are the least expensive in Denver, Houston, and Atlanta, and the most expensive in New Orleans, New York, and Little Rock, Arkansas.

• Insurance status: If you have insurance that covers benzonatate, your out-of-pocket costs will likely be lower. But you may still have expenses such as copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles.

• Dose and quantity: The dose you're prescribed and how often you need to take the medication can impact the price. For example, the average retail price for 15 capsules of 100 mg benzonatate is around $13.72, compared to around $59.85 for 90 capsules.

Does insurance cover benzonatate?

Many insurers, including Medicare, cover benzonatate. But coverage for benzonatate varies by plan. If you have insurance, check your summary of benefits and coverage and your plan's formulary list to see if benzonatate is covered.

Medicaid coverage of benzonatate varies among state programs. For example, benzonatate is listed as a preferred medication under the Medicaid programs for Texas and Arizona.

If your insurance doesn't cover benzonatate, you can request a formulary exception. If the exception is denied, you can challenge the decision by filing an appeal. You can also talk to your healthcare professional about alternative medications.

Ways to save on benzonatate without insurance

Try these three tips to save money on benzonatate without insurance.

1. Use a free GoodRx coupon

GoodRx may be able to help you save money on your medication. The table below shows the latest GoodRx prices for 30 capsules of different doses of benzonatate.

To get your free coupon:

• Visit www.goodrx.com or download the GoodRx app.

• Type "benzonatate" in the search field.

• Choose the correct dose, quantity, and location.

• Click or tap on "Search prices" to find costs at pharmacies near you.

• Choose to receive your coupon via text or email, or print it out.

• Show the coupon at the pharmacy when you pick up your prescription. Or, to help prevent delays, present the coupon when you fill your prescription.

2. Compare prices at different pharmacies

GoodRx can also help you find the lowest price for benzonatate by comparing the costs at various pharmacies.

3. Use HSA or FSA funds

You can use tax-free funds from a health savings account (HSA) or a flexible spending account (FSA) to cover eligible medical expenses, including prescription medications like benzonatate. HSA funds don't expire, but FSA funds must be used before the end of the plan year.