The price you pay for Calquence may depend on factors such as your dosage, whether you have health insurance, and the pharmacy you use. Financial assistance may be available to help you with the cost of Calquence.

Calquence is prescribed to treat the following blood cell cancers in adults:

Keep reading to find out about Calquence and cost and how to save money on your prescriptions.

The price you pay for Calquence can vary. Your cost may depend on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage (if you have it), and the pharmacy you use.

Calquence may need to be purchased through a specialty pharmacy authorized to carry specialty drugs. This type of drug may be costly or require help from healthcare professionals to be taken safely and effectively. For more details about how to obtain Calquence, talk with your doctor.

To find out how much you’ll pay for Calquence, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Note: If you have insurance, you may need to get prior authorization before your insurance provider will cover Calquence. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss Calquence in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If Calquence requires prior authorization and you don’t receive it before you start treatment, you could pay the full cost of the drug.

Be sure to ask your insurance company whether Calquence requires prior authorization.

Calquence only comes as a brand-name drug. It’s not currently available in a generic version. A generic contains an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication but tends 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 such as Calquence 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 Calquence long term, you may be able to lower your costs in the following ways:

  • Look into getting a 90-day supply: You may be able to get a 90-day supply of Calquence if approved by your insurance company. 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: Using the drug manufacturer’s mail-order pharmacy might help lower your cost for Calquence. 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 Calquence or help understanding your insurance coverage, assistance is available. For example:

  • A program called the Calquence Co-pay Savings Program is available for Calquence, for use with certain types of insurance. For more information and to find out whether you’re eligible for support, call 844-275-2360 or visit the program website.
  • Another savings option, called the AZ&Me Prescription Savings Program is available for Calquence for those who cannot afford Calquence. For more information and to find out whether you’re eligible for assistance, call 800-292-6363 or visit the program website.
  • 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 frequently asked questions about Calquence and cost.

Does Medicare pay for Calquence?

Most likely. But there are many types of Medicare plans, so your coverage and what you pay for prescriptions will be based on your particular plan’s benefits. You can call your Medicare plan provider to learn whether your particular plan covers the cost of Calquence. You may also need to obtain prior authorization before your plan will cover the cost of this medication.

If you need financial support to pay for Calquence with Medicare, the AZ&Me Prescription Savings Program is available. For more information, call 800-292-6363 or visit the program website.

Your doctor may be able to provide information about your cost for Calquence if you have Medicare.

How do the costs of Calquence and Imbruvica compare?

The cost of Imbruvica (ibrutinib) may be different than the cost of Calquence. Like Calquence, Imbruvica treats CLL and SLL. Both drugs can be used to treat other conditions as well.

Imbruvica comes in three forms that are swallowed: a tablet, a capsule, and a liquid suspension (a type of liquid mixture). Imbruvica is also available in several different strengths.

To find out the cost difference between Calquence and Imbruvica, talk with your pharmacist or insurance provider. If you’d prefer to take Imbruvica to save on drug costs, talk with your doctor.

Does the cost of Calquence depend on the condition it’s prescribed to treat?

The cost of Calquence shouldn’t depend on the condition it’s being prescribed to treat. However, your overall cost may be affected by how long you need to take the drug and whether you need to take other drugs with Calquence.

For example, if you’re taking Calquence to treat CLL or SLL, your doctor may also prescribe Gazyva (obinutuzumab). Taking two drugs together could increase your overall cost.

If you have questions about whether you may need to take other medications with Calquence, talk with your doctor.

    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.