Key takeaways

  • The price of Forteo can vary depending on your insurance coverage, treatment plan, and the pharmacy you use. You’ll also need to purchase pen needles separately to inject Forteo.
  • Forteo is available as a generic drug called teriparatide. The generic is considered just as safe and effective as Forteo, but it generally costs less.
  • You may be able to lower the long-term cost of Forteo by getting a 90-day supply or using a mail-order pharmacy. There are also resources available for financial assistance.

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

  • your treatment plan
  • your insurance coverage (if you have it)
  • the pharmacy you use
  • any separate equipment you may need to purchase to inject Forteo, such as pen needles
  • available financial assistance for Forteo (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section)

To find out your cost for Forteo with or without insurance, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about Forteo and cost.

How much does Forteo cost with Medicare?

The cost of Forteo with Medicare depends on your specific plan and benefits. For example, your cost may depend on your copay and other factors, such as whether you have a Medicare prior authorization requirement.

Forteo is typically covered by Medicare Part D (prescription drug plan). But in some cases, like if it’s given by a doctor in the hospital, it may be covered under Medicare Part B (medical insurance).

You can check with your Medicare plan provider to find out the exact cost of Forteo.

How much does Forteo cost per month?

Forteo’s monthly cost depends on several factors, such as whether you have insurance, the pharmacy you use, and your eligibility for financial assistance. (See the “Financial and insurance assistance” section to learn more.)

If you have commercial insurance, you may be able to get a 28-day supply of Forteo for $4 with the drug manufacturer’s savings card. You can learn more by calling 800-545-5979 or visiting the program website.

To learn more about your monthly cost of Forteo, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Yes, Forteo is available as the generic drug teriparatide, which comes as an injection that’s given under the skin. A generic drug contains an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. A generic is considered to be just as safe and effective as the original drug. And generics generally cost less than brand-name drugs.

To find out how the costs of Forteo and teriparatide injections compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

If you’ve been prescribed Forteo and you’re interested in receiving teriparatide injections instead, talk with your doctor. They may prefer that you receive one version instead of the other. In addition, you’ll need to check with your insurance provider. This is because it may only cover one drug or the other.

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 drugmaker 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 receive Forteo 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 Forteo if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of Forteo. 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 (if available) might help lower your cost for Forteo. 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 help covering the cost of Forteo or understanding your insurance, check out these resources:

On these sites, you can find insurance information, details on drug assistance programs, and links to savings cards and other services.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

You may want to consider the following information if you have insurance and receive Forteo.

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