The price you pay for Ilumya 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 Ilumya.

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

  • your treatment plan
  • your insurance coverage
  • the pharmacy you use
  • the cost of the visit to your healthcare professional to receive doses of Ilumya
  • available financial assistance for Ilumya (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section)

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

Ilumya is a biologic drug, which means it’s made from parts of living organisms. It doesn’t come in a biosimilar form. Biosimilars are like generic drugs, but unlike generics (which are made for nonbiologic drugs), biosimilars are made for biologics.

Why is there such a cost difference between biologic drugs and biosimilar drugs?

Biologic drugs can be expensive because of the research and testing needed to ensure their safety and effectiveness. The manufacturer of a biologic drug can sell it exclusively for up to 12 years. When the biologic drug’s patent expires, other drugmakers can create biosimilar versions. This competition in the market may lead to lower costs for biosimilars. And because biosimilars are very similar to biologic drugs, they don’t need to be studied again. This can also lead to lower costs for biosimilars.

If you take Ilumya 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 Ilumya if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of the drug. If you’re interested in a 90-day supply of Ilumya, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
  • Use a mail-order pharmacy: Using a mail-order pharmacy might help lower your cost for Ilumya. 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 Ilumya or help understanding your insurance coverage, assistance is available. For example:

  • The Ilumya Early Access Program is available for Ilumya. This program may help if you’re in the process of getting insurance coverage for Ilumya. For more information and to find out whether you’re eligible for support, call 866-253-6677 or visit the program website.
  • The Ilumya Copay Program is also available for Ilumya. For more information, please call 866-253-6677 or visit the program website.
  • If you don’t have insurance or are underinsured, you may be eligible for the Ilumya Patient Assistance Program. To learn more, please call 855-445-8692 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:

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

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

Type of insurance coverage: Ilumya is given by your doctor or another healthcare professional. If you have insurance, the price of your Ilumya doses may be billed through your medical coverage instead of the prescription drug portion of your insurance plan. This depends on your specific insurance plan and where you receive your Ilumya doses, such as at your doctor’s office, an infusion clinic, or a hospital. If you have questions about this process, contact your doctor or your insurance provider.

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.