Montelukast (Singulair) and Cost: What You Need to Know

Montelukast is a generic prescription drug used to help treat asthma and certain other conditions. Montelukast’s cost may depend on factors such as the form of the drug you’re prescribed and the pharmacy you use.

Montelukast is used in adults and some children:

• to treat asthma
• for short-term prevention of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction
• to relieve symptoms of allergic rhinitis (seasonal or perennial) in people who can’t use other treatments or have tried other treatments that didn’t work

Montelukast comes as oral tablets, chewable tablets, and oral granules, all of which you swallow. It’s also available as the brand-name drug Singulair.

For more details on Montelukast, see this in-depth article.

The price you pay for montelukast can vary. It may depend on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage (if you have insurance), and the pharmacy you use. To find out how much you’ll pay for montelukast, 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 montelukast. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss the drug in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether it’s covered. If montelukast requires prior authorization and you don’t receive it before you start treatment, you could pay the full cost of the drug.

Major health insurance companies have faced legal trouble over their claim denial practices. In February 2018, the insurance commissioner of California announced plans to investigate Aetna’s coverage denial practices after a former medical director of the insurance company admitted that he never once looked at a patient’s medical records when deciding whether to deny claims over the three years he worked in the position, according to CNN.

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

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

How much does montelukast cost without insurance?

The cost of montelukast without insurance depends on several factors. These include:

• the condition you’re taking the drug to treat
• the form of the drug you’re prescribed
• the pharmacy you use
• the quantity you’re prescribed (such as a 30-day or 90-day supply)
• any available savings programs you’re eligible for

To find out how much you can expect to pay for your montelukast prescription, talk with your doctor.

Is there a difference in cost between montelukast 10 mg and montelukast 4 mg?

Yes, there may be. Montelukast comes in various strengths and dosage forms. These include:

• film-coated oral tablets, available in one strength of 10 milligrams (mg)
• chewable tablets, available in 4-mg and 5-mg strengths
• oral granules, available in one strength of 4 mg

The difference in cost between various strengths of montelukast such as 4 mg and 10 mg depends on whether you’re paying out of pocket or have insurance coverage. Your cost may also depend on the condition you’re taking montelukast to treat and the dosage you’re prescribed.

To learn more about the cost differences between various strengths of montelukast, talk with your doctor.

Montelukast is a generic drug. This means it contains an exact copy of the active drug in its brand-name version. A generic is considered just as safe and effective as the original drug, but usually costs less.

Montelukast comes as the brand-name drug Singulair. To find out how the costs of Singulair and the various forms of montelukast compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

If you’ve been prescribed montelukast and you’re interested in taking Singulair instead, talk with your doctor. They may prefer that you take one version instead of the other. In addition, you’ll need to check with your insurance provider, as it may only cover one version of the 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 take montelukast 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 montelukast 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 getting a 90-day supply of montelukast, 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 montelukast. 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 montelukast 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.

If you still have questions about the cost of montelukast, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to give you a better idea of what you’ll pay for this drug. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you’d pay for montelukast.

Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor or insurance provider include:

• Does the cost of montelukast depend on the form of the drug I’m prescribed?
• Would I pay more for a higher strength of montelukast?
• What are my options if I can’t afford my prescription?

To learn more about montelukast, see these articles:

• Montelukast oral tablet
• Side Effects of Montelukast Oral and Chewable Tablet

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Disclaimer: Austra Health 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.

Last medically reviewed on March 21, 2023