Taltz and Cost: What You Need to Know

Taltz (ixekizumab) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat certain autoimmune conditions such as psoriasis. Taltz’s cost may depend on factors such as your dosage, whether you have health insurance, and the specialty pharmacy you use.

Taltz is used to treat:

• plaque psoriasis in adults and certain children
• ankylosing spondylitis in adults
• psoriatic arthritis in adults
• axial spondyloarthritis in adults

Each dose of Taltz comes as a liquid solution inside a single-use prefilled syringe or autoinjector pen. (An autoinjector pen is a device that gives your dose when a button is pushed).

The active ingredient in Taltz is ixekizumab. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)

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

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

The older you get, the more you will be forced to spend on healthcare. A couple retiring at age 65 in 2018 will spend $280,000, on average, on medical costs throughout their retirement, not counting the expense of over-the-counter medications or the cost of living in a nursing home, CBS News

To find out how much you’ll pay for Taltz, 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 Taltz. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss Taltz in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If Taltz 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 Taltz requires prior authorization.

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

How much does Taltz cost without insurance?

What you’ll pay for Taltz without insurance depends on several factors. Generally, your cost will be higher without insurance.

Factors that could affect your cost include:

• your dosage
• whether your doctor prescribes the autoinjector or prefilled syringe
• whether you qualify for any savings programs
• the specialty pharmacy you choose
• the days’ supply of the medication (such as a 30-day or 90-day supply)

To find out the exact cost of Taltz without insurance, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Also, you may want to check with a few specialty pharmacies to compare prices.

Does the manufacturer of Taltz have a copay assistance program?

Yes. The manufacturer of Taltz offers a copay assistance program called Taltz Together. This savings program can lower the cost of Taltz if you have health insurance and meet certain requirements.

To learn more about the program, visit the Taltz website or call 844-TALTZ-NOW (844-825-8966).

For more cost saving resources, see the “Can I get help paying for Taltz?” section below.

Is there a cost difference between Taltz and Humira?

It’s possible. Some factors that might cause a difference in the price of Taltz and Humira include:

• whether you have insurance coverage or are paying out of pocket
• the specialty pharmacy you use
• the condition the drug is being used for
• your dosage
• available savings programs for either drug

To learn more about cost differences (if any) between Taltz and Humira, ask your doctor, insurance provider, or specialty pharmacy. They can provide more information about the exact cost of each medication for you.

Taltz 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. Unlike generics, which are made for nonbiologic drugs, biosimilars are made for biologic drugs.

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 drugmaker of a biologic drug can sell it 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.

Taltz is only available through specialty pharmacies. If you take Taltz 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 Taltz if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of Taltz. If you’re interested in getting a 90-day supply of this drug, talk with your doctor, specialty pharmacy, or insurance provider.

Use a mail-order pharmacy to get your medication. Using a mail-order specialty pharmacy might help lower your cost for Taltz. 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 Taltz 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 don’t have insurance, you can also check with this Medication Assistance Tool to find health clinics that may help you save on your medication cost.

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 Taltz, 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 Taltz.

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

• Does my cost for Taltz depend on my dose?
• Would I pay more for Taltz with Medicare or private insurance?
• Are there other lower cost options to treat my condition?

To learn more about Taltz, see these articles:

• All About Taltz
• Dosage for Taltz: What You Need to Know
• Side Effects of Taltz: What You Need to Know

To get information on different conditions and tips for improving your health, subscribe to any of Austra Health’s newsletters. You may also want to check out the online communities at Bezzy. It’s a place where people with certain conditions can find support and connect with others.

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 April 7, 2023