List price versus negotiated price versus what you pay posts 91–116

Cost per milligram is the only comparison that survives format differences, but even then it needs care. A pen and a vial are not the same product and cannot be compared on price per milligram alone because dead volume, wastage, and number of doses actually obtainable differ.

Biosimilars and future generics: as patents expire, biosimilar and generic versions might become available and prices might fall. That has already happened for some proteins; incretin agonist pricing might follow.

Coming back to post #91, because the follow-up matters more than the original answer.

Compute cost per delivered dose at your dose if you want a number you can act on. That requires knowing your dose, vial volume, and whether you are using a vial or a pen.

Picking up post #91: that is the part I would want checked first.

Pharmacy acquisition cost: a pharmacy pays less than the patient pays, even at insurance rates. That margin is where the pharmacy's costs and profit live.

Discount programmes and coupons: manufacturers often offer coupons that reduce out-of-pocket costs if insurance is not covering or is covering at a high copay. These have eligibility restrictions but can save money.

Price variation between pharmacies: identical prescriptions can cost different amounts at different pharmacies because pharmacies negotiate individually with insurers and manufacturers.

International pricing: the same compound costs very different amounts in different countries because healthcare systems and regulatory frameworks differ. Generally, US prices are higher than other developed nations.

This follows post #95 rather than contradicting it.

I disagree with the reply above, and I think the disagreement is substantive rather than terminological.

The distinction being drawn does not survive when you look at the published data for this specific question. I would be glad to be shown wrong on this, because the version I am arguing against is more convenient.

On post #95 — agreed on the reasoning, with one qualification.

International pricing: the same compound costs very different amounts in different countries because healthcare systems and regulatory frameworks differ. Generally, US prices are higher than other developed nations.

For anyone arriving from a search: the marked solution above is the direct answer, and the replies underneath it add the caveats that make it safe to use.

Coming back to post #99, because the follow-up matters more than the original answer.

Biosimilars and future generics: as patents expire, biosimilar and generic versions might become available and prices might fall. That has already happened for some proteins; incretin agonist pricing might follow.

Picking up post #99: that is the part I would want checked first.

Price variation between pharmacies: identical prescriptions can cost different amounts at different pharmacies because pharmacies negotiate individually with insurers and manufacturers.

Discount programmes and coupons: manufacturers often offer coupons that reduce out-of-pocket costs if insurance is not covering or is covering at a high copay. These have eligibility restrictions but can save money.

Thank you for the correction. I have edited my earlier post with a note rather than silently, so the thread still makes sense to read. The error was mine and it was the kind that comes from remembering a figure instead of looking it up.