Key takeaways
- Mifepristone is a prescription abortion pill. Mifeprestone’s cost may depend on different factors, including your insurance coverage, the pharmacy you use, and whether you’re eligible for any coupons or savings programs.
- Mifepristone is a generic version of the brand-name drug Mifeprex. Generics are exact copies of the brand-name drug and are considered to be equally safe and effective. Generic drugs also typically cost less than brand-name versions.
- Depending on where you live, abortion pills may not be available at your local pharmacy. If you live in a state where abortion care is restricted or banned, you may need to travel to another state to receive mifepristone.
The price you pay for mifepristone can vary. To find out how much you’ll pay for mifepristone, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. Or look below in the next section to learn how much you can save by using a drug savings coupon.
Mifepristone REMS program
Mifepristone is only available through a risk evaluation mitigation strategy (REMS) program. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires REMS programs for certain drugs to help make sure they’re prescribed safely. This means that doctors can prescribe mifepristone, and pharmacies can dispense mifepristone, only if certified by the drug’s REMS program. For more information about this program, call 855-MIFEINFO (855-643-3463) or visit the drug manufacturer’s website.
To save money on your mifepristone prescription, explore these coupons.
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Mifepristone is a generic drug. A generic contains an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. A generic is considered just as safe and effective as the original drug but tends to cost less.
Mifepristone is also available as the brand-name drug Mifeprex. (Korlym is another brand-name version of mifepristone, but it’s prescribed for other conditions.)
To find out how the costs of Mifeprex and mifepristone compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
If you’ve been prescribed mifepristone and you’re interested in taking Mifeprex 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. 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 manufacturer of a brand-name drug can sell the drug exclusively 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 need help covering the cost of mifepristone 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.
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about mifepristone and cost.
- whether you qualify for any savings programs
- the pharmacy you choose
medical abortion
Misoprostol
Off-label use
- your dosage
- whether there are any cost savings programs available for the drug you’re prescribed
abortion
where you live
travel to another state
If you have insurance, you may need to get prior authorization before your insurance provider will cover mifepristone. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss mifepristone in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If mifepristone 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 mifepristone requires prior authorization.
If you still have questions about the cost of mifepristone, 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 mifepristone.
Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor or insurance provider include:
- What are my options if I can’t afford mifepristone?
- How does the cost of mifepristone compare with brand-name Mifeprex?
- Would my cost for mifepristone be higher if I needed to use an out-of-state pharmacy?
- Can I get mifepristone through a mail-order pharmacy?
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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.