Why Is Metformin So Expensive?
Retail price: $45/month. Script Unlock price: from $14/month. Here's why there's a difference — and how to stop paying retail.
Why Metformin Costs So Much
- Patent protection Metformin has no generic competition — the manufacturer sets any price they want during the patent period
- R&D cost recovery Manufacturers price high to recover research costs, though actual R&D rarely justifies prices charged
- Insurance system distortion Insurers negotiate rebates — the "list price" is often a fiction used to calculate copays, not actual transaction prices
- PBM exclusivity deals Pharmacy benefit managers get rebates to keep Metformin on formularies — adding cost at every step
- No transparency Unlike other countries, US drug prices are not regulated, negotiated nationally, or publicly disclosed
6 Ways to Pay Less for Metformin
- 1Script Unlock pharmacy bidding: from $14 (70% below retail) — real price not a coupon
- 2Generic equivalent: ask your prescriber if generic Metformin Hydrochloride is available — same molecule, 70-90% cheaper
- 390-day supply: saves 10-20% per fill vs monthly
- 4Manufacturer patient assistance: free or discounted medication for qualifying patients
- 5Compounding pharmacy: custom formulations often significantly cheaper for some medications
- 6Cash pay over insurance: your cash price may be lower than your copay — always compare first
Why Script Unlock works when nothing else does
We create real competition between pharmacies. They bid to win your prescription. Prices go lower than any pre-set coupon or discount card.
$14/month — 70% below retail
Why is Metformin so expensive?
Metformin is expensive primarily because it has patent protection, allowing the manufacturer to set any price, combined with an opaque PBM rebate system that inflates list prices. Script Unlock bypasses this by creating direct pharmacy competition — prices start from $14.
How can I get Metformin cheaper?
The most effective way: compare pharmacy cash prices on Script Unlock (from $14), ask about generic Metformin Hydrochloride, request a 90-day supply, and check manufacturer assistance programs. Never use your insurance without first checking if cash pay is cheaper.