Meloxicam is a generic prescription drug that’s used to treat certain types of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis. Meloxicam’s cost may depend on factors such as your dosage, whether you have health insurance, and the pharmacy you use.
Meloxicam is available in three oral forms: a tablet, a capsule, and a liquid suspension (a type of liquid mixture). For more details on meloxicam, see this in-depth article.
The price you pay for meloxicam can vary. Your cost may depend on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage, the form your doctor prescribes, and the pharmacy you use. To find out how much you’ll pay for meloxicam, 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 meloxicam. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss meloxicam in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If meloxicam 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 meloxicam requires prior authorization.
To save money on your meloxicam prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons.
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about meloxicam and cost.
How much does meloxicam cost without insurance?
If you don’t have insurance that covers prescription drugs, you can ask your pharmacist what the “cash price” is for meloxicam. This is the amount you’ll pay out of pocket if you don’t have insurance or any discounts. The cost may vary depending on what pharmacy you use.
You can also visit Optum Perks* to get price estimates for meloxicam when you use coupons from the site. It’s important to note that Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.
For information on other possible cost assistance options for your medications, see “Can I get help paying for meloxicam?” below.
* Optum Perks is a sister site of Healthline.
Does the price of meloxicam tablets depend on their strength (7.5 mg or 15 mg)?
It’s possible. Your cost for meloxicam oral tablets may depend on what strength your doctor prescribes.
If you have insurance, it may also depend on what your insurance covers.
To find out how much you’ll pay for the different strengths of meloxicam tablets or any of its other forms, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
Optum Perks is owned by RVO Health. By clicking on this link, we may receive a commission. Learn more.
No, meloxicam does not come in a brand-name version.
Brand-name versions of meloxicam were available but have been discontinued. Examples of discontinued brand-name versions include Mobic and Anjeso.
Meloxicam is a generic drug. This means it contains an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. A generic is considered to be just as safe and effective as the original drug but generally costs less.
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 for up to 20 years. After that, other drugmakers can offer 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 meloxicam 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 meloxicam if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of meloxicam. If you’re interested in getting a 90-day supply of this drug, 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 meloxicam. 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 meloxicam 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 meloxicam, 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 meloxicam.
Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor or insurance provider include:
- Will my dosage of meloxicam affect the cost?
- Are there other lower-cost drugs that could treat my condition?
- What are my options if I can’t afford my medication?
To get information on different conditions and tips for improving your health, subscribe to any of Healthline’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: 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.