MONDAY, Oct. 30, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Americans have been getting COVID-19 treatments such as Paxlovid for free, but that is about to end. The medications will enter the private market this week, the Associated Press reported.
The price for a five-day course of Paxlovid, made by Pfizer, will be $1,390. Merck has not confirmed a price for its COVID-19 treatment, Lagevrio, but told the AP that it will offer the treatment free to patients “who, without assistance, could not otherwise afford the product.”
The pills will still be available at no cost until those bought earlier by the federal government run out at pharmacies, hospitals, and doctors’ offices, according to U.S. Health and Human Services officials. The government paid Pfizer $5 billion for 10 million courses of Paxlovid in 2021. Once those are gone, those with private insurance may notice a copay charge, the AP reported.
People on Medicaid or Medicare or without medical insurance will not pay any out-of-pocket costs for these treatments through 2024, and Pfizer will offer copay assistance for Paxlovid through 2028.
The Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, and Indian Health Service will still have access to government stores of Paxlovid, the AP reported. The federal government will also keep 1 million treatment courses in its stockpile.
Medical suppliers can begin ordering the treatment from the drug companies starting this week.
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