How to Help Your Patients Save Money on Arazlo: A Provider's Guide to Savings Programs

Arazlo (tazarotene 0.045% lotion) is an effective prescription retinoid — but at a retail price of $564–$683 per 45g tube, cost is a significant barrier for many patients. When patients can't afford their medication, they stop treatment, and their acne returns. This guide is designed to help dermatologists and prescribers proactively address Arazlo costs through manufacturer programs, insurance strategies, and evidence-based alternatives.

Why Cost Is a Major Barrier for Arazlo Patients

Arazlo faces several compounding cost challenges that are distinct from most generic acne medications:

• No generic equivalent for the 0.045% lotion formulation — all patients pay brand-name pricing
• Retail price of $564–$683 per 45g tube — among the highest in the topical retinoid class
• Formulary exclusions — multiple payers (including UnitedHealthcare plans) exclude Arazlo from formulary or place it on non-preferred tiers
• Prior authorization requirements — many covered plans still require PA and step therapy before Arazlo is approved

Savings Option 1: Ortho Rx Access Manufacturer Copay Card

The manufacturer's copay card is the most impactful savings tool for commercially insured patients who qualify. The Ortho Rx Access program (orthorxaccess.com) offers:

• Eligible patients: Commercially insured patients (employer or marketplace insurance)
• Benefit: Copay card may reduce out-of-pocket cost to $0 after deductible is met
• Exclusions: Not valid for Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, or other government-funded programs
• Where to access: arazlo.com or orthorxaccess.com; available at Walgreens and participating independent pharmacies

Provider action: Print or display the Ortho Rx Access enrollment URL in your office, include it in after-visit instructions, or train your MA to mention it to every Arazlo patient at checkout. Many patients are unaware this program exists until their dermatologist tells them.

Savings Option 2: GoodRx and Third-Party Discount Cards

For uninsured patients or those whose insurance doesn't cover Arazlo:

• GoodRx: Reduces Arazlo to approximately $583 for a 45g tube (about 14% off retail)
• SingleCare, RxSaver, NeedyMeds: Alternative discount card programs; prices vary by pharmacy

GoodRx discounts are significantly less impactful for Arazlo than for generic medications — the savings are modest because there's no generic competition to drive the price down. The manufacturer copay card is a better option for commercially insured patients.

Savings Option 3: Maximizing Insurance Coverage Through Prior Authorization

For patients with insurance that excludes or restricts Arazlo, a successful PA dramatically reduces cost. Here is a step-by-step strategy for maximizing PA approval rates:

1. Check formulary at the visit. Use real-time benefit check (RTBC) in your EHR to identify coverage status and PA requirements before the patient leaves your office.
2. Submit PA immediately. Don't wait for the pharmacy reject to trigger the PA. Submit proactively at the time of prescribing to minimize the delay between prescription and fill.
3. Document step therapy comprehensively. For plans requiring step therapy, document specific retinoids tried (adapalene, tretinoin), exact concentrations, duration, and clinical outcome or reason for discontinuation (inadequate efficacy, intolerance). Include dates.
4. Cite Arazlo's unique formulation advantage. Articulate why Arazlo specifically is medically necessary — the polymeric emulsion vehicle offers better tolerability than legacy tazarotene formulations. Phase 2 head-to-head data showed equivalent efficacy to Tazorac 0.1% with half the adverse events.
5. Appeal denials promptly. File an appeal with supporting clinical documentation immediately after a denial. Request a peer-to-peer review with the payer's medical director if needed — many denials are reversed at peer-to-peer.

Savings Option 4: Formulary Exception Request

When Arazlo is excluded from a patient's formulary, a formulary exception is the path to coverage. This process requires:

• A letter of medical necessity from the prescriber explaining why the on-formulary alternatives are not clinically appropriate for this patient
• Documentation of any prior adverse reactions or inadequate responses to covered alternatives
• Clinical rationale for Arazlo's specific characteristics (tolerability advantage for patients who failed tazarotene 0.1% due to skin irritation)

When to Switch: Cost-Effective Clinical Alternatives

If cost savings options are exhausted and Arazlo remains unaffordable, prescribing a cost-effective alternative is clinically sound. The following evidence-based options provide excellent acne control:

• Generic tretinoin cream (0.025%–0.1%): approximately $15–$60 per tube; first-line topical retinoid for acne and photoaging; extensive clinical evidence base
• Adapalene 0.1% gel (Differin, OTC): $12–$30 OTC; no prescription needed; best-tolerated retinoid; ideal for sensitive skin or first-time retinoid users
• Generic tazarotene 0.1% cream: $40–$150 cash price; same active ingredient at higher concentration; note increased irritation risk with the different vehicle

Provider Checklist: Helping Patients Afford Arazlo

• Check formulary and PA requirements at the time of prescribing (use EHR RTBC)
• Provide all commercially insured patients with information about Ortho Rx Access copay card (orthorxaccess.com)
• Mention GoodRx as a fallback for uninsured patients
• Submit PA proactively if coverage is uncertain; document step therapy thoroughly
• Have a pre-selected cost-effective alternative ready to prescribe if Arazlo remains unaffordable
• Recommend medfinder.com to help patients locate a stocked pharmacy once cost is resolved

For additional provider resources on Arazlo access and availability, see our provider-focused shortage update and the medfinder provider portal.