Cost Is One of the Biggest Barriers to Budesonide Adherence

You prescribe Budesonide because it works. For patients with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, asthma, or IgA nephropathy, it's a first-line corticosteroid with a favorable side effect profile compared to systemic alternatives like Prednisone. But if your patient can't afford to fill the prescription, the clinical benefit is zero.

Medication cost is one of the most common — and most preventable — reasons patients don't take their prescribed treatments. A 2024 KFF survey found that nearly 30% of adults reported not filling a prescription due to cost. For Budesonide, the price variation across formulations is dramatic, and many patients don't realize there are programs that can bring costs down significantly.

This guide is designed to give you a practical toolkit for helping patients navigate Budesonide costs — from manufacturer programs to generic substitution to building cost conversations into your clinical workflow.

What Your Patients Are Paying

Budesonide pricing varies enormously by formulation, brand vs. generic, and insurance status:

• Generic oral capsules (3 mg, 30-day supply): $50–$150 cash price
• Uceris extended-release tablets (brand, 9 mg): $1,200–$1,800 cash price
• Pulmicort Flexhaler (brand): $250–$350
• Generic Pulmicort Respules: $30–$100
• Rhinocort nasal spray (OTC): $12–$20
• Tarpeyo (brand, 4 mg capsules): $3,000+ per month

For insured patients, generic oral Budesonide typically falls on Tier 2–3 with copays of $20–$75. But brand-name products like Uceris and Tarpeyo often require prior authorization, may land on specialty tiers with copays of $100–$500+, and sometimes require step therapy through generic Budesonide first.

Uninsured or underinsured patients face the full cash price — and for brand-name formulations, that's a non-starter for most people.

Manufacturer Savings Programs

Several manufacturers offer savings programs that can significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs for commercially insured patients:

Uceris (Salix Pharmaceuticals / Bausch Health)

Salix offers a Savings Card for eligible commercially insured patients that can reduce copays on Uceris tablets and rectal foam. Patients can enroll through the Uceris website or by calling the Salix patient support line. Note: these programs typically exclude patients on government insurance (Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare).

Tarpeyo (Calliditas Therapeutics)

The TARGET Support Program provides copay assistance for commercially insured patients prescribed Tarpeyo. Given Tarpeyo's $3,000+/month price tag, this program can be the difference between a patient starting treatment and abandoning it. The program includes:

• Copay assistance cards
• Prior authorization support
• Patient education materials
• Pharmacy coordination

Enroll patients through the TARGET Support website or by calling their dedicated line.

Pulmicort (AstraZeneca)

AstraZeneca offers savings programs for Pulmicort Flexhaler through their website. Additionally, the AZ&Me Patient Assistance Program provides free medication to qualifying uninsured or underinsured patients who meet income requirements.

Entocort EC (Bausch Health)

Bausch Health's patient assistance program may provide Entocort EC at reduced or no cost for eligible patients. However, since generic equivalents are widely available, most patients are better served using generic Budesonide with a coupon card (see below).

Coupon and Discount Cards

For generic Budesonide formulations — and even some brand-name products — coupon and discount cards can provide immediate savings at the pharmacy counter. These are especially valuable for uninsured patients or those with high-deductible plans.

The most widely used programs include:

• GoodRx — Often brings generic Budesonide capsules down to $40–$80 for a 30-day supply. Prices vary by pharmacy.
• SingleCare — Competitive pricing on generic formulations, accepted at most major chains.
• RxSaver — Compares prices across local pharmacies with downloadable coupons.
• Optum Perks — Discounts on generics at participating pharmacies.
• BuzzRx — Free discount card with savings on Budesonide and other generics.

These programs are free, don't require insurance, and work at most major pharmacy chains. You or your staff can look up current pricing for a patient's specific formulation and dose at these websites in under a minute.

A key point to communicate to patients: coupon cards cannot be combined with insurance. The pharmacist will run whichever option gives the lower price, but patients need to present the card at the time of purchase.

Generic Alternatives and Therapeutic Substitution

Prescribing generically is the single most impactful thing you can do to reduce your patients' Budesonide costs. Here's the landscape:

Where Generics Are Available

• Oral delayed-release capsules (3 mg) — Multiple generic manufacturers produce Budesonide DR capsules (equivalent to Entocort EC). This is the most affordable oral option at $50–$150 cash, often under $80 with a coupon card.
• Nebulization suspension (Respules) — Generic Budesonide inhalation suspension is available and significantly cheaper than brand Pulmicort Respules at $30–$100.
• Nasal spray — Rhinocort is available OTC as a generic store-brand equivalent for $8–$15.

Where Generics Are Limited or Unavailable

• Uceris (extended-release 9 mg tablets) — Generic availability is limited. If your UC patient needs this formulation, manufacturer savings cards and prior authorization are the main cost-reduction tools.
• Pulmicort Flexhaler — Generic dry powder inhalers have limited availability. Consider Fluticasone (Flovent/ArmonAir) as a therapeutic alternative if cost is a barrier.
• Tarpeyo — No generic available. The TARGET Support Program is essential for most patients.

Therapeutic Substitution Considerations

When Budesonide cost is prohibitive and a specific formulation isn't essential:

• For asthma: Fluticasone inhalers or Beclomethasone (QVAR) may be more affordable depending on insurance formulary.
• For allergic rhinitis: OTC Rhinocort or generic Fluticasone nasal spray (Flonase) cost $12–$20.
• For Crohn's disease: Generic Budesonide DR capsules should be the default prescription unless there's a clinical reason for a specific brand.
• For UC: If Uceris is cost-prohibitive, discuss with the patient whether generic Budesonide capsules (off-label but commonly used) or Mesalamine might be appropriate alternatives.

For a broader view of alternatives, see our clinical guide on Budesonide alternatives or our provider shortage guide.

Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) for Uninsured Patients

For patients without insurance or with significant financial hardship, manufacturer PAPs and nonprofit programs can provide Budesonide at reduced or no cost:

• AZ&Me (AstraZeneca) — Free Pulmicort products for qualifying uninsured patients
• Bausch Health Patient Assistance — For Entocort EC
• Calliditas TARGET Support — For Tarpeyo
• NeedyMeds (needymeds.org) — Database of PAPs and other assistance programs
• RxAssist (rxassist.org) — Comprehensive directory of patient assistance programs
• Partnership for Prescription Assistance — Helps patients find programs they qualify for

Most PAPs require proof of income (typically below 200–400% of the federal poverty level), proof of no insurance or inadequate coverage, and a prescription from a licensed provider. Applications can take 2–6 weeks to process, so plan ahead when possible.

Building Cost Conversations Into Your Workflow

Talking about medication cost shouldn't be an afterthought. Here are practical ways to integrate it into your prescribing workflow:

1. Ask About Cost Barriers Proactively

Many patients won't volunteer that they can't afford a medication — they'll just not fill it. A simple question during the visit can prevent this:

• "Do you have any concerns about the cost of this medication?"
• "What does your insurance typically cover for prescriptions?"
• "Would it be helpful if we looked into savings programs?"

2. Prescribe Generically When Possible

Default to generic Budesonide unless there's a clinical reason for a specific brand. This one step can save patients hundreds of dollars.

3. Equip Your Staff

Train front-desk staff or medical assistants to:

• Hand out coupon card information (GoodRx, SingleCare) with prescriptions
• Provide manufacturer savings program enrollment forms
• Direct patients to Medfinder for Providers to check availability and pricing

4. Use Prior Authorization Strategically

For brand-name products that require PA, submit it proactively rather than waiting for a pharmacy rejection. Many EHR systems now support electronic PA submission. For Tarpeyo and Uceris, have your team start the PA process at the time of prescribing.

5. Document Cost Discussions

Note cost conversations in the chart. If a patient switches medications or misses doses due to cost, that context is important for future clinical decisions and may support insurance appeals.

6. Leverage Pharmacy Relationships

If your patients are having trouble finding Budesonide in stock, our provider guide to finding Budesonide in stock offers practical strategies. Encourage patients to use Medfinder to check pharmacy availability before heading out.

Final Thoughts

Budesonide is an effective medication across multiple indications, but its value is only realized if patients can afford to take it consistently. The price gap between generic capsules ($50–$150) and specialty brands like Tarpeyo ($3,000+/month) means there's no one-size-fits-all approach to cost management.

By defaulting to generics, connecting patients with savings programs, and building cost conversations into your workflow, you can meaningfully improve adherence and outcomes. The tools exist — manufacturer programs, coupon cards, patient assistance programs — but patients often need their provider's guidance to find and use them.

For more provider resources on Budesonide prescribing, availability, and patient support, visit Medfinder for Providers.