For patients with opioid use disorder, cost is one of the most common barriers to treatment adherence. When a patient can't afford their Buprenorphine/Naloxone prescription, they're more likely to skip doses, ration their medication, or discontinue treatment altogether — all of which increase the risk of relapse and overdose. As a prescriber, you have a direct role in helping patients navigate the financial side of their treatment.

This guide covers what your patients are actually paying, the savings programs available, and how to build cost conversations into your clinical workflow.

What Patients Are Actually Paying

The cost of Buprenorphine/Naloxone varies dramatically depending on formulation, insurance status, and pharmacy choice:

• Brand-name Suboxone Film (without insurance): $100 to $600 per month, depending on dose
• Generic sublingual tablets (with discount card): $40 to $80 for 30 tablets (8mg/2mg)
• Generic sublingual films (with coupon): $36 to $150 for 30 films

For insured patients, out-of-pocket costs depend on their plan's formulary, tier placement, and whether prior authorization has been obtained. Many commercial plans and Medicaid programs cover generic Buprenorphine/Naloxone with low or no copays. Medicare Part D also covers it, though patients may fall into coverage gaps.

The patients most at risk of cost-related non-adherence are those who are:

• Uninsured or underinsured
• In the Medicare Part D "donut hole"
• On high-deductible health plans
• Required to pay brand-name prices due to formulary restrictions

Manufacturer Savings Programs

Indivior INSUPPORT Program (Suboxone Film)

Indivior, the manufacturer of brand-name Suboxone Film, offers the INSUPPORT Savings Card:

• Up to $75 per month in copay assistance for commercially insured patients
• Up to $230 per month in savings on 12mg prescriptions
• Not available for patients with government insurance (Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare)

Patients can enroll online or through their pharmacy. As a prescriber, you can keep INSUPPORT enrollment cards in your office and proactively hand them to patients who are prescribed brand Suboxone.

Indivior Patient Assistance Program

For uninsured or underinsured patients, Indivior offers a Patient Assistance Program (PAP) that provides brand Suboxone Film at no cost to qualifying patients. Applications are available through:

• RxHope (rxhope.com)
• NeedyMeds (needymeds.org)

Eligibility is generally based on income (typically at or below 200-300% of the federal poverty level) and lack of prescription coverage. Your office staff can help patients complete the application — a step that significantly increases enrollment rates.

Coupon and Discount Cards

For patients paying cash or with high copays on generic Buprenorphine/Naloxone, discount cards can dramatically reduce costs:

• GoodRx — frequently shows generic Buprenorphine/Naloxone (8mg/2mg, 30 tablets) for $40 to $80 at major pharmacy chains
• SingleCare — competitive pricing, especially at CVS and Walmart
• RxSaver — compares prices across pharmacies in the patient's area
• Optum Perks — discounts available at most major chains
• BuzzRx — another option with broad pharmacy network acceptance

These cards are free to use, require no enrollment, and work at most pharmacies. They cannot be combined with insurance — the patient uses either their insurance or the discount card, whichever gives a lower price.

A practical approach: advise patients to check GoodRx or SingleCare pricing before filling their prescription, especially if their insurance copay is high. In many cases, the discount card price for generic Buprenorphine/Naloxone is lower than the insured copay.

Generic Alternatives and Therapeutic Substitution

Generic Buprenorphine/Naloxone

Generic versions of Buprenorphine/Naloxone are widely available and significantly cheaper than brand-name options. Multiple manufacturers produce generic sublingual tablets and films. For most patients, generic substitution provides equivalent clinical outcomes at a fraction of the cost.

If a patient is currently on brand Suboxone and cost is a concern, switching to generic is the single most impactful cost-reduction step. Discuss this proactively — many patients don't know generics are available or assume they need the brand.

Therapeutic Alternatives

In some cases, switching formulations or treatment modality may help with cost:

• Sublingual tablets vs. films — tablets are often cheaper than films; check current pricing in the patient's area
• Sublocade (monthly Buprenorphine injection) — may be covered differently by insurance and eliminates daily dosing. Some patients see lower total cost when insurance covers the injection but not sublingual formulations
• Brixadi (weekly or monthly Buprenorphine injection) — another injectable option with different insurance coverage pathways

When considering therapeutic alternatives, weigh not just cost but also patient preference, adherence patterns, and clinical stability. Any formulation change should be made collaboratively with the patient.

Additional Resources for Patients

SAMHSA Treatment Locator

For patients who cannot afford any out-of-pocket costs, SAMHSA's treatment locator (findtreatment.gov) connects patients to free or low-cost OUD treatment programs, including those that provide Buprenorphine/Naloxone at no charge.

State Medicaid Programs

Most state Medicaid programs cover Buprenorphine/Naloxone with minimal or no copay. For uninsured patients, help them explore Medicaid eligibility — many patients with OUD qualify based on income, and the application process has been streamlined in most states.

340B Pharmacies

Patients receiving care at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) or other 340B-eligible entities may access Buprenorphine/Naloxone at significantly reduced prices through the 340B Drug Pricing Program.

Building Cost Conversations Into Your Workflow

Cost is a clinical issue, not just an administrative one. Patients who can't afford their medication are patients at risk of treatment failure. Here's how to make cost conversations routine:

1. Ask About Cost at Every Prescribing Decision

Before writing or renewing a prescription, ask: "Do you have any concerns about the cost of your medication?" This single question can uncover problems patients are too embarrassed to raise on their own.

2. Default to Generic When Appropriate

Unless there's a clinical reason for brand-name Suboxone, prescribe generic Buprenorphine/Naloxone by default. Use "dispense as written" only when medically necessary.

3. Keep Savings Resources Accessible

Stock your office with:

• INSUPPORT savings cards (for brand Suboxone patients)
• A printed list of discount card websites (GoodRx, SingleCare, RxSaver)
• Patient assistance program applications (RxHope, NeedyMeds)
• SAMHSA treatment locator information

4. Train Front Office Staff

Your medical assistants and front desk staff can help patients navigate savings programs, complete PAP applications, and check discount card pricing. This distributes the workload and ensures cost support happens consistently, not just when you remember to mention it.

5. Use Pharmacy Availability Tools

Cost savings mean nothing if the patient can't find the medication in stock. Direct patients to Medfinder for Providers to help locate pharmacies that have Buprenorphine/Naloxone available. For more on helping patients find their medication, see our provider's guide to finding Buprenorphine/Naloxone in stock.

Final Thoughts

The evidence is clear: cost barriers reduce medication adherence, and reduced adherence increases relapse and overdose risk. As a prescriber, you don't need to become a billing expert — but taking a few simple steps to connect patients with savings resources can make the difference between successful treatment and treatment abandonment.

Default to generics. Ask about cost. Keep savings cards in your office. Train your staff. These are small investments that pay enormous dividends in patient outcomes.

For more provider-focused resources on Buprenorphine/Naloxone prescribing, see our guides on the current shortage landscape and helping patients find Buprenorphine/Naloxone in stock.