Your Patients Are Struggling with Lupron Costs — Here's How to Help

Lupron Depot is a critical therapy across multiple specialties — urology, oncology, gynecology, and pediatric endocrinology. But its cost creates a significant barrier to adherence. When patients learn their injection costs $2,000 to $5,500+, treatment delays and discontinuation are common.

As a prescribing provider, you're uniquely positioned to connect patients with savings programs before cost becomes a compliance issue. This guide covers the current landscape of Lupron financial assistance and practical strategies for integrating cost conversations into your workflow.

For a patient-facing version of this information, see our guide on how patients can save money on Lupron.

What Patients Are Actually Paying

Understanding the real-world cost burden helps frame the conversation:

Cash Prices (Without Insurance)

• Lupron Depot 3.75 mg (1-month, endometriosis/fibroids): $2,200-$2,400
• Lupron Depot 7.5 mg (1-month, prostate cancer): ~$2,200
• Lupron Depot 22.5 mg (3-month, prostate cancer): $4,500-$5,000
• Lupron Depot 45 mg (6-month, prostate cancer): $5,500+

With Insurance

Most commercial plans and Medicare cover Lupron Depot, but patient cost exposure varies significantly:

• Buy-and-bill (medical benefit): Patient responsibility depends on coinsurance. With 20% coinsurance on a $4,500 injection, the patient owes $900.
• Specialty pharmacy benefit: Copays can range from $50 to $500+ depending on formulary tier.
• Prior authorization: Required by most payers. Step therapy (e.g., trying Eligard or generic Leuprolide first) is increasingly common.
• Medicare Part B: Covers Lupron Depot when administered in-office. Patient owes 20% coinsurance after deductible, though Medigap or supplemental plans may cover the remainder.

Patients without insurance face the full cash price, making access to assistance programs essential.

Manufacturer Savings Programs

AbbVie Savings Card (Commercially Insured Patients)

AbbVie offers a copay savings card for Lupron Depot that can reduce the patient's out-of-pocket cost to as little as $10 per injection.

• Eligibility: Commercially insured patients. Not valid for government insurance (Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, VA).
• Maximum savings: $300/month (1-month supply) or $600/month (3-month supply).
• Enrollment: luprongyn.com/savings-and-support or 1-855-587-7663.
• Provider action: Have your front desk or care coordinator assist patients with enrollment at the time of prescribing. Many patients are unaware these programs exist.

myAbbVie Assist (Patient Assistance Program)

For uninsured or underinsured patients who cannot afford Lupron, AbbVie provides the medication at no cost through myAbbVie Assist.

• Eligibility: Generally household income under 600% of the Federal Poverty Level. Medicare patients under 150% FPL must first apply for Medicare Extra Help/LIS.
• Application: abbvie.com/patients/patient-support/patient-assistance or 1-800-222-6885.
• Provider role: A prescriber signature is required on the application. Completing this at the point of care (rather than asking the patient to manage it independently) dramatically increases enrollment success.
• Processing time: Typically 2-4 weeks. Plan ahead — don't wait until the patient's next injection is due.

Coupon and Discount Card Programs

For patients who fall outside manufacturer program eligibility (or while applications are pending), third-party discount programs can provide interim relief:

• GoodRx, SingleCare, RxSaver: These platforms offer discount pricing at participating pharmacies. Savings vary widely for specialty injectables like Lupron — check pricing for the specific dose strength and pharmacy.
• Specialty pharmacy contracts: Some specialty pharmacies negotiate pricing directly with manufacturers and can offer competitive rates for cash-pay patients.
• Hospital financial assistance: If you administer Lupron through a hospital outpatient department, the facility's financial assistance program may cover some or all of the patient's share.

Note: Coupon cards typically offer more significant savings for common oral medications than for high-cost injectables like Lupron Depot. Manufacturer programs usually provide the greatest financial impact for this drug.

Generic Alternatives and Therapeutic Substitution

While there is no direct generic equivalent of Lupron Depot, several options may reduce costs:

Same Active Ingredient — Different Delivery

• Eligard (Leuprolide Acetate, subcutaneous depot): Same molecule, different delivery system. May be preferred by some payers and potentially lower cost depending on the contract.
• Camcevi (Leuprolide Mesylate): A newer subcutaneous formulation for prostate cancer. Check payer formulary positioning.
• Generic daily Leuprolide (1 mg/0.2 mL SC injection): Available at approximately $89/vial for IVF protocols. Not a substitute for depot formulations in cancer or endometriosis.

Therapeutic Alternatives (Different Drug, Same Class)

• Zoladex (Goserelin): GnRH agonist implant. Available for prostate cancer, breast cancer, and endometriosis. May have different payer coverage.
• Trelstar (Triptorelin): GnRH agonist for prostate cancer. Available in 1-, 3-, and 6-month formulations.
• Orgovyx (Relugolix): Oral GnRH antagonist for prostate cancer. As a pharmacy benefit (not buy-and-bill), it may have lower patient cost depending on plan design. No tumor flare.
• Fensolvi (Leuprolide Acetate): Subcutaneous depot for central precocious puberty in pediatric patients.

For a clinical comparison of alternatives, refer to our overview of Lupron alternatives. For supply-related concerns, see our provider shortage guide.

Building Cost Conversations into Your Workflow

Cost discussions improve adherence, reduce treatment delays, and build trust. Here are practical strategies:

At the Point of Prescribing

• Proactively address cost — Don't wait for the patient to bring it up. Many patients who can't afford treatment simply don't fill the prescription and don't tell you.
• Delegate enrollment — Train a nurse, medical assistant, or care coordinator to handle savings card and PAP enrollment. This shouldn't fall on the patient alone.
• Verify benefits early — Run a benefits investigation before the first injection. Know the patient's coverage, copay, and PA requirements upfront.

Ongoing Management

• Track assistance program renewals — Many programs require annual re-enrollment. Build this into your patient management workflow.
• Monitor formulary changes — Payer formularies shift annually. A drug covered this year may face new restrictions next year.
• Document cost barriers — When prior authorizations are denied, document the clinical necessity thoroughly. Peer-to-peer reviews are often successful for Lupron when the indication is clear.

For Your Practice

• Buy-and-bill considerations: If your practice purchases and administers Lupron, work with your billing team to ensure you're capturing the correct J-code (J9217 for Leuprolide Acetate) and that reimbursement is covering your acquisition cost.
• 340B eligibility: If your practice or affiliated hospital is a 340B entity, Lupron can be acquired at significantly reduced cost, which can be passed through to patients.
• Refer to MedFinder: For patients who need help locating Lupron in stock, direct them to MedFinder or register your practice at medfinder.com/providers to connect with patients searching for this medication.

Final Thoughts

The cost of Lupron Depot is a real barrier to treatment for many patients. By proactively connecting patients with manufacturer savings programs, patient assistance, and appropriate alternatives, you can reduce treatment abandonment and improve outcomes.

The most impactful step is also the simplest: bring up cost before the patient has to. A 60-second conversation at the point of prescribing — combined with staff support for enrollment — can save your patient thousands of dollars per year.

To help your patients find Lupron in stock and connect your practice with patients, visit medfinder.com/providers. For the latest on Lupron supply issues, see our provider shortage update.