Daptomycin can cost hundreds or thousands per treatment course. Learn how to save with generics, patient assistance, and discount programs.
If you've been prescribed Daptomycin (brand name Cubicin or Cubicin RF) for a serious infection, you may be facing sticker shock. As an intravenous antibiotic used to treat dangerous infections like MRSA and VRE, Daptomycin isn't cheap — and a full treatment course can last weeks.
The good news? There are several strategies to reduce your out-of-pocket costs significantly. In this guide, we'll break down exactly what Daptomycin costs in 2026, and walk you through every money-saving option available.
Daptomycin pricing depends on whether you're getting the brand-name or generic version, and which formulation you need:
For a typical patient receiving 6 mg/kg once daily for bacteremia (say, an 80 kg patient getting 500 mg/day for 4-6 weeks), that's 28-42 vials — which adds up quickly even at generic prices.
This is the single most impactful step. Generic Daptomycin is available from multiple manufacturers and costs a fraction of brand-name Cubicin.
That's a potential savings of hundreds or even thousands of dollars over a treatment course. When your doctor writes the prescription, confirm that the pharmacy can fill it with generic Daptomycin. Unless there's a medical reason for the brand, the generic is therapeutically equivalent.
Even for an IV medication like Daptomycin, prescription discount programs can reduce your cost — especially for the premixed formulations dispensed through outpatient pharmacies.
SingleCare reports prices as low as $4.29 for a premixed Daptomycin-sodium chloride bag. This represents massive savings compared to the retail price of $127+. Visit singlecare.com to check pricing at pharmacies near you.
GoodRx offers coupons for Daptomycin that can be used at participating pharmacies. Prices vary by location and formulation, but discounts of 50-80% off retail are common for generic medications. Visit goodrx.com/daptomycin.
Additional discount card programs that may offer savings on Daptomycin include:
Important note: Discount cards typically work best at retail or outpatient pharmacies. If you're receiving Daptomycin through a home infusion service or hospital, the pricing structure is different — your insurance benefit is more relevant in those settings.
If you're uninsured or facing financial hardship, patient assistance programs (PAPs) can provide Daptomycin at no cost or very low cost.
Merck, the manufacturer of Cubicin, offers a patient assistance program through merckhelps.com. This program provides Merck medications at no cost to qualifying patients who:
Prescription Hope facilitates access to Cubicin (brand Daptomycin) for approximately $70 per month — regardless of insurance status. They work directly with pharmaceutical manufacturers to enroll patients in assistance programs. Visit prescriptionhope.com.
These nonprofit organizations maintain databases of patient assistance programs and can help you find additional support:
If you have insurance, understanding how Daptomycin is covered can help minimize your costs:
Most insurers require prior authorization for Daptomycin. Your doctor's office will need to submit documentation showing the medical necessity — including the infection type, culture results, and why Daptomycin is preferred over Vancomycin. Getting this approved before you need the medication avoids delays.
Some insurance plans require you to try Vancomycin first (step therapy) before they'll approve Daptomycin. If you've already tried and failed Vancomycin, or if it's contraindicated for you, make sure your doctor documents this clearly on the prior authorization.
If you're on Medicare, Daptomycin administered in an outpatient setting (infusion center or hospital outpatient department) is typically covered under Part B. Home infusion services may be covered under the Medicare Home Infusion Therapy benefit.
Some insurance plans have a separate specialty pharmacy benefit with different copay structures. Check whether your plan routes IV medications through a specialty pharmacy — this can sometimes offer better pricing than the standard pharmacy benefit.
Different Daptomycin formulations may have different prices at your pharmacy. The premixed IV bags may be priced differently from the lyophilized powder vials. Ask your pharmacist to check pricing on all available formulations.
Prices vary between pharmacies — sometimes dramatically. Use Medfinder to compare availability and pricing across pharmacies in your area.
If you're receiving Daptomycin during a hospital stay, the hospital may have its own financial assistance program (sometimes called charity care) that can reduce or eliminate your bill. Ask the hospital's patient financial services department.
Home infusion pharmacies may be willing to work with you on pricing, especially if you're paying out of pocket. Ask about payment plans or discounted self-pay rates.
One indirect cost consideration: if you're taking a statin (like Atorvastatin or Simvastatin), your doctor may temporarily suspend it during Daptomycin treatment to reduce the risk of myopathy. This doesn't directly affect your Daptomycin cost, but it's a medication change you should be aware of. For more on this, see our guide on Daptomycin drug interactions.
Daptomycin is a critical antibiotic for treating some of the most serious infections, and its cost shouldn't prevent you from getting the treatment you need. By using generic formulations, prescription discount cards, patient assistance programs, and working closely with your insurance, you can reduce your out-of-pocket costs substantially.
Here's a quick summary of potential savings:
Use Medfinder to find Daptomycin in stock near you and compare pricing. For help locating the medication, see our guide on how to find Daptomycin in stock. And for providers looking to help patients with costs, check our provider guide to saving money on Daptomycin.
You focus on staying healthy. We'll handle the rest.
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