Modafinil is a generic prescription drug that’s used to treat excessive sleepiness. Modafinil’s cost may depend on factors such as your dosage, whether you have health insurance, and the pharmacy you use.
Modafinil is used to improve wakefulness in adults with:
- narcolepsy
- obstructive sleep apnea
- shift work sleep disorder
Modafinil comes as an oral tablet. The drug is also available as a brand-name version called Provigil.
For more details on modafinil, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
The price you pay for modafinil can vary. Your cost may depend on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage, and the pharmacy you use.
To find out how much you’ll pay for modafinil, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
Note: If you have insurance, you may need to get prior authorization before your insurance provider will cover modafinil. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss modafinil in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If modafinil requires prior authorization and you don’t receive it before you start treatment, you could pay the full cost of the drug.
Be sure to ask your insurance company whether modafinil requires prior authorization.
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about Modafinil and cost.
Does 200-mg strength of modafinil cost more than the 100-mg strength?
The cost of 200-milligram (mg) tablets versus 100-mg tablets may depend on several factors.
For example, your cost for either strength of modafinil may depend on:
- whether you have insurance or are paying out of pocket
- your treatment plan
- any savings programs available for the medication
- the pharmacy you use without insurance
To find out how the cost of modafinil 200 mg compares with 100 mg talk with your doctor, pharmacist or insurance provider (if you have one).
What’s the cost of modafinil with insurance vs. without insurance?
The cost of modafinil with insurance versus without insurance can vary based on several factors.
Factors that may affect your cost of modafinil without insurance include:
- your treatment plan and dosage
- the pharmacy you choose
- the quantity of modafinil you receive (such as a 30-day or 90-day supply)
- any savings programs you qualify for
The same factors affect your cost of the drug if you’re paying through insurance. But in addition, your cost with insurance may depend on:
- your specific plan benefits
- any prior authorization requirements for your plan
To learn more about your cost with and without insurance, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider (if you have one).
Whether you have insurance or not, you can visit Optum Perks* to get price estimates for modafinil when you use coupons from the site. It’s important to note that Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.
* Optum Perks is a sister site of Healthline.
Modafinil is a generic drug. A generic contains an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. A generic is considered just as safe and effective as the original drug but tends to cost less.
Modafinil comes in a brand-name version called Provigil. To find out how the costs of Provigil and modafinil compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
If you’ve been prescribed modafinil and you’re interested in taking Provigil instead, talk with your doctor. They may prefer that you take one version instead of the other. In addition, you’ll need to check with your insurance provider. This is because it may only cover one drug or the other.
Why is there such a cost difference between brand-name drugs and generics?Years of research and testing are needed to ensure that brand-name drugs are safe and effective. This testing can make the drugs expensive. The manufacturer of a brand-name drug can sell the drug exclusively for up to 20 years. After that, other drugmakers can create generic versions. This competition in the market can lead to lower costs for generics. And because generics have the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs, they don’t need to be studied again. This can also lead to lower generic costs.
If you take modafinil long term, you may be able to lower your costs in the following ways:
Look into getting a 90-day supply of your medication. You may be able to get a 90-day supply of modafinil if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of modafinil. If you’re interested in getting a 90-day supply of this drug, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
Use a mail-order pharmacy to get your medication. Using a mail-order pharmacy might help lower your cost for modafinil. Plus, you could get your medication without leaving home. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order drugs. You may also be able to get a 90-day supply of the drug through mail order. If you don’t have health insurance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest online pharmacy options that could work for you.
If you need help covering the cost of modafinil or understanding your insurance, check out these resources:
On these sites, you can find insurance information, details on drug assistance programs, and links to savings cards and other services.
If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
If you still have questions about the cost of modafinil, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to give you a better idea of what you’ll pay for this drug. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you’d pay for modafinil.
Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor or insurance provider include:
- Does the cost of modafinil depend on the condition it’s being used to treat?
- Will my Medicare plan cover the cost of modafinil?
- How does the cost of modafinil compare with the cost of other similar drugs?
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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
