Getting information up front about the costs of each treatment, as well as what your insurance covers, can help you make an informed decision before your dermatologist writes the prescription. There are variations in price, even within each category of treatment.
Medication Cost and Comparison
Topical or oral corticosteroids generally cost $10 to $20 a month.
Targeted small molecule oral medications, such as apremilast (Otezla) and deucravacitinib (Sotyktu), can be pricey, says Tanya Evans, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the medical director of the skin cancer program at the Melanoma Clinic at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, California. A few treatments can run around $50,000 to $60,000 annually without insurance, she says.
Out-of-Pocket Reality
What you pay depends heavily on your insurance plan, deductible, and copays. “Out-of-pocket costs depend on the plan design,” says Dr. Evans. Some commercial plans have nearly zero out-of-pocket costs, while plans such as Medicare Part D come with higher out-of-pocket costs.
Employer or private insurance often covers biologics and oral medications but usually requires prior authorization and step therapy, which requires you to try lower-cost alternatives first. Many biologics are also offered with drug cost sharing, where you only pay a percentage of the drug cost after you meet your deductible, says Evans.
Other Direct Costs
Medication is not the only expense for people with psoriasis. Some other costs include:
- Clinical Visits and Follow-Ups These vary by region and whether you use a primary care doctor or dermatologist, says Evans. Typical specialist visit copays are $20 to $50.
- Labs and Monitoring Some biologics require labs at the start of treatment and routine check-ins. Oral medications such as methotrexate require a liver function test and complete blood count. These tests may cost $50 to $500 out of pocket, depending on your insurance and the tests ordered. With insurance, most are significantly reduced or covered.
- Phototherapy The price can vary from $50 to $150 per session, and a full course of 20 to 30 sessions can run $1,000 to $4,500 without insurance.