Chlamydia is a very common sexually transmitted disease that’s caused by bacteria. It’s important to treat this disease, in order to prevent serious complications. Antibiotics are generally effective for chlamydia. It’s relatively rare for chlamydia to be resistant to antibiotics, although this has been reported in some cases.
Many people worry about the cost of their treatment, especially if they don’t have health insurance. How much does chlamydia treatment cost? Will insurance cover it?
What is the cost of chlamydia treatment?
If you’re wondering how much chlamydia antibiotics cost, the answer depends on which particular antibiotics your doctor prescribes. There are a few different treatment options for chlamydia, including doxycycline, azithromycin, and levofloxacin. Your chlamydia medication cost will depend on which one of these your doctor has chosen for your treatment.
When it comes to chlamydia antibiotics, price should not be the primary consideration. It’s important to ensure that treatment is effective, because untreated chlamydia can cause serious complications, including permanent infertility. The cost of treating these issues can be far higher than the cost of treating the original chlamydia infection. It’s better to choose the most effective treatment, rather than the cheapest treatment.
For those who have health insurance, chlamydia treatment will almost always be covered. However, depending on your plan, you may still have to pay part or all of the cost of your chlamydia treatment, because of deductibles and co-pays. For those without insurance, you will need to pay the full cost of your chlamydia treatment.
How much does doxycycline cost without insurance?
The most recent CDC treatment recommendations for chlamydia recommend doxycycline as the first choice of treatment for most patients. Patients take the antibiotic twice a day for seven days.
Although specific prescription drug prices are hard to pin down, studies have found that a course of doxycycline is about four times cheaper than azithromycin for treating chlamydia. This is true even though doxycycline is taken for one week, while azithromycin is given in a single dose. The CDC recommends doxycycline because there have been fewer cases of resistance to doxycycline than azithromycin, not because of its lower cost. However, doxycycline also tends to be the less expensive choice in general.
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How much does azithromycin cost without insurance?
Azithromycin is another antibiotic that can be used to treat chlamydia. This is usually given as a single oral dose. Azithromycin may be sold under the brand name Zithromax, or a generic form may be used.
The azithromycin price without insurance is generally higher than for doxycycline, even though you only need to take one dose rather than taking it for a week. However, this is still a relatively affordable medication. The cost of Zithromax without insurance may be higher, since this is a brand name medication. However, generic azithromycin can be substituted, in order to lower the cost.
How much does levofloxacin cost without insurance?
Another treatment option that is sometimes used for chlamydia is levofloxacin. This can be used in cases of resistance to other antibiotics, or when a patient is allergic to other medication options for chlamydia.
Levofloxacin tends to be the most expensive choice of medication for chlamydia, with the highest cost. However, in certain cases, it may be the best option for treating chlamydia. If levofloxacin is prescribed for you, you can ask your doctor why this specific medication was chosen.
Can we predict the specific chlamydia pill cost?
Unfortunately, it’s very difficult to accurately predict prescription drug prices. Every pharmacy sets its own prices for medications, and these can fluctuate over time. Insurance companies set the price that they are willing to pay for each medication, but individuals who are paying for their own medications may pay a different cost than the insurance companies pay. The chlamydia treatment cost without insurance may also vary from pharmacy to pharmacy.
If cost is a significant concern for you, then you can call around to different pharmacies and try to find the cheapest price for your prescription. You may also be able to save money by getting your medication online. It’s extremely important to choose a reputable provider, so that you know that you’re getting the right medication at the right dose. Many companies that offer home STD testing can also mail you the medication for treating your disease. If you’re diagnosed with chlamydia, you may be able to get your treatment at an affordable cost through this type of service.
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Sources
Chlamydial Infection: Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021). https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/chlamydia.htm. Accessed 7 Mar 2022.
Kesselheim AS, Avorn J, et al. The High Cost of Prescription Drugs in the United States: Origins and Prospects for Reform. JAMA 2016 Aug 23-30;316(8):858-71. doi: 10.1001/jama.2016.11237
Marra F, Marra CA, et al. Cost effectiveness analysis of azithromycin and doxycycline for Chlamydia trachomatis infection in women: A Canadian perspective. Can J Infect Dis. 1997 Jul-Aug; 8(4): 202–208. doi: 10.1155/1997/870203.
Mestrovic T, Ljubin-Sternak S. Molecular mechanisms of Chlamydia trachomatis resistance to antimicrobial drugs. Front Biosci (Landmark Ed) 2018 Jan 1;23(4):656-670. doi: 10.2741/4611.
National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) 2022. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (2022). https://data.medicaid.gov/dataset/dfa2ab14-06c2-457a-9e36-5cb6d80f8d93/data. Accessed 7 Mar 2022.
