How Much Does Copaxone Cost With Medicare?
Copaxone (Glatiramer Acetate) costs an average of $1,594 per Medicare Part D claim, with total Medicare spending of $456.0M in the latest year. A generic version is available, which may reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Key Facts: Copaxone Cost
- Medicare Part D avg
- $1,594/claim
- Likely Part D tier
- Tier 4-5 (specialty)
- Annual cost/patient
- $19,000
- Generic available
- Yes — Glatiramer Acetate
- Manufacturer
- Teva
- Treats
- Multiple Sclerosis
- YoY price change
- -34.5%
Source: CMS Medicare Part D Spending Dashboard. Tier placement inferred from typical formulary norms — confirm with your specific Part D plan.
Copaxone Medicare Coverage & Out-of-Pocket Cost
Copaxone is covered under Medicare Part D, with the program paying an average of $1,594 per prescription fill. Copaxone typically falls on Tier 4-5 (specialty) of standard Part D formularies. Specialty drugs use coinsurance (25-33% of plan-negotiated price), not flat copays. The 2025 Part D annual out-of-pocket cap is $2,000.
Your actual out-of-pocket cost depends on three factors: (1) formulary tier — your plan's specific placement; (2) deductible status — most plans require you to meet up to a $590 deductible (2025) before copays kick in; (3) coverage phase — initial coverage, then the donut hole was eliminated in 2025, replaced by a hard $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap under the Inflation Reduction Act. Once you hit $2,000 in true out-of-pocket spending, the rest of your Part D drugs are free for the year.
Because generic Glatiramer Acetate is available, the single biggest savings move is asking your pharmacist about generic substitution. Generics typically sit on Tier 1 with copays under $10, vs Tier 2-3 placement for brand-name Copaxone. Most states allow automatic substitution unless your prescriber writes "dispense as written."
For cash-pay or commercial insurance scenarios, compare prices using GoodRx, SingleCare, or Cost Plus Drugs before filling — discount-program prices sometimes beat Part D copays for lower-cost generics.
Copaxone is manufactured by Teva and prescribed primarily for Multiple Sclerosis. In the most recent Medicare Part D data, 286,000 claims were filed for 24,000 unique beneficiaries, at an average cost of $1,594 per claim. Average annual cost per beneficiary is $19,000.
Year over year, Medicare spending on Copaxone has decreased by -34.5%. Because a generic version of Glatiramer Acetate is available, patients can often substitute to reduce out-of-pocket costs. Its patent expires 2023-01-31.
Copaxone belongs to the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Treatments class. B-cell depleting therapies (Ocrevus, Kesimpta) destroy B-cells that attack myelin. S1P receptor modulators (Gilenya, oral) trap white blood cells in lymph nodes. Fumarates (Tecfidera) have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. Interferons (older DMTs) modulate the immune response. Each mechanism targets a different part of the immune system's attack on the nervous system.
Key Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Avg Cost Per Claim | $1,594 |
| Total Medicare Spending | $456.0M |
| Total Claims | 286,000 |
| Beneficiaries | 24,000 |
| Generic Available | Yes |
| Year-Over-Year Change | -34.5% |
Other Drugs for Multiple Sclerosis
Frequently Asked Questions
Medicare Part D pays an average of $1,594 per claim for Copaxone. Copaxone is typically placed on Tier 4-5 (specialty) of standard Part D formularies. Specialty drugs use coinsurance (25-33% of plan-negotiated price), not flat copays. The 2025 Part D annual out-of-pocket cap is $2,000. As of 2025, total annual out-of-pocket on Part D is capped at $2,000 under the Inflation Reduction Act.
Yes. Copaxone appears in Medicare Part D claims data, with 24,000 beneficiaries filling 286,000 prescriptions in the latest year. Specific coverage depends on your plan's formulary — call the number on your insurance card or check the plan's Summary of Benefits to confirm prior authorization, step therapy, or quantity limit requirements.
Copaxone (Glatiramer Acetate) costs an average of $1,594 per Medicare Part D claim, with total Medicare spending of $456.0M in the latest year. A generic version is available, which may reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Yes. A generic version of Glatiramer Acetate is available, which typically costs 80-95% less than brand-name Copaxone. Ask your pharmacist about generic substitution — most state laws allow automatic substitution unless your prescriber writes "dispense as written."
Medicare beneficiaries cannot use manufacturer copay cards (anti-kickback statute), but several options exist: (1) Apply to charity copay foundations like the PAN Foundation, NeedyMeds, HealthWell Foundation, or Patient Advocate Foundation — many cover multiple sclerosis drugs; (2) Ask your prescriber about therapeutic alternatives in the same drug class that may be on a lower tier; (3) For some drugs, paying cash via GoodRx or Cost Plus Drugs can beat your Medicare copay — always compare before filling; (4) If your income is below 150% of the federal poverty level, you may qualify for the Medicare Extra Help (Low-Income Subsidy) program, which reduces Part D costs to near-zero.
Copaxone is manufactured by Teva. The FDA application number is BLA125057.
Copaxone (Glatiramer Acetate) is primarily prescribed for Multiple Sclerosis.
Medicare Part D spending on Copaxone has decreased -34.5% year over year. Total program spending reached $456.0M in the latest reporting year.
Copaxone (Glatiramer Acetate) costs an average of $1,594 per Medicare Part D claim, with total Medicare spending of $456.0M in the latest year. A generic version is available, which may reduce out-of-pocket costs.
The data source behind this answer is CMS Medicare Part D Drug Spending data. Every figure on the page traces back to that source; the methodology page describes the inputs and the refresh cadence in full detail.
A practical caveat: the headline answer above reflects the most recent CMS Medicare Part D Drug Spending data vintage; underlying data is often revised for months after first publication, and the right reference for any specific decision is whichever vintage is current at the time of the decision. The as-of date is stamped on every page.
Source: CMS Medicare Part D Spending, 2026.