Osteoporosis Drug Costs With Medicare
Compare 7 osteoporosis drug prices under Medicare Part D, averaging $881.57 per claim. Prices range from $14.00 (Alendronate) to $2,286.00 (Evenity) per prescription. 7 of 7 drugs have FDA-approved generics that cost 30-80% less.
Key Facts: Osteoporosis Drug Costs
- Cheapest drug
- Alendronate ($14.00)
- Most expensive
- Evenity ($2,286.00)
- Medicare Part D avg
- $881.57/claim
- Generics available
- 7 of 7
- Total Medicare spend
- $3.4B/yr
- Brand-only drugs
- 0
Source: CMS Medicare Part D Spending, latest reporting year. Costs reflect plan-paid amounts, not patient out-of-pocket.
Osteoporosis Drug Price Comparison
All 7 osteoporosis drugs tracked in Medicare Part D, sorted from cheapest to most expensive. Click any drug for Medicare coverage details, generic timelines, and savings options.
| Drug | Generic Name | Medicare Avg/Claim | Generic Available? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alendronate | Alendronate Sodium | $14.00 | Yes |
| Risedronate | Risedronate Sodium | $27.00 | Yes |
| Ibandronate | Ibandronate Sodium | $36.00 | Yes |
| Prolia | Denosumab | $632.00 | Yes |
| Forteo | Teriparatide | $1,337.00 | Yes |
| Tymlos | Abaloparatide | $1,839.00 | Yes |
| Evenity | Romosozumab | $2,286.00 | Yes |
Medicare Part D Coverage for Osteoporosis Drugs
All 7 osteoporosis drugs in this comparison are dispensed under Medicare Part D. Total Medicare spending reached $3.4B in the latest reporting year, averaging $881.57 per prescription fill.
Your out-of-pocket cost depends on three factors: (1) your plan's formulary tier — generics typically land on Tier 1 ($0-$10 copay), preferred brands on Tier 2 ($30-$50), and specialty drugs on Tier 4-5 (often 25-33% coinsurance); (2) your deductible status — most plans require you to meet up to a $590 deductible before copays apply; (3) the coverage phase — initial coverage, coverage gap, or catastrophic. As of 2025, Medicare Part D caps total annual out-of-pocket at $2,000 under the Inflation Reduction Act.
The 7 drugs with generic availability are usually the most cost-effective starting point — ask your prescriber whether a generic substitution is clinically appropriate.
Drug costs vary dramatically within this category. Evenity (Romosozumab) at $2,286.00 per claim is 163x more expensive than Alendronate (Alendronate Sodium) at $14.00 — yet both treat osteoporosis. Therapeutic substitution within the same drug class is often the single biggest savings lever, and it requires only a prescriber conversation, not a plan change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Medicare Part D pays an average of $881.57 per claim for osteoporosis medications across 7 tracked drugs. Patient out-of-pocket costs depend on your plan's formulary tier, deductible, and whether you've reached the catastrophic coverage phase. Most osteoporosis drugs fall on Tier 2 (preferred brand) or Tier 3 (non-preferred brand) of standard Medicare Part D formularies.
The least expensive osteoporosis medication is Alendronate (Alendronate Sodium) at $14.00 per Medicare Part D claim. A generic version is FDA-approved and available — ask your pharmacist about substitution to lower copays further.
Yes. All 7 osteoporosis drugs tracked here appear in Medicare Part D claims data, meaning they are dispensed under Part D plans. Coverage details — formulary tier, prior authorization requirements, step therapy — vary by plan. Check your plan's formulary or call 1-800-MEDICARE before filling.
Yes, 7 of 7 osteoporosis drugs have FDA-approved generic alternatives. Generics contain the same active ingredient and meet bioequivalence standards, but typically cost 30-80% less. On Medicare Part D, generics usually fall on Tier 1 with the lowest copay.
Three primary strategies: (1) Switch to a generic if available — Tier 1 generics typically cost under $10 per fill on Medicare Part D; (2) Use manufacturer copay assistance for brand-name drugs (commercial insurance only — Medicare beneficiaries can apply for patient assistance foundations like NeedyMeds or the PAN Foundation); (3) Compare cash prices using GoodRx, SingleCare, or Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drugs — sometimes cash pay beats your Part D copay. Talk to your doctor about therapeutic alternatives in the same drug class.
Related Conditions
Cost per claim is the average plan-paid amount per prescription fill under Medicare Part D. Patient out-of-pocket varies by formulary tier and deductible status. Generic availability is based on FDA Orange Book data.
Source: CMS Medicare Part D Spending, 2026.