Crestor vs Lipitor
Side-by-side cost comparison based on Medicare Part D data
Crestor
Rosuvastatin
Manufactured by AstraZeneca
Lipitor
Atorvastatin
Manufactured by Pfizer
Lipitor costs 43% less per claim than Crestor ($16.00 vs $28.00). A generic version of Lipitor is also available, which may reduce costs further.
Cost Per Claim
Medicare Spending
Beneficiaries
Annual Cost Per Patient
Full Comparison
| Metric | Crestor | Lipitor |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Cost Per Claim | $28.00 | $16.00 |
| Total Medicare Spending | $698.0M | $456.0M |
| Total Beneficiaries | 3,450,000 | 4,120,000 |
| Total Claims | 24,680,000 | 28,960,000 |
| Annual Cost/Patient | $202.00 | $111.00 |
| Year-over-Year Change | -48.2% | -56.3% |
| Generic Available | Yes | Yes |
| Patent Expiration | Jul 8, 2016 | Nov 30, 2011 |
| Manufacturer | AstraZeneca | Pfizer |
| Condition | High Cholesterol | High Cholesterol |
| Generic Name | Rosuvastatin | Atorvastatin |
Crestor vs Lipitor: What the Data Shows
Crestor (Rosuvastatin) and Lipitor (Atorvastatin) are both used to treat high cholesterol. Based on Medicare Part D data, Lipitor costs $16.00 per claim, which is 43% less than Crestor at $28.00 per claim.
Medicare spent $698.0M on Crestor and $456.0M on Lipitor. In terms of patient reach, Lipitor serves more beneficiaries (4,120,000 vs 3,450,000).
Year-over-year spending changed -48.2% for Crestor and -56.3% for Lipitor.
Both drugs have generic versions available. Patients should discuss generic alternatives with their pharmacist to reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lipitor is cheaper at $16.00 per claim, compared to $28.00 for Crestor. That makes Lipitor about 43% less expensive per claim based on Medicare Part D data.
Yes, both Crestor and Lipitor are used to treat high cholesterol. Your doctor can help determine which medication is more appropriate for your specific situation.
Both drugs have generic versions available. Generic Rosuvastatin and generic Atorvastatin can offer significant cost savings, typically 80-95% less than the brand name.
Medicare Part D spent $698.0M on Crestor covering 3,450,000 beneficiaries, and $456.0M on Lipitor covering 4,120,000 beneficiaries.
Explore Further
Cost data reflects Medicare Part D spending and may not represent retail pharmacy prices. Average cost per claim represents the total drug cost (not patient out-of-pocket) divided by total claims. This comparison is informational only and should not replace medical advice.
The side-by-side above pulls the CMS Medicare Part D Drug Spending data data for both Crestor and Lipitor. What follows is the interpretation — which specific axes carry the most weight for Crestor versus Lipitor, and which differences are large enough to influence a real decision.
For households or analysts using this comparison as a decision input, the right framing is usually not "which is better" in aggregate but "which is better for the specific decision in front of you." CMS Medicare Part D Drug Spending data captures the raw data; the framing depends on whether the question is investment, residency, planning, or research.
Source: CMS Medicare Part D Spending, 2026.