Does Medicare Cover Simbrinza?

Christian Worstell
In this article...
  • Simbrinza is a medication that can help people with glaucoma and high eye pressure. Read about available Medicare prescription drug coverage for this medicine.

People with glaucoma and other conditions that cause increased eye pressure may choose to use Simbrinza to help protect their eyesight. Simbrinza can be expensive since a lower-cost generic option isn't available at this time. 

However, many Medicare beneficiaries do have coverage for this medication. About 83% of Medicare prescription drug plans offer some coverage for Simbrinza. 

What Is Simbrinza?

Simbrinza is a prescription medication that's applied directly to the eyes in the form of eye drops. The medication lowers the pressure in the eyes caused by certain diseases, including glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Lowering eye pressure reduces the risk of complications, such as nerve damage, diminished vision and blindness. Simbrinza is made from a combination of the drugs brinzolamide and brimonidine.

Users are often advised to look up when placing the eye drops in the eyes and apply gentle pressure afterward. This helps keep the medication from dripping out of the eye. However, always follow your doctor's instructions when using Simbrinza or any other medication. 

Have Medicare questions?

Talk to a licensed agent today to find a plan that fits your needs.

How Much Does Simbrinza Cost With Medicare? 

The retail cost for Simbrinza is around $230, and no generic version is available. However, many Medicare plans do cover the medication.

The cost of Simbrinza with Medicare coverage can range from $6 to $219. The cost depends on the specific plan, required co-pays and whether the deductible has been met

Most Medicare plans classify Simbrinza as a tier 3 drug on their formularies. Drug tiers range from tier 1 to tier 5, and higher-tier drugs tend to cost more and have less coverage. Check your plan's formulary to find out more about available coverage. 

Are Discount Plans Available for Simbrinza? 

If your Medicare plan doesn't cover Simbrinza, discount plans or coupons may offer some help. Coupons are available and may reduce the cost of Simbrinza by up to 20%. 

Christian Worstell
About the Author

Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with HelpAdivsor.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.

Christian’s work as a Medicare expert has appeared in several top-tier and trade news outlets including Forbes, MarketWatch, WebMD and Yahoo! Finance.

While at HelpAdvisor, Christian has written hundreds of articles that teach Medicare beneficiaries the best practices for navigating Medicare. His articles are read by thousands of older Americans each month. By better understanding their health care coverage, readers may hopefully learn how to limit their out-of-pocket Medicare spending and access quality medical care.

Christian’s passion for his role stems from his desire to make a difference in the senior community. He strongly believes that the more beneficiaries know about their Medicare coverage, the better their overall health and wellness is as a result.

A current resident of Raleigh, Christian is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. You can find Christian’s most recent articles in our blog.

If you’re a member of the media looking to connect with Christian, please don’t hesitate to email our public relations team at Mike@MyHelpAdvisor.com.

Read More
woman smiling during eye exam
Find out how Medicare covers eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) and learn about the specific criteria ...
Doctor Working With Patient
Compare America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses vs. Visionworks to find out how the companies' pricing, ...
Man uses laptop computer at home in his kitchen
Are Medicare premiums tax-deductible? The answer depends on how much you earn and how much you spend ...