Key takeaways

  • Keytruda’s price can vary based on your treatment plan, insurance coverage, costs for doctor’s visits, and other factors.
  • Financial assistance options, such as the Merck Access Program, and resources like Medicine Assistance Tool and NeedyMeds may help lower the cost of Keytruda.
  • If you have insurance, including Medicare, your cost will depend on your specific plan benefits. You may be billed through your medical coverage instead of the prescription drug portion of your insurance plan.

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection into a vein over a period of time). You’ll receive Keytruda at your doctor’s office or another healthcare facility, such as an infusion clinic.

Keep reading for details on Keytruda and cost and how to save money on prescriptions. For more information about Keytruda, including a list of cancers it’s approved to treat, see this Keytruda overview article.

The price you pay for Keytruda can vary depending on several factors, including:

  • your treatment plan
  • your insurance coverage
  • the cost of the visits to your healthcare professional to receive doses of Keytruda
  • available financial assistance for Keytruda (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section)

To find out how much you’ll pay for Keytruda, talk with your doctor or insurance provider. Be sure to ask your insurance company whether Keytruda requires prior authorization (see “Insurance considerations” for details).

Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about Keytruda and cost.

What’s the cost of Keytruda with insurance vs. without insurance?

Your cost of Keytruda if you have insurance compared with what you’d pay without it depends on many factors.

Factors that could affect what you pay for this drug without insurance include:

  • your Keytruda dose and treatment plan
  • whether you’re eligible for any available savings programs (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section)

These same factors may affect your price for Keytruda if you have insurance. But the price you pay with insurance will also depend on:

  • your type of insurance, such as private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid
  • your particular plan benefits, including your drug copay amount
  • any prior authorization requirements you have for drug coverage (see “Insurance considerations” for details)

To find out how much you’ll pay for Keytruda with your specific insurance plan, contact your insurance provider. They can help determine your costs based on your coverage and other factors.

How much does Keytruda cost per year?

Your cost of Keytruda per year depends on many factors. These may include:

  • your insurance plan (if you have one)
  • the cost of a doctor’s visits to receive Keytruda infusions
  • your dose of Keytruda
  • the length of your treatment plan

It’s also important to note that some people may only receive Keytruda for 1 year. Talk with your doctor about how long you may need to receive Keytruda.

If you have insurance, you should contact your insurance provider to find out how much Keytruda costs per month or per year. Also, ask what you’ll pay for the visits to your doctor to receive the infusions. You can refer to the question above for information about the cost of Keytruda with insurance versus without it.

How does the price of Keytruda 200 mg compare with other doses?

The price for a 200-milligram (mg) dose of Keytruda may be lower than other doses of the drug, such as the 400-mg dose. Usually, the 200-mg dose is given every 3 weeks, whereas the 400-mg dose is given every 6 weeks. You and your doctor can discuss these options to determine the best dosing regimen for your condition.

In some cases, what you pay might be based on the cost to visit the doctor’s office to receive the infusions instead of the dose itself. So, receiving Keytruda every 6 weeks may be less expensive than receiving it every 3 weeks.

To determine what you’ll pay for Keytruda 200-mg infusions, talk with your doctor or insurance plan provider (if you have one).

To learn about different dosing regimens, refer to this Keytruda dosage article.

What does Keytruda cost with Medicare?

What you pay for Keytruda will be based on your particular plan’s benefits. Medicare Part B typically covers the cost of prescription drugs given in a hospital outpatient setting or infusion clinic. You can call your Medicare plan provider for details on the total cost of Keytruda. Your doctor may also be able to provide information about your cost for Keytruda if you have Medicare.

For more information, refer to this in-depth article about Medicare coverage for Keytruda.

The active ingredient in Keytruda is pembrolizumab, which is a biologic. Biologic drugs are made from parts of living organisms. Keytruda comes only as a brand-name drug. There are no biosimilar forms available. Biosimilars are like generic drugs. Unlike generics, which are made for nonbiologic drugs, biosimilars are made for biologic drugs.

Why is there such a cost difference between biologic drugs and biosimilar drugs?

Biologic drugs can be expensive because of the research and testing needed to ensure their safety and effectiveness. The manufacturer of a biologic drug can sell it for up to 12 years. When the biologic drug’s patent expires, other drugmakers can create biosimilar versions. This competition in the market may lead to lower costs for biosimilars. And because biosimilars are very similar to biologic drugs, they don’t need to be studied again. This can also lead to lower costs for biosimilars.

If you need financial support to pay for Keytruda or help understanding your insurance coverage, assistance is available. For example:

  • A program called The Merck Access Program is available for Keytruda. For more information and to find out whether you’re eligible for support, visit the program website.
  • Some websites provide details about drug assistance programs, ways to make the most of your insurance coverage, and links to savings cards and other services. Two such websites are:

Learn more about saving money on prescriptions with or without insurance.

You may want to consider the following information if you have insurance and receive Keytruda.

Prior authorization: If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers Keytruda. This means the company and your doctor will discuss Keytruda in regard to your treatment. The insurance company will then determine whether the drug is covered. If a drug requires prior authorization, but you start treatment without the prior approval, you could pay the full cost of the medication. You can ask your insurance company whether Keytruda requires prior authorization.

Type of insurance coverage: Keytruda is given by your doctor or another healthcare professional. If you have insurance, the price of your Keytruda doses may be billed through your medical coverage instead of the prescription drug portion of your insurance plan. This depends on your specific insurance plan and where you receive your Keytruda doses, such as at your doctor’s office, an infusion clinic, or a hospital. If you have questions about this process, contact your doctor or your insurance provider.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.