Does Medicare cover Beovu?

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Official answer

by Drugs.com

Key Points

  • Yes, Medicare usually covers the costs of Beovu (brolucizumab), a prescription medication approved by the FDA to treat the "wet form" of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME).
  • According to Medicare, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for the drug and your doctor’s services, and the Part B deductible applies.
  • Your costs may vary depending on if you have insurance copays or deductibles, your Medicare coverage, and how much your doctor charges.

    • Medicare is a national medical insurance plan for people 65 years and older in the U.S. Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) include hospital coverage through Medicare Part A, medical insurance through Part B, and prescription drug coverage through Part D.

    The cash discounted price for Beovu intravitreal solution (6 mg/0.05 mL) is around $1,957 for a supply of 0.05 milliliters (mL). Prices are for cash paying customers only and are not valid with insurance plans. Additional administration fees will apply.

    Call your insurance carrier to determine if Beovu is covered under your insurance plan, and what the alternatives are if it is not covered. Be sure to speak with your doctor about medication costs before treatment, including any fees to administer the medication.

    If you are having trouble affording your medication, you can call Novartis, the manufacturer of Beovu, who may be able to offer assistance if you are eligible.

    Other treatments approved by the FDA for the treatment of the "wet form" of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), where new blood vessels grow under the retina where they leak blood and fluid, or diabetic macular edema (DME), which can lead to blindness, include:

  • Eylea (aflibercept)
  • Lucentis (ranibizumab)
  • Vabysmo (faricimab-svoa)

    • How is Beovu given?

    Beovu is given as an injection into the vitreous cavity of your eye. Your doctor will use a medicine to numb your eye before you receive the injection. You will receive this injection in a doctor's office or clinic setting.

  • For AMD, it is given every month for the first three doses, then every 8 to 12 weeks.
  • In DME, the injections are given every six weeks for the first five doses, then every 8 to 12 weeks.

    • Beovu is known as a human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor. It works by blocking VEGF. Blocking VEGF help to slow the growth of blood vessels that are not normally present in the eye. This helps to reduce the potential for vision loss caused by fluid leakage into the retina (a membrane that lines the inside of the eye).

    Common side effects with Beovu include blurred vision, cataracts, conjunctival bleeding, vitreous floaters, and eye pain.

    This is not all the information you need to know about Beovu (brolucizumab) for safe and effective use and does not take the place of talking to your doctor about your treatment. Review the full Beovu information here, and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.

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