Biologics Cost Savings: How Biosimilars Cut Prescription Costs Without Compromising Care

When you hear biologics, complex medicines made from living cells, often used for autoimmune diseases, cancer, and severe asthma. Also known as biological drugs, they can cost over $10,000 a year—making them one of the biggest drivers of rising healthcare bills. But here’s the good news: biosimilars, highly similar versions of biologics approved by the FDA after the original patent expires. Also known as follow-on biologics, they work the same way but cost far less—often 20% to 80% cheaper. This isn’t theory. Real patients are saving thousands annually just by switching, and insurance companies are slowly catching on.

Why aren’t more people using them? Because insurance coverage, how health plans decide which drugs to pay for and how much patients pay out of pocket. Also known as formulary restrictions, it’s still stacked against biosimilars in many cases. Many plans require prior authorization just to get a biosimilar, even when the original biologic is more expensive. Some still put biosimilars on higher tiers, forcing patients to pay more. Others don’t even list them at all. This isn’t about safety—it’s about old habits, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and slow policy updates. Medicare Part D is starting to change, but private insurers lag behind.

What’s the connection to your prescriptions? Biologics cost savings aren’t just about the drug itself—they’re about how you access it. If you’re on Humira, Enbrel, or a similar biologic for rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s, or severe asthma, there’s likely a biosimilar option. But you won’t find it unless you ask your doctor, check your formulary, or push back on your insurer’s rules. The posts below show exactly how to do that: how to fight prior authorization, how to get your plan to cover biosimilars at the same cost as generics, and how to spot when a pharmacy tries to swap your drug without telling you.

You’ll also see how these savings tie into broader trends—like how GDUFA helps speed up generic approvals, why buying cheap drugs online can be risky, and how drug pricing rules affect real people. This isn’t just about saving money. It’s about getting the right treatment without going broke.