Drop an aspirin down the drain and you’ll likely shrug your shoulders, write off the pill as a $.05 loss, and grab another one.
Drop a Viagra pill down the drain and you’ve just lost as much as $50.
The High Cost of ED Meds
If you’re using Viagra twice a week, you’re looking at the equivalent of a car payment.
Although Medicare Part D doesn’t cover any drugs for erectile dysfunction, some insurance companies do.
But even with insurance, your co-pay will likely be around $40 for six to eight pills. That’s still $480 a year.
Unfortunately, there’s not generic erectile dysfunction drug on the market (though one is on the way), so you’ll be choosing between some of the most common name-brand drugs.
In addition to Viagra, these include Cialis, Levitra, Stendra and Staxyn. They all have their own pros and cons, including side effects, interactions, timing, dosage and effectiveness.
Other ED Treatment Options
An alternative to erectile dysfunction medication is a “penis pump,” which pulls blood into the penis using a vacuum-like pump.
Although the device can cost anywhere from $300 to $600 and requires a prescription, some insurers will cover at least part of the cost.
You can also find pumps online that don’t require a prescription for as little as $15.
There are also do-it-yourself shots that use a fine needle to inject a drug called alprostadil into the penis.
The drug expands blood vessels in the penis and can help it stay erect for up to four hours. Although the injections are about $35 each, they’re covered by most—but not all—insurers.
Another, more permanent option is a penile implant. Because these implants and surgery are covered by most insurers, you won’t need to cough up a ton of money. Plus, since 80% of implants last for a decade, you’ll only need to make a co-pay or deductible every 10 years.
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