Medicare doesn’t cover Viagra for ED, but it may cover other services like exams, diagnostic tests, and surgical treatments for ED. Medicaid doesn’t typically cover Viagra for ED, but some plans may cover sildenafil for PAH. Though Cialis is more affordable than Viagra, the two drugs are prescribed in different ways and for different reasons. Sanjay Razdan, MD, urologist and professor and chairman of the International Robotic Institute for Prostate Cancer in Miami, Florida, says, “The choice of dose and medication depends on patient factors, including frequency of sexual activity, underlying health conditions, and tolerance.

How to get Cialis covered by insurance

This retail price can vary by pharmacy, location, and the details of your prescription. In comparison, generic tadalafil costs an average of $333 for 30, 5 mg tablets without insurance or discounts. That amounts to about $11 per pill. The average retail price of Viagra is $1,075 for 10, 100 mg tablets without insurance. This price can vary by pharmacy and location.

How much does generic Cialis cost?

The per-pill cost of Viagra comes out to $108 per pill, about seven times more expensive than a pill of brand-name Cialis. In comparison, generic sildenafil without insurance costs about $457 for 10, 100 mg tablets. “Bluntly, brand-name coverage is poor for most patients,” says Justin Houman, MD, urologist at Tower Urology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Insurance plans generally don’t cover Cialis for ED, but may offer coverage if it’s prescribed for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, an lilly cialis enlarged prostate). “Cialis and Viagra are rarely covered for ED because most insurers classify it as a lifestyle indication.

Does Medicaid cover Cialis?

Coverage for PAH or BPH indications is generally better,” he shares. Coverage varies highly by individual plan, and coverage may only be offered for generic Cialis, tadalafil. Patients may also need to go through extra steps to get coverage for Cialis, such as step therapy or prior authorization. Medicare may cover certain treatments for erectile dysfunction, but it doesn’t cover Cialis when prescribed for ED specifically. There are ways to get coverage with the right documentation, and Medicare Extra Help programs may help cover some of the costs of Cialis as well. For example, Cialis (tadalafil) may be used daily at lower doses for more spontaneous activity or at higher doses as needed, while Viagra (sildenafil) is typically taken on demand.” Cialis is approved by the FDA to treat ED, BPH, and PAH, while Viagra is approved to treat ED and PAH. For ED, Cialis can be taken daily or as needed, and Viagra can be taken as needed.

Generic drug discount programs: For common drugs like tadalafil.
Health sharing ministries: Not insurance, may not cover prescriptions.
Pharmacy technician: Can help find savings programs and coupons.
Out-of-network pharmacies: Usually higher cost with insurance.
Drug shortages: Rare for tadalafil, but can affect price if occurs.
Price increase history: Brand Cialis price rose steadily pre-generic.
Prescription assistance applications: Often require income documentation.
Social media groups: Patients sometimes share discount tips and codes.

For PAH, Cialis is taken once daily, and Viagra is taken three times a day. Ultimately, the best and most affordable treatment for you can be determined by working with your healthcare provider to consider your health history and coverage. Though insurance coverage for Cialis and Viagra is limited, there are still ways to save on the cost of your prescription. One way is to use SingleCare coupons, which can reduce the cost of ED medication significantly. SingleCare coupons are free to get and easy to use at many retail pharmacies.

Product	Dosage	Quantity + Bonus	Price
Cialis Original	20mg	12 Pills	78.32€ 74.59€
Cialis Professional	20mg	30 Pills	104.57€ 99.59€
Cialis Generic	40mg	20 Pills	59.47€ 56.64€
Cialis Generic	40mg	360 + 10 Pills	477.87€ 455.11€
Cialis Generic	2.5mg	120 + 6 Pills	128.93€ 122.79€
Cialis Professional	20mg	90 + 2 Pills	241.49€ 229.99€
Cialis Professional	20mg	120 + 4 Pills	291.68€ 277.79€
Cialis Black	80mg	180 + 10 Pills	356.64€ 339.66€
Cialis Soft Tabs	20mg	30 + 4 Pills	87.43€ 83.27€
Cialis Generic	5mg	120 + 6 Pills	132.92€ 126.59€

To get one, search for your prescription on the SingleCare website or app and select the pharmacy you want to use it at. Show your coupon to the pharmacist when you check out to save. You can also get your prescription in bulk or look into prescription assistance programs like Medicare Extra Help.

Compare Tadalafil Prescription Prices

Second, we always recommend choosing the generic because of its low cost and stronger FDA oversight. With that said, finding the right medication requires visiting with a qualified urologist, ideally specializing in men’s health. Schedule a consultation about correcting erectile dysfunction and understand the treatment options, including medication, shots, and penile implants. Cialis (tadalafil) and Viagra (sildenafil) are erectile dysfunction medications that cost between $15 and $108 per pill. Cialis is typically more affordable than Viagra per pill, but each drug is prescribed and taken differently.

Bottom Line

Seek medical advice from your healthcare provider to determine which of these treatments would be best for you. Cialis (tadalafil) and Viagra (sildenafil) are prescription medications in the same class of drugs that treat symptoms of erectile dysfunction (ED). They’re also both approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help with symptoms of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), high blood pressure due to narrowing in the blood vessels in the lungs. Cialis and Viagra both have generic versions, tadalafil and sildenafil, respectively.

Sports Nutrition:

The brand-name ED medications have a significant price difference to consider. We’ll compare the cost of Cialis and Viagra, with and without insurance, and how you can save on your prescription. The price of Cialis and Viagra without insurance can vary by pharmacy, location, and prescription. However, the cost of Cialis is generally lower than that of Viagra by a considerable amount. The average price of Cialis (tadalafil) is $435 for 30, 5 mg tablets without insurance, which comes out to about $15 per 5 mg pill. Healthcare professionals may recommend switching to generic medications to save.

Does insurance cover Viagra?

Similar to Medicare, Medicaid plans don’t typically cover Cialis for ED. Certain plans, however, may cover tadalafil for its other approved indications, such as PAH. Similar to Cialis, Viagra isn’t typically covered as a drug for ED. Coverage will vary by individual plan and may need extra steps to get approved coverage. Generic Viagra, sildenafil, may be covered under certain plans as a treatment for PAH. FDA-approved generics are bioequivalent: same molecule, same effect.

Cialis price can fluctuate based on location.
Insurance may cover some Cialis costs.
Market competition lowers Cialis prices online.
Coupons can reduce Cialis purchase expenses.

There is no clinical reason to pay for the brand name,” Dr. Houman says. Between the two ED treatments, Cialis is generally more affordable than Viagra. However, it’s important to know that these medications are recommended for different purposes, and talking to your healthcare provider can help determine which one is best for you. “Cost and access have improved significantly with generic options, but patients should still be guided toward appropriate dosing and expectations to avoid misuse or disappointment with treatment,” Dr. Razdan says. In addition to cost, healthcare providers can help you consider your health conditions, medical history, and other drug interactions to recommend the best long-term treatment for you. “These medications are long-term for most men. Build the cost into your healthcare budget and revisit pricing annually; the generic market continues to get more competitive,” he advises. The SingleCare prices in this article are the most accurate at the time of publishing in ZIP code 23666 as of May. Visit our coupon page for updated drug prices at pharmacies near you. NADAC (National Average Drug Acquisition Cost) 2026, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (2026) NYRx, the New York Medicaid Pharmacy Program [PDF], New York State Department of Health (2026) Medically accurate: SingleCare’s Medical Review Board analyzes all of our content to confirm it’s in line with current medical advice. Many online health companies offer tadalafil for people who are experiencing erectile dysfunction (ED). Doctors may also recommend this prescription-only drug for other conditions. Tadalafil is the generic version of Cialis and is typically lower in cost.

Bottom line: Is Cialis or Viagra more affordable?

However, when the drug is produced by compounding pharmacies, the FDA provides little oversight, which allows unscrupulous pharmacies to potentially offer low-quality products. Of course, the cost is the first and most significant attraction of generic and compounded ED drugs. Researching online will often yield hidden pricing and subscriptions on ED drugs like Tadalafil. You’ll also likely find pharmacies overseas in Canada, Mexico, and elsewhere selling medications at seemingly impossibly low prices. Ultimately, however, generic drugs are so inexpensive that it’s worth finding a reputable option here in the United States.

Compare pharmacies

Urologists are well-trained in this prevalent condition and can prescribe maximum dosages, which can often be cut in half for a typical starting dose. Further, a urologist can help you find additional options when medications no longer work. You or your urologist likely have a preferred pharmacy; however, if you don’t, or, for example, you are out of town and need to fill a prescription, be sure that they are in the United States and/or are licensed to sell and ship to your state or location. And be sure that the pharmacy is transparent about their business practices, including their pharmacist of record. If you are uncomfortable with their business practices, ask your urologist for a different recommendation or find a pharmacy you feel more comfortable with.

Using a mail-order pharmacy

There are two straightforward ways to differentiate between generic Tadalafil and a compounded version. First, the generic only comes in tablet form, so it’s compounded if you see sublingual tabs, gummies, mints, or other formulations. There is also no generic combination ED medication – these Tadalafil-Sildenafil combinations are always compounded. Lastly, generic Tadalafil only comes in specific dosages: 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg. Ultimately, when you are seeking treatment for erectile dysfunction, and it’s time to find the right pill, first know that Cialis and Tadalafil are interchangeable. Read on to learn about tadalafil and cost, as well as how to save money on prescriptions. It may be used to treat the following conditions in adults: Below are some advantages and disadvantages of tadalafil.

Consumer reports help identify affordable Cialis options.
Online pharmacy accreditation affects Cialis pricing.
Generic Cialis can be up to 80% cheaper.
Regular price checks ensure best Cialis deals.

available in a generic form, which is usually cheaper than brand-name drugs some insurance companies may cover the cost of the medication can cost hundreds of dollars per month without insurance Generic drugs have the same active ingredients as their brand-name equivalents. A generic drug is subject to the same safety and efficacy standards as the original, brand-name version. Typically, generic drugs cost less than brand-name drugs.

Dosage (mg)	Average Price per Pill (USD)	Lowest Price (USD)	Highest Price (USD)
5	15	10	25
10	20	12	30
20	25	18	35

Tadalafil is available as brand names Adcirca and Alyq, which treat PAH, and Cialis, which treats ED, BPH, or both.