Skyrizi Cost in 2026: Prices & How to Save

Your dermatologist mentions Skyrizi. It clears psoriasis well, the studies look strong, and then you see the number: more than $23,000 for a single dose. For most people, that's not a copay — it's a used car.

Skyrizi cost is one of the first things patients ask about, and for good reason. It's one of the most expensive drugs on the market, and there's still no generic. Here's what it actually costs in 2026, why the price is so steep, and the real options for paying less — especially if you're uninsured or on Medicare.

How much does Skyrizi cost without insurance?

Skyrizi (generic name risankizumab, sometimes written risankizumab-rzaa) carries a wholesale list price of roughly $23,800 for one 150 mg dose as of early 2026. That figure — what pharmacies call the WAC, or wholesale acquisition cost — is the sticker price before any insurance or discount touches it.

What you'd actually pay at a retail counter without coverage tends to be higher. Cash prices for a single-dose pen have been quoted around $32,000 in late 2025. The exact number shifts by pharmacy, region, and which formulation your prescription calls for.

A quick reference for the strengths you're most likely to see:

Formulation	Typical use	Approx. list price (2026)
150 mg single-dose pen or syringe	Psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis maintenance	~$23,800 per dose
180 mg / 360 mg pen	Crohn's, ulcerative colitis maintenance	Comparable per-dose range
600 mg IV infusion	Crohn's, UC induction (in-office)	Billed through the clinic

Prices are wholesale list figures and don't reflect what you'd pay after insurance or through a cash-pay pharmacy. Verify current pricing before you fill.

Skyrizi cost by condition

Skyrizi treats several conditions, and the dosing schedule — not just the price per dose — drives your yearly total. That's the part most price pages skip.

Plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. You get 150 mg at week 0, another at week 4, then one dose every 12 weeks. That works out to about five doses in the first year and four per year after that. At list price, the first year runs roughly $95,000 to $120,000, with maintenance years slightly lower.

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Treatment starts with 600 mg by IV infusion at weeks 0, 4, and 8, then switches to a 180 mg or 360 mg injection under the skin every eight weeks. Because there are more maintenance doses per year plus the in-office infusions up front, the first-year cost often climbs even higher than the psoriasis figure.

The takeaway: your condition changes the math. Someone on Skyrizi for Crohn's is usually looking at more doses per year than someone treating psoriasis, so don't assume a single "annual cost" number applies to everyone.

Why is Skyrizi so expensive?

Skyrizi is a biologic — a large, complex protein grown in living cells, not a small molecule you can synthesize cheaply. Biologics are costly to develop, manufacture, and keep cold through the supply chain, and they carry long patent protection that blocks competition.

AbbVie, which makes Skyrizi, holds a thick wall of patents. That exclusivity is a big reason the price hasn't budged the way it does for older drugs once generics arrive. Skyrizi has also become one of the company's top sellers, which gives little incentive to lower the sticker price on its own.

There's a real clinical reason patients and doctors accept the cost: Skyrizi works well for many people, with convenient every-8-to-12-week dosing. But strong results don't make the bill any smaller when you're the one paying.

Is there a generic or biosimilar for Skyrizi?

Not yet. As of 2026, the FDA has approved no generic or biosimilar version of risankizumab, and industry patent timelines point to biosimilar competition arriving after 2028 at the earliest.

That matters for planning. When biosimilars for drugs like Humira and Stelara reached the market, prices for those products started to come down. Skyrizi isn't at that point, so anyone hoping to wait out the patent for a cheaper version is looking at years, not months.

What insurance and Medicare actually cover

If you have commercial insurance, your plan may pick up most of the cost after a prior authorization — though you might still owe a coinsurance percentage that runs into the thousands. Plans often require you to try other treatments first before they'll approve a biologic like Skyrizi.

Medicare is its own situation. Whether Skyrizi falls under Part B (for the in-office IV infusions used in Crohn's and UC) or Part D (for the self-injected pens) depends on how and where it's given, and your out-of-pocket share varies with your plan. Starting in 2025, Part D's annual out-of-pocket cap changed the picture for high-cost drugs, but the numbers are still significant.

One thing worth being clear-eyed about: manufacturer "pay as little as $0" offers you'll see advertised are restricted to people with commercial insurance. They specifically exclude anyone on Medicare, Medicaid, or no insurance at all. If you're in one of those groups, those offers won't help you, and it's better to look at cash-pay routes directly.

How to save on Skyrizi without insurance

For the uninsured and underinsured, the honest answer is that there's no coupon that turns a $23,000 drug into a $30 one. But there are legitimate ways to bring the cost down.

Compare cash-pay pricing through a licensed network. Cash prices for the same biologic can differ widely depending on where it's sourced. A cash-pay health network like CanAmerica Plus works with licensed, verified pharmacies to offer transparent pricing on medications many Americans otherwise can't afford. For a drug in Skyrizi's price range, even a modest percentage difference is real money. If you've never used a cash-pay route before, our guide on why cash-pay care can beat insurance on Eliquis walks through how it works.

Ask about therapeutic alternatives. Several other biologics treat the same conditions, and some now have lower-cost biosimilars. Humira (generic adalimumab) and Stelara (ustekinumab) both have biosimilars available, which has pulled their prices down — though each carries its own tradeoffs, so it helps to read up on things like Humira's side effects before you and your doctor decide. Cosentyx is another option in a similar class. For milder psoriasis, an oral option like Otezla may cost less than an injectable biologic. None of these is automatically a substitute for Skyrizi — only your doctor can judge what fits your condition — but they're worth raising if the price is a barrier.

Verify any pharmacy before you buy. A biologic has to stay refrigerated and handled correctly to remain safe and effective. Only fill through a licensed pharmacy that requires a valid prescription and can confirm proper cold-chain handling. If a site offers Skyrizi with no prescription or at a price that seems impossible, treat that as a warning, not a bargain.

The bottom line

Skyrizi is effective, and it's expensive — about $23,800 a dose and roughly $95,000 or more a year at list price, with no generic on the horizon before 2028. If you have solid commercial coverage, your share may be manageable after prior authorization. If you're uninsured or on Medicare, the manufacturer's advertised discounts likely won't reach you, and comparing cash-pay pricing becomes the practical move. Check current prices through a licensed network like CanAmerica Plus, and talk with your doctor about whether a lower-cost alternative could work before you lock in.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Skyrizi cost per month?

Skyrizi isn't a monthly medication, so a per-month figure can mislead. After the loading doses, psoriasis patients take it once every 12 weeks. Spread across a year at list price, that's roughly $8,000 to $10,000 per month equivalent — but you're not writing a check every month.

How much is Skyrizi per shot?

One 150 mg dose has a wholesale list price of about $23,800 in early 2026. At a retail pharmacy without insurance, a single pen has been quoted around $32,000. What you actually pay depends on your coverage and where you fill it.

How much does Skyrizi cost per year?

For plaque psoriasis at list price, expect roughly $95,000 to $120,000 in the first year and slightly less in maintenance years. Crohn's and ulcerative colitis often run higher because of the added IV induction doses and more frequent maintenance injections.

Does Medicare cover Skyrizi?

Medicare can cover Skyrizi, but how depends on the form. In-office IV infusions may fall under Part B, while self-injected pens typically go through Part D. Your out-of-pocket cost varies by plan, and manufacturer copay offers don't apply to Medicare enrollees.

Is there a cheaper alternative to Skyrizi?

Possibly. Other biologics such as Humira and Stelara now have biosimilars that cost less, and oral options like Otezla may be cheaper for milder disease. Whether any of them is appropriate depends on your diagnosis, so decide with your prescriber rather than switching on cost alone.

How is Skyrizi administered?

For psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, Skyrizi is an injection under the skin — usually the thigh or abdomen — at week 0, week 4, then every 12 weeks. For Crohn's and ulcerative colitis, treatment begins with IV infusions given in a clinic before switching to at-home injections.

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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment. Pricing information is current as of the publication date but may change. Verify pricing directly before making purchasing decisions.