Civica
A partnership to make prescription medicines more affordable
People need lower drugs prices. Blue Cross and Blue Shield delivers.
When a patient gets a prescription for a generic or biosimilar medicine, they expect it to cost less than a brand-name drug. But that’s not always the case. Some generics and biosimilars remain shockingly expensive, forcing people to decide between medicine and groceries.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies took action by coming together with Civica® to create CivicaScript®.
The goal was to increase competition and offer lower-cost alternatives to high-cost generic medicines, and this approach is already delivering real savings for families across the country.
Early success:
- Three new treatments for cancer and multiple sclerosis are priced up to 98% lower than the average cost of other generic versions.
- Patients using CivicaScript's first medication, abiraterone acetate, saved an average of nearly $500 per year, paying 46% less per prescription fill for their medication, according to the 2025 Annual Savings Report.
- Since CivicaScript introduced abiraterone to the market, prices for the prostate cancer drug from other manufacturers have decreased. More competitive prices in the marketplace benefit the healthcare system overall.
- Patients have access to lower-cost generics and biosimilars as CivicaScript continues to add new products.
- Since 2022, CivicaScript has helped patients and participating health plans save nearly $44 million on prescription drug costs.
CivicaScript®
Bringing low-cost generic drugs to consumers
BCBS companies believe everyone should have access to safe, effective prescription medicines when they need them and at a price they can afford.
That’s why several BCBS companies, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) and Civica co-founded CivicaScript—focused on bringing lower-cost generic prescription medications directly to consumers.
How this partnership works
When BCBS companies saw that prices were unnecessarily high for some commonly prescribed generic medicines, they joined Civica in launching the nonprofit CivicaScript initiative. Today, 23 BCBS companies are CivicaScript members, alongside other health plans and other parts of the pharmaceutical supply chain.
The CivicaScript model shows that greater competition and transparency can lower costs. By bringing together manufacturers, health plans and pharmacies that put patients first, it delivers savings for patients and expands access to affordable medicines.
Read more about our partnership
CivicaScript partnering BCBS companies:
Making sure consumers have access to the medicines they need at a price they can afford is a top priority for BCBSA and Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies across the country. That is why we co-founded CivicaScript, so together we can help get safe, effective and affordable medicines to consumers as quickly as possible.
Civica Foundation®
Drastically reducing out-of-pocket costs for insulin
1 in 5 people with diabetes ration their insulin over affordability concerns.
Addressing this affordability challenge is a key focus of the Blues' partnership with Civica. Together, we're helping expand access to low-cost insulin and other essential medicines.
Civica Foundation raises philanthropic money to support Civica’s manufacturing and distribution of low-cost insulin.
Civica insulin glargine is now available in pharmacies nationwide at the lowest list price in the current market for long-acting insulin, up to 9x less than less than other manufacturers. The company plans to expand access by producing and distributing additional long- and short-acting insulin biosimilars in both vials and prefilled pens.
Civica Foundation partnering BCBS companies:
Frequently Asked Questions
Millions of hardworking people in the U.S. face tough choices due to the high cost of prescription drugs, which are more than twice as expensive as in other developed countries. In fact, 43% of U.S. adults skip or ration their medications because of rising prescription drug costs.
High drug prices are a challenge. CivicaScript is addressing this challenge.
Civica is a nonprofit pharmaceutical organization focused on improving access to essential hospital medicines. CivicaScript is a nonprofit initiative co-founded by BCBS companies, BCBSA and Civica to help bring low-cost generic medicines directly to consumers.
Civica Foundation is a 501(c)(3) philanthropic organization that supports Civica’s initiatives to expand access to affordable medicines, including insulin.
No. BCBS companies are not directly involved in manufacturing. CivicaScript partners with manufacturers to supply low-cost generic and biosimilar medicines, then works with payers and pharmacies across the country to pass along the cost savings to patients.
CivicaScript is focusing on select high-cost generic prescription medicines that treat a range of health conditions, including cancer and multiple sclerosis.
Affordable biosimilars are available for conditions such as diabetes and chronic inflammatory diseases.
Visit the CivicaScript website for the latest information on available products and future developments.
CivicaScript has a MaxRP® policy, which is its maximum recommended price to the consumer. CivicaScript uses a transparent MaxRP model of ingredient cost plus pharmacy dispensing fee.
Information on every CivicaScript product package enables healthcare providers, caregivers, patients and others to compare prices and confirm they’re being charged no more than the MaxRP.
Yes. CivicaScript is expected to launch additional products in the coming months and years, as it continues to expand access to lower-cost medicines.
This partnership has the potential to deliver hundreds of millions in savings that will, in turn, be passed along to those in need of these important medications. Research suggests prices for select high-cost generic and biosimilar prescription medicines can be reduced to a fraction of their current costs.
Since 2022, CivicaScript has generated nearly $44 million in savings for patients and participating health plans.
Participating organizations include BCBS companies from across the country, along with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Current participants and partnership details can be found on the CivicaScript and Civica Foundation websites.
BCBSA and BCBS companies are advancing a roadmap that would reduce healthcare costs by nearly $1 trillion over 10 years, which includes solutions to lower prices for prescription drugs like curbing unfair practices that block competition and keep prices high for taxpayers, consumers and patients.