What Are the Possible Treatment Options for COVID‑19?

There are treatments that may help reduce how sick you become if you get COVID‑19. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized and approved treatments that have already been taken by millions of people, reducing their risk of severe COVID‑19 symptoms and keeping them out of the hospital.

If you have mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms (non-hospitalized, not requiring oxygen or an increase in home oxygen) you may be eligible for antiviral treatments including oral antivirals or an IV (intravenous or in your arm) antiviral.

Individuals who are uninsured, rely on Medicare, Medicaid, or VA insurance, or receive care from Indian Health Service can receive free access to COVID-19 and flu testing, telehealth, and treatment through the Home Test to Treat program.

Learn more about COVID‑19 therapies:

Therapeutic	Type of treatment	Start time after symptoms first appear
Paxlovid	Oral antiviral (pills)	As soon as possible and up to 5 days
Lagevrio (molnupiravir)	Oral antiviral (pills)	As soon as possible and up to 5 days
Veklury® (remdesivir)	IV infusion antiviral	As soon as possible and up to 7 days

Oral Antivirals: Paxlovid and Lagevrio (Molnupiravir)

What are oral antivirals?

Oral antivirals are pills that stop the virus that causes COVID-19 from making copies of itself in your body. One oral antiviral is called Paxlovid, and the other is called Lagevrio (also known as molnupiravir).

Who is eligible to use oral antivirals?

• Paxlovid: Adults and children (12 years of age and older, weighing at least 88 pounds [40 kg]), who are at high risk for getting very sick from COVID-19 and who have mild to moderate symptoms.
• Lagevrio: Adults 18 years and older who are at high risk for getting very sick from COVID-19 and who do not have access to other COVID-19 outpatient treatment options, or other treatment options are not appropriate for them and who have mild to moderate symptoms.

When do you have to use oral antivirals?

If you are eligible, start using oral antivirals as soon as possible—no later than 5 days after your first symptoms appear. These pills are taken at home two times a day for 5 days.

How do you get oral antivirals?

Oral antivirals are available with a prescription from a health care provider and through the Test to Treat program. Paxlovid may also be prescribed by a state-licensed pharmacist.

Patient Assistance Programs for COVID-19 Therapeutics

On November 1, 2023, Lagevrio and Paxlovid became commercially available, and patient assistance programs are now available for eligible individuals. Check out the table below to find out if you or your patients may be eligible for the patient assistance program.

Antiviral	Program	Patient Eligibility	Description
Paxlovid	Pfizer Co-Pay Savings Program	Privately insured	Available for eligible commercially insured patients. Payment as little as $0 with Co-Pay Savings Program.
Paxlovid	U.S. Government Patient Assistance Program (USG PAP) operated by Pfizer	Uninsured; Medicare (with or without Part D, Part B, or Part C and inclusive of Medicare Advantage); Medicaid/CHIP; TRICARE, VA Community Care Network	Eligible patients can receive government-purchased Paxlovid at no cost.
Lagevrio	Merck Co-Pay Savings Program	Privately insured	Eligible, privately insured patients may save on their out-of-pocket costs for their prescriptions for Lagevrio.
Lagevrio	Merck Patient Assistance Program	Eligible patients with financial hardship; must be enrolled as an urgent request	Lagevrio is free of charge to eligible patients who, without assistance, could not otherwise afford the product.
Veklury	Gilead's Advancing Access	Veklury eligible; insured and uninsured	Financial support options to access Veklury may be available.

Are there any programs to help get free or reduced cost medication?

If you are unable to afford oral antiviral medication for COVID-19, help is available.

Paxlovid

• The Pfizer Co-Pay Savings Program is available for eligible commercially insured patients. Eligible  commercially insured patients may pay as little as $0 with Co-Pay Savings Program.
• Medicare, Medicaid, and uninsured patients will continue to receive Paxlovid at no charge through December 31, 2024 with the Patient Assistance Program (PAP) operated by Pfizer. This includes all patients who are publicly insured through Medicare (with or without Part D, Part B, or Part C and inclusive of Medicare Advantage), Medicaid/Children's Health Insurance Program, TRICARE, and patients insured through the Department of Veterans Affairs Community Care Network. Learn more on Pfizer's Paxlovid website.
• Federal entities, including health centers supported by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Indian Health Service (IHS) health centers, Veterans Health Administration facilities, and others, have continued access to free, USG-procured Paxlovid supply for their patients.
• Federally procured Paxlovid also may be used to support state, local, tribal, or territorial special programs targeting vulnerable populations on a case-by-case basis. To make a special request, contact COVID19.therapeutics@hhs.gov.

Lagevrio

• Eligible, privately insured patients may use the Merck Co-pay Program to pay as little as $10 per prescription, up to a maximum program savings of $300 per patient. Coupon may be redeemed before the expiration date printed on the coupon, on each qualifying prescription up to a 5-day supply.
• The MerckHelps Patient Assistance Program provides Lagevrio free of charge to patients who meet eligibility criteria and who, without assistance, could not otherwise afford the product. Learn more at MerckHelps.com/LAGEVRIO.
• Certain Federal entities (HRSA, Department of State, IHS, Peace Corps, Bureau of Prisons, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the National Institutes of Health) have continued access to free, USG-procured Lagevrio supply for their patients.

More Options

• For a limited time, a Home Test to Treat program sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, is providing receive free access to COVID-19 and flu testing, telehealth, and treatment for eligible patients.

IV Antiviral: Veklury (Remdesivir)

What is Veklury?

Veklury is a COVID-19 treatment given intravenously (by IV or drip). Like oral antivirals, Veklury helps stop the virus that causes COVID-19 from making copies of itself in your body.

Who is eligible to receive Veklury?

• Adults 18 and over
• Children who are 28 days of age or older and weigh at least 7 pounds (3 kg)

AND who:

• Have mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19
• Are at high risk for getting very sick from COVID-19
• Are outpatients (not staying in the hospital) or inpatients (staying in the hospital)

When do you use Veklury?

Veklury should be given as soon as possible—no later than 7 days after your first symptoms appear.

How do you get Veklury?

Veklury requires a prescription. The treatment is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion once a day for 3 days.

Are there any assistance programs for outpatient use of Veklury?

Gilead has an Advancing Access® program to help eligible patients. Learn more about the Advancing Access® program.