Crestor (Rosuvastatin) Cost in Minnesota: 2026 Prices, Insurance, and Savings

What Rosuvastatin Actually Costs at Minnesota Pharmacies in 2026

Generic rosuvastatin is one of the least expensive branded-to-generic conversions in cardiovascular medicine. The average Minnesota cash price in 2026 sits around $15 per month for a 30-day supply of the generic tablet, regardless of dose strength. Brand-name Crestor, still manufactured by AstraZeneca, carries a wholesale acquisition cost near $290 per month.

The gap between those two numbers explains why more than 90% of rosuvastatin prescriptions nationwide now fill as the generic. Rosuvastatin lost its final U.S. patent protections in 2016, and multiple manufacturers (Teva, Mylan/Viatris, Aurobindo, and others) now supply the market. That competition has pushed the generic price well below $1 per day at most Minnesota chains, including CVS, Walgreens, Hy-Vee, and independent pharmacies.

Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) negotiate additional rebates on top of the already-low generic price, which means insured patients with even modest prescription coverage often face copays between $0 and $10. Patients without insurance still pay less than a typical restaurant meal for a full month of therapy. According to the FDA-approved prescribing information for Crestor, available dose strengths include 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg tablets, and the price difference between strengths at most Minnesota pharmacies is negligible for the generic.

Price variability does exist across the state. A 2024 analysis published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that cash-pay statin prices could vary by as much as 300% between pharmacies within the same metro area (Kazi et al., 2024). Using a price-comparison tool (GoodRx, RxSaver, or Cost Plus Drugs) before filling can save $5 to $15 per fill even when prices are already low.

Minnesota Medicaid Coverage for Rosuvastatin

Minnesota Medical Assistance (the state Medicaid program) covers rosuvastatin, but a prior authorization (PA) requirement applies. This means the prescribing clinician must submit documentation confirming the medical need before the pharmacy can process the claim.

The PA requirement for statins under Minnesota Medicaid typically asks for a diagnosis of hyperlipidemia or documented ASCVD risk, plus evidence that the patient has attempted lifestyle modification or has a clinical reason for immediate pharmacotherapy. For most patients with a clear indication (established coronary disease, LDL above goal per 2018 AHA/ACC cholesterol guidelines, or diabetes with elevated cardiovascular risk), approval is routine.

Minnesota Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs), including UCare, Blue Plus, Hennepin Health, and South Country Health Alliance, each maintain their own preferred drug lists (PDLs). Generic rosuvastatin appears on most MCO formularies at a preferred tier. Brand Crestor, by contrast, almost always requires both PA and a documented trial-and-failure of the generic before the MCO will cover it. The state's fee-for-service Medicaid program follows the Minnesota Department of Human Services PDL, which also lists generic rosuvastatin as preferred.

If your PA is denied, Minnesota law requires the MCO to provide a written denial with instructions for appeal. The appeal process must be completed within 30 days for a standard request or 72 hours for an expedited request involving active treatment (Minnesota Statute 256B.0625).

How Private Insurance Plans Handle Crestor in Minnesota

The majority of commercial plans sold on MNsure (Minnesota's ACA marketplace) and employer-sponsored plans in the state place generic rosuvastatin on Tier 1 of their formulary. That translates to a copay of $0 to $15 for a 30-day supply.

Brand Crestor sits on Tier 2 or Tier 3 at most Minnesota commercial insurers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, HealthPartners, Medica, and PreferredOne. Copays for a non-preferred brand statin range from $30 to $75 depending on the plan. Step therapy protocols are common: the insurer requires a documented trial of the generic before authorizing brand coverage.

High-deductible health plans (HDHPs) paired with health savings accounts present a different calculus. Until the annual deductible is met, the patient pays the full negotiated price. For generic rosuvastatin, that is typically $8 to $20. For brand Crestor, it can approach $250. The Affordable Care Act's preventive medication provisions do not currently mandate $0-cost statin coverage for all patients, though the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) does recommend statin therapy for adults aged 40 to 75 with one or more cardiovascular risk factors and an estimated 10-year ASCVD risk of 10% or greater (USPSTF, 2022). Some insurers voluntarily waive cost-sharing for preventive statins under this recommendation. Ask your plan directly.

Compounded Rosuvastatin in Minnesota: Legal Status and Pricing

Compounded rosuvastatin is legal in Minnesota through 503A-licensed compounding pharmacies. A 503A pharmacy operates under a patient-specific prescription and is regulated by the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy. These pharmacies can prepare rosuvastatin in custom doses, alternative forms (suspensions for patients who cannot swallow tablets), or combined formulations.

Why would anyone compound a drug that already costs $15 per month as a generic tablet? The most common clinical reasons are:

• Pediatric dosing. The JUPITER trial enrolled adults, but rosuvastatin is FDA-approved for heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in children aged 8 and older, and younger patients sometimes need doses that do not correspond to available tablet strengths.
• Dysphagia or enteral tube administration. A liquid suspension compound ensures accurate dosing for patients who cannot take solid oral forms.
• Allergen avoidance. Some patients react to inactive ingredients (lactose, certain dyes) in manufactured tablets. A compounding pharmacy can formulate without those excipients.

Pricing for compounded rosuvastatin in Minnesota varies by pharmacy. Some telehealth-aligned compounding pharmacies offer compounded rosuvastatin at no additional cost to the patient as part of a subscription model, though the consultation fee itself may range from $30 to $99 per month. Traditional brick-and-mortar compounding pharmacies in the Twin Cities area typically charge $20 to $60 per month for a compounded statin preparation. Insurance coverage for compounded medications is inconsistent. Most PBMs do not reimburse 503A compounds unless the prescriber documents medical necessity.

Telehealth Prescribing of Rosuvastatin in Minnesota

Minnesota permits telehealth prescribing of rosuvastatin without restriction. The Minnesota Board of Medical Practice allows clinicians to establish a provider-patient relationship via synchronous video or audio-only telehealth and to prescribe non-controlled medications, including statins, based on that encounter.

This means a patient in Rochester, Duluth, or Bemidji can consult with a licensed prescriber over video, receive a rosuvastatin prescription, and have it sent to any Minnesota pharmacy (retail or mail-order) without an in-person visit. The 2021 Minnesota Telehealth Act (SF 1034) made pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities permanent, and rosuvastatin prescribing fits squarely within those provisions.

HealthRX and similar telehealth platforms can prescribe rosuvastatin after reviewing lab work (a lipid panel drawn within the past 12 months is standard), cardiovascular risk factors, and medication history. The clinical evidence supporting statin initiation is strong. In the JUPITER trial (N=17,802), rosuvastatin 20 mg reduced the composite endpoint of myocardial infarction, stroke, arterial revascularization, hospitalization for unstable angina, or cardiovascular death by 44% compared with placebo (HR 0.56; 95% CI, 0.46 to 0.69; P<0.00001) over a median follow-up of 1.9 years (Ridker et al., NEJM 2008).

A telehealth statin consultation typically takes 10 to 20 minutes. Lab monitoring (repeat lipid panel and liver enzymes at 4 to 12 weeks) can be ordered remotely and completed at any Quest, Labcorp, or hospital lab location in Minnesota.

Discount Programs and Savings Strategies for Minnesota Patients

Several pathways exist to reduce rosuvastatin costs below the already-low generic price.

Manufacturer savings cards. AstraZeneca offers a Crestor savings card for commercially insured patients. Eligible patients can pay as little as $3 per month for brand Crestor. The card does not apply to patients with government insurance (Medicare Part D, Medicaid, Tricare, VA). It also does not apply to the generic. Given that the generic already costs $15 or less, the savings card is mainly useful for patients whose physicians have a specific clinical reason to prescribe brand Crestor.

GoodRx, RxSaver, and similar discount platforms. These free-to-use tools aggregate pharmacy discount pricing. In the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro, GoodRx coupons bring generic rosuvastatin 10 mg (30 tablets) to $4 to $9 at major chains. Outstate Minnesota prices run slightly higher but rarely exceed $18.

Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs. This direct-to-consumer pharmacy sells generic rosuvastatin at cost plus a flat 15% markup and $5 dispensing fee. A 90-day supply of rosuvastatin 10 mg is typically under $10 through this channel, with shipping to any Minnesota address.

Medicare Part D. For patients aged 65 and older (or those with qualifying disabilities), Medicare Part D plans cover generic rosuvastatin. Under the Inflation Reduction Act provisions that took effect in 2025, annual out-of-pocket prescription costs for Part D enrollees are capped at $2,000. For a medication as inexpensive as generic rosuvastatin, the monthly copay is typically $0 to $5. The 2024 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services data showed that rosuvastatin was among the top five most-dispensed Part D drugs nationally (CMS, 2024).

Patient assistance programs (PAPs). AstraZeneca's AZ&Me program provides free brand Crestor to uninsured patients who meet income requirements (generally household income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level). Application is available through the prescriber's office or directly from AstraZeneca.

Rosuvastatin Dosing, Safety, and Monitoring

Rosuvastatin is prescribed at 5 mg to 40 mg once daily. The 2018 AHA/ACC guidelines recommend high-intensity statin therapy (rosuvastatin 20 to 40 mg) for patients with clinical ASCVD, LDL-C of 190 mg/dL or higher, or diabetes with multiple risk factors (Grundy et al., 2019). Moderate-intensity therapy (rosuvastatin 5 to 10 mg) applies to primary prevention patients with a 10-year ASCVD risk between 7.5% and 20%.

The most commonly reported adverse effects are myalgia (muscle aches), headache, and gastrointestinal discomfort. Rhabdomyolysis is rare but serious. A 2010 meta-analysis of 170,000 participants across 26 randomized trials found that statin therapy was associated with a myopathy incidence of approximately 1 per 10,000 person-years (Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' Collaboration, Lancet 2010). The FDA label for rosuvastatin includes a recommendation to check creatine kinase in patients reporting unexplained muscle pain.

Liver enzyme monitoring (ALT) is recommended at baseline. The 2018 AHA/ACC guidelines no longer recommend routine serial liver function testing unless clinically indicated. Rosuvastatin is pregnancy category X and must be discontinued before conception.

For patients of Asian descent, the FDA prescribing information recommends a starting dose of 5 mg due to increased systemic exposure observed in pharmacokinetic studies. This is a labeled recommendation, not optional guidance.

How Rosuvastatin Compares to Other Statins on Cost in Minnesota

Atorvastatin (generic Lipitor) is the other high-intensity statin. Its Minnesota cash-pay price is comparable to rosuvastatin: $8 to $18 per month for a 30-day generic supply. Both drugs are classified as high-intensity at their upper dose ranges, and the 2018 AHA/ACC guidelines do not preferentially recommend one over the other for most patients.

The STELLAR trial compared rosuvastatin across dose ranges with atorvastatin, simvastatin, and pravastatin. Rosuvastatin 10 mg reduced LDL-C by 46%, compared with 37% for atorvastatin 10 mg (Jones et al., Am J Cardiol 2003). At maximum doses, rosuvastatin 40 mg achieved a 55% LDL reduction versus atorvastatin 80 mg at 51%. The clinical significance of this difference depends on the patient's LDL goal and baseline level.

"For most patients, either rosuvastatin or atorvastatin at guideline-recommended intensity will achieve target LDL reductions," states the 2018 AHA/ACC Cholesterol Guideline. "The choice between them should consider patient-specific factors including drug interactions, tolerability, and cost."

The American College of Cardiology's 2019 Expert Consensus Decision Pathway for non-statin therapies notes that "maximally tolerated statin therapy remains the foundation of LDL-lowering treatment" and that switching between high-intensity statins is a reasonable step before adding ezetimibe or a PCSK9 inhibitor (Lloyd-Jones et al., 2019).

Minnesota-Specific Pharmacy and Regulatory Considerations

Minnesota's Board of Pharmacy licenses all retail, mail-order, and compounding pharmacies operating in the state. For patients using out-of-state mail-order pharmacies (Amazon Pharmacy, Cost Plus Drugs, Alto Pharmacy), the dispensing pharmacy must hold a Minnesota non-resident pharmacy license. This is a licensure requirement, not something the patient needs to verify. It simply means that legitimate mail-order pharmacies will already be compliant.

Minnesota does not impose any state-level restrictions on statin prescribing beyond federal requirements. No state-mandated step therapy laws apply to rosuvastatin specifically, though individual insurers may implement their own step therapy protocols as described above. The Minnesota legislature passed a step therapy reform law in 2018 that requires insurers to grant exceptions to step therapy within 72 hours when the prescriber documents clinical justification.

For patients filling prescriptions at pharmacies near the Minnesota-Wisconsin or Minnesota-North Dakota borders, pricing may differ. Cross-border filling is legal as long as the dispensing pharmacy is licensed in its own state and the prescription is valid. Some patients in border communities report modest savings by comparing prices across state lines, particularly for brand medications.

Rosuvastatin 20 mg daily, started based on a calculated 10-year ASCVD risk of 7.5% or higher and a fasting LDL above 70 mg/dL, costs a Minnesota patient with generic-tier insurance coverage between $0 and $10 per month and reduces major cardiovascular events by roughly 25% to 44% depending on baseline risk profile.