How Much Does Crestor (Rosuvastatin) Cost in Oregon in 2026?

Oregon Retail Pricing: Brand vs. Generic Rosuvastatin

The price gap between brand-name Crestor and generic rosuvastatin in Oregon is enormous. AstraZeneca lists Crestor at roughly $290 per month for a 30-day supply, a figure that has remained relatively stable since the brand lost patent exclusivity. Generic rosuvastatin, by contrast, averages about $15 per month across Oregon retail pharmacies in 2026. That is a 95% cost reduction.

Oregon has over 600 licensed retail pharmacies, from chains like Walgreens and Fred Meyer to independent community pharmacies concentrated in the Portland metro area, the Willamette Valley, and along the coast. Pricing varies by location and pharmacy. Rural pharmacies in eastern Oregon or along the southern border sometimes price generics $2 to $5 higher than Portland-area stores, though the difference is small in absolute terms. Costco pharmacies in Tigard, Salem, and Bend have historically offered some of the lowest generic statin prices in the state 1.

Rosuvastatin 10 mg and 20 mg tablets are the most commonly dispensed strengths. The FDA-approved labeling lists doses from 5 mg to 40 mg daily, with most patients starting at 10 mg or 20 mg depending on baseline LDL-C and cardiovascular risk [1]. Dose does not significantly affect generic price at most Oregon pharmacies. A 90-day supply often brings the per-tablet cost down further.

Oregon Medicaid (Oregon Health Plan) Coverage

Oregon Medicaid, administered through the Oregon Health Plan (OHP), covers rosuvastatin with prior authorization. This means prescribers must submit documentation showing the medication is medically necessary before OHP will pay for the prescription. Generic rosuvastatin is the preferred agent.

The prior authorization requirement exists because the Oregon Health Authority's Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee maintains a preferred drug list (PDL) for statins. Atorvastatin and simvastatin sit on the preferred tier without PA, while rosuvastatin requires the additional step. This does not mean coverage is denied. It means the prescriber needs to document why rosuvastatin is the appropriate choice. Common accepted reasons include intolerance to atorvastatin, failure to reach LDL-C goals on other statins, or specific guideline-driven indications where rosuvastatin's potency is preferred.

The JUPITER trial (N=17,802) demonstrated that rosuvastatin 20 mg reduced major cardiovascular events by 44% in patients with elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein but normal LDL cholesterol 2. That trial's findings form part of the clinical rationale prescribers cite when requesting PA for rosuvastatin in patients whose risk profile aligns with the JUPITER population. Dr. Paul Ridker, the trial's principal investigator, stated: "Rosuvastatin significantly reduced the incidence of major cardiovascular events in an apparently healthy population with elevated inflammatory biomarkers" [2].

For OHP enrollees, once prior authorization is approved, the copay is typically $0 to $3 for generic rosuvastatin. Brand Crestor is almost never approved through OHP unless the patient has a documented allergy or intolerance to all available generic formulations 3.

Private Insurance and Employer Plans in Oregon

Most private insurance plans available through the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace (healthcare.gov) and employer-sponsored plans in Oregon cover generic rosuvastatin on Tier 1. Copays on Tier 1 generics typically range from $0 to $15 per month, depending on the plan.

Brand-name Crestor, when covered, usually sits on Tier 3 (non-preferred brand) with copays ranging from $40 to $75. Some plans require step therapy, meaning the patient must try and document inadequate response to a preferred statin before the plan will cover rosuvastatin. The 2018 AHA/ACC cholesterol guidelines recommend high-intensity statin therapy (rosuvastatin 20 to 40 mg or atorvastatin 40 to 80 mg) for patients with clinical ASCVD, which insurance medical directors generally accept as sufficient clinical justification 4.

Oregon-based health systems like Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Providence Health Plan, and Moda Health each maintain their own formularies. Kaiser Permanente Northwest, which serves approximately 600,000 members in the Portland metro area, covers generic rosuvastatin without prior authorization as of 2026. Providence Health Plan covers it on the preferred generic tier. Moda Health covers generic rosuvastatin with a standard Tier 1 copay.

For patients with high-deductible health plans (HDHPs), the full cash price applies until the deductible is met. In these cases, the $15 average retail price for generic rosuvastatin makes it one of the most affordable chronic medications available, often costing less than the copay on branded alternatives.

Compounded Rosuvastatin in Oregon

Compounded rosuvastatin is legal in Oregon through licensed 503A compounding pharmacies. These pharmacies operate under Oregon Board of Pharmacy oversight and must comply with both state and federal compounding regulations under Section 503A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

A 503A pharmacy can compound rosuvastatin for an individual patient with a valid prescription when there is a documented clinical need. Acceptable reasons include patients who cannot swallow tablets, need a specific dose not commercially available, or require a formulation without certain inactive ingredients due to allergies or sensitivities.

Oregon has approximately 25 to 30 licensed 503A compounding pharmacies, with the largest concentrations in Portland, Eugene, and Bend. Pricing for compounded rosuvastatin varies widely. Some compounding pharmacies price oral suspensions or capsules between $20 and $60 per month, depending on the dose and formulation complexity. A few telehealth platforms that partner with 503A pharmacies advertise compounded rosuvastatin at reduced or bundled pricing as part of broader cardiovascular wellness programs.

The Oregon Board of Pharmacy requires that compounding pharmacies maintain records demonstrating each compounded prescription meets a patient-specific need 5. The FDA's position, outlined in its compounding guidance documents, is that compounding should not be used to create copies of commercially available drugs unless there is a specific patient need that the commercial product cannot meet [5].

Telehealth Prescribing in Oregon

Oregon permits telehealth prescribing of rosuvastatin. The state enacted permanent telehealth parity legislation (Oregon House Bill 3036, effective 2021), which requires insurers to cover telehealth visits at the same rate as in-person visits. This means an Oregon resident can consult a licensed prescriber via video or phone, receive a rosuvastatin prescription, and have it filled at any Oregon pharmacy.

The Oregon Medical Board does not require an initial in-person visit before prescribing statins via telehealth, as long as the prescriber establishes an adequate provider-patient relationship and reviews relevant lab work. Most telehealth platforms require a recent lipid panel (within 3 to 12 months) and documentation of cardiovascular risk factors before prescribing 6.

For rural Oregon communities, particularly in Harney, Malheur, Lake, and Wheeler counties where access to cardiologists and lipid specialists is limited, telehealth has expanded statin access significantly. A 2021 study in JAMA Network Open found that telehealth utilization for chronic disease management increased 38-fold during and after the pandemic period, with cardiovascular risk management being one of the most common use cases 6.

Telehealth visits for statin prescriptions typically cost $30 to $75 without insurance. Combined with the $15 average generic price, an Oregon patient can initiate or continue rosuvastatin therapy for under $100 total out-of-pocket in many cases.

Discount Programs and Savings Cards

Several programs can reduce rosuvastatin costs for Oregon patients who are uninsured, underinsured, or facing high copays.

AstraZeneca Savings Card. AstraZeneca offers a brand Crestor savings card for commercially insured patients. The card can reduce copays to as low as $3 per month. It does not apply to patients on government insurance (Medicaid, Medicare, Tricare, or VA). The card is available through the AstraZeneca website and is accepted at all major Oregon pharmacy chains 7.

GoodRx and Similar Discount Platforms. GoodRx, RxSaver, and SingleCare offer coupons that can bring generic rosuvastatin below $10 per month at certain Oregon pharmacies. Costco and Walmart pharmacies in Oregon frequently offer the lowest GoodRx prices. These coupons cannot be combined with insurance but are useful for uninsured patients or those with high-deductible plans.

Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company. Cost Plus Drugs sells generic rosuvastatin at manufacturer cost plus a 15% markup, a $5 pharmacist fee, and shipping. The total for a 90-day supply of rosuvastatin 20 mg is typically under $10 shipped. This mail-order option is available to Oregon residents 8.

Oregon Prescription Drug Program (OPDP). The state of Oregon operates the Oregon Prescription Drug Program, which provides discounted pricing on prescriptions for uninsured and underinsured Oregon residents. Enrollment is free, and the program negotiates discounts with participating pharmacies statewide.

Patient Assistance Programs. For patients with no insurance and income below 200% of the federal poverty level, AstraZeneca's AZ&Me program may provide brand Crestor at no cost. NeedyMeds and RxAssist maintain directories of available programs.

Clinical Context: Why Rosuvastatin Potency Matters for Cost Decisions

Rosuvastatin is the most potent statin by milligram. A 10 mg dose of rosuvastatin reduces LDL-C by approximately 46%, comparable to 40 mg of atorvastatin or 80 mg of simvastatin 9. This means patients who need aggressive LDL lowering can achieve their targets at lower doses, which may reduce side effect risk.

The STELLAR trial compared rosuvastatin, atorvastatin, simvastatin, and pravastatin across their dose ranges. Rosuvastatin 40 mg achieved the largest mean LDL-C reduction at 55%, compared to 51% for atorvastatin 80 mg 9. The 2018 AHA/ACC guideline classifies rosuvastatin 20 to 40 mg as high-intensity statin therapy, recommended for secondary prevention in patients with established ASCVD [4].

For Oregon patients weighing cost against efficacy, generic rosuvastatin offers an unusual combination. It is both the most potent statin and one of the cheapest generics on the market. A meta-analysis published in The Lancet (Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' Collaboration, N=170,000 across 26 trials) demonstrated that each 1 mmol/L reduction in LDL-C with statin therapy reduces major vascular events by approximately 22% over five years 10.

Dr. Jennifer Robinson, professor of epidemiology and medicine at the University of Iowa, has noted: "The availability of potent generic statins like rosuvastatin removes cost as a barrier to evidence-based cardiovascular prevention for the vast majority of patients" [10].

How Oregon Compares to Neighboring States

Oregon's average generic rosuvastatin price of $15 per month is consistent with pricing in Washington and California, where generic statin competition is similarly strong. Idaho and Nevada tend to run $1 to $3 higher on average for generic rosuvastatin due to fewer competing pharmacy chains in rural areas.

Oregon's Medicaid prior authorization requirement for rosuvastatin is common across state Medicaid programs. Washington's Apple Health program has a similar PA requirement. California's Medi-Cal program covers rosuvastatin on its preferred drug list without PA at some managed care plans, though this varies by county.

The key distinction for Oregon patients is the combination of telehealth parity law, a relatively large network of 503A compounding pharmacies, and the state-operated Oregon Prescription Drug Program, all of which create multiple pathways to affordable rosuvastatin access.

Generic rosuvastatin at $15 per month costs less than many common monthly subscriptions, making it one of the most cost-effective interventions in cardiovascular medicine given the 22% relative risk reduction in major vascular events per 1 mmol/L LDL-C lowering demonstrated across 26 randomized trials 10.