Immunotherapy (PD-1 inhibitor)
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) cost
Manufacturer: Merck · Route: injection/infusion (Part B) · HCPCS: J9271 · Last updated
Medicare spending — 2023
$76,089
Average total Medicare spending per beneficiary per year
$12,595
Average spending per claim
$55.14
Average Sales Price per mg
Source: CMS Medicare Part B Spending by Drug, data year 2023.
What patients actually pay
The $76,089 figure above is total Medicare spending — the government's payment — not what a patient pays out of pocket. Actual out-of-pocket varies widely:
- Original Medicare + Medigap supplemental policy: typically covers most of the 20% Part B coinsurance, leaving minimal out-of-pocket.
- Medicare Advantage: caps annual out-of-pocket spending ($8,850 in 2024 for in-network care, lower for some plans).
- Commercial insurance: copay or coinsurance varies; specialty drugs often require prior authorization. See "financial assistance" below.
- Uninsured: manufacturer patient assistance programs can provide Keytruda at no cost for income-eligible patients. See below.
The ASP of $55.14 per milligram is the federal Medicare reimbursement rate. Dose depends on your weight and indication — most Keytruda regimens are hundreds to thousands of mg per cycle.
Cancers this drug treats
FDA-approved indications for Keytruda on our site. For each, see the complete treatment landscape plus active clinical trials.
Financial assistance for Keytruda
The manufacturer of Keytruda offers a patient assistance program. Disease-specific foundations also fund copay assistance for the cancers this drug treats.
Merck Access Program for KEYTRUDA
Manufacturer programbenefit investigation · prior authorization assistance · copay assistance (commercially insured) · free product via Merck Patient Assistance Program (uninsured eligible)
https://www.merckaccessprogram-keytruda.com/ · 855-257-3932
Disease foundations with funds covering Keytruda's cancers
HealthWell Foundation
copay, premium, and deductible assistance for insured patients; fund availability varies by disease
https://www.healthwellfoundation.org/disease-funds/
Funds open and close based on availability; check disease-funds page for current status
Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation
copay assistance for 20+ cancer types via disease-specific funds
https://www.panfoundation.org/find-disease-fund/ · 866-316-7263
Merging with Patient Advocate Foundation; unified 'TotalAssist' program launches 2026-07-01
Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief
direct copay / coinsurance assistance via disease-specific funds
https://copays.org/ · 866-512-3861
Merging with PAN Foundation; launching 'TotalAssist' 2026-07-01
CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation
copay assistance for chemotherapy and targeted treatment medications
https://www.cancercare.org/copayfoundation · 866-552-6729
CancerCare Financial Assistance
limited financial assistance for transportation, home care, child care, and treatment-related costs
https://www.cancercare.org/financial · 800-813-4673
Blood Cancer United Co-Pay Assistance (formerly LLS)
copay assistance for blood cancers; fund availability seasonal
https://www.lls.org/support-resources/financial-support/co-pay-assistance-program · 877-557-2672
LLS rebranded to 'Blood Cancer United' in 2025-2026; URLs still resolve under lls.org
Also try these directory aggregators: NeedyMeds, RxAssist, Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (CFAC).
Clinical trials using Keytruda
Trials testing pembrolizumab in new combinations, new cancer types, or earlier lines of therapy. Trials often cover the cost of the drug.
Or search ClinicalTrials.gov directly for pembrolizumab.