Stelara (Ustekinumab) Cost in 2026, and How to Lower It
Stelara (ustekinumab) has historically carried a list price of over $25,000 per maintenance dose, and the one-time IV loading dose is billed higher still at a hospital than at an infusion center for the exact same drug. The two biggest levers are where you get the IV load and switching to a biosimilar, and if you qualify, the maker can provide the drug free.
- Stelara is given as a one-time IV loading dose (J-code J3358), then subcutaneous maintenance every 8 weeks (J3357). Site of care drives the cost of the IV load: a hospital bills more than a physician office or a freestanding infusion center.
- Ustekinumab biosimilars (for example Wezlana and Selarsdi) are now available and cost less. Whether one is right for you is a decision for you and your prescriber.
- If you are uninsured or underinsured, the Johnson & Johnson Patient Assistance Foundation (1-800-652-6227) can provide Stelara free to patients who qualify under an income limit (up to about 500% of the federal poverty level). On Medicare, use a charity copay fund instead.
What Stelara Costs
Stelara starts with a weight-based IV loading dose (billed under J3358), then switches to a fixed 90 mg subcutaneous maintenance dose every 8 weeks (billed under J3357). These are national estimates; your bill depends on site, dose, and plan.
| Where you get it | Typical billed cost |
|---|---|
| IV loading dose, hospital outpatient department | highest |
| IV loading dose, office / infusion center | lower |
| Subcutaneous maintenance dose | $25,000+ per dose |
| Biosimilar (Wezlana, Selarsdi) or free-drug program | less, or as low as $0 (drug) |
Stelara maintenance is given every 8 weeks, so annual cost adds up quickly, which is why the site-of-care, biosimilar, and assistance levers matter so much.
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How to Lower the Cost
Ask to get the IV loading dose at a lower-cost site
The Stelara IV loading dose is billed far more at a hospital than at an in-network doctor’s office or a freestanding infusion center. If your treatment plan allows, ask your prescriber whether the IV load can be done at a lower-cost site. It does not change the medicine.
Ask about a ustekinumab biosimilar
Ustekinumab biosimilars such as Wezlana and Selarsdi are now FDA-approved and cost less than Stelara. Many plans prefer them. Whether to switch is a decision for you and your prescriber, but it is worth raising.
Use the right assistance for your situation
Uninsured or not covered? The Johnson & Johnson Patient Assistance Foundation (1-800-652-6227) may provide Stelara free under an income limit (up to about 500% of the federal poverty level) if you qualify. Commercially insured? A Janssen copay card can cut your coinsurance. On Medicare? Use a charity fund like the PAN or HealthWell Foundation. Our help paying for medication tool and our guide to patient assistance programs point you to the right one.
Check the bill for errors, especially the J-code units
Stelara is billed under J3358 (IV) and J3357 (subcutaneous), and a units or facility-fee error can multiply an already high charge. CareRoute Bill Defense checks the units, drug wastage, facility fees, and network status, and disputes errors, with no fee unless we save you money.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Stelara cost?
Stelara has historically carried a list price of over $25,000 per 90 mg subcutaneous maintenance dose, given every 8 weeks. The one-time IV loading dose is billed separately and costs more at a hospital than at an infusion center. Your exact cost depends on the site, dose, and plan.
Why is the IV loading dose so much more expensive at the hospital?
Hospitals add a facility fee and negotiate higher drug rates, so the identical Stelara IV loading dose is routinely billed far more in a hospital outpatient department than in a physician office or an infusion center. If your treatment plan allows, ask your prescriber whether the IV load can be done at a lower-cost site.
Is a biosimilar as good as Stelara, and is it cheaper?
Ustekinumab biosimilars (for example Wezlana and Selarsdi) are FDA-approved as highly similar to Stelara with no clinically meaningful differences, and they generally cost less. Whether to use one is a decision between you and your prescriber, and many plans prefer them.
Can I get Stelara for free?
If you are uninsured, or insured but your plan will not cover it, and your income is under the program limit (up to about 500% of the federal poverty level), the Johnson & Johnson Patient Assistance Foundation (1-800-652-6227) can provide Stelara at no cost. Commercially insured patients can use a Janssen copay card, and Medicare patients can use independent charity funds.
Will my insurance out-of-pocket maximum cap what I pay?
For in-network, covered care, yes. Once you hit your plan’s out-of-pocket maximum, it covers 100% of remaining in-network covered costs for the year. But an out-of-network site or provider can bill amounts that do not count toward that cap, which is why confirming network status of every party matters.
Related
Sources
- CMS Average Sales Price (ASP) drug pricing files (J3357 and J3358 ustekinumab)
- FDA (ustekinumab biosimilar approvals: Wezlana, Selarsdi)
- Health Care Cost Institute and AHA (hospital facility fees and site-of-care differentials)
- Johnson & Johnson Patient Assistance Foundation (eligibility and free-drug program, 1-800-652-6227, jjpaf.org)
Prices are national estimates for 2026 and vary widely by site, dose, and plan. Any change of drug or infusion site is a decision for you and your prescriber. This page is educational and is not medical or financial advice. Last updated August 2026.