How Much Does Biote Cost? Typical Ranges, Insurance and Alternatives
The short answer
Biote pricing is set by each clinic, not by Biote, so there is no single price. Figures commonly quoted for women run several hundred dollars per insertion, often in the $300 to $600 range, and most women need a new pellet every three to six months, so a year with labs and visits often adds up to a few thousand dollars, usually without insurance coverage.
Why is it so hard to find a Biote price?
Biote is a company that trains and certifies clinicians in pellet therapy. It does not run the clinics that treat patients. Each certified practice, whether an OB-GYN office, a family practice or a wellness clinic, sets its own fees, decides what to bundle, and bills in its own way. That is why two clinics in the same city can quote very different numbers.
It also means the number on a clinic’s website is often only the insertion fee. To compare fairly, you need to know every piece you will be charged for over a full year.
What does Biote typically cost per insertion?
Figures commonly quoted for women put a single insertion somewhere in the range of $300 to $600. Prices tend to vary with:
- Location. Clinics in large metro areas often charge more.
- Type of practice. A medical practice, a medspa and a functional medicine clinic may price the same procedure differently.
- What is in the pellet. Some clinics charge more when both estradiol and testosterone are inserted, or for higher doses.
- Bundling. Some fees include the follow-up visit or labs; others don’t.
Treat these numbers as a starting point for your own research, not a quote. The only reliable figure is a written estimate from the clinic you are considering.
How often do you need a new pellet?
What costs are usually extra?
The insertion fee is the biggest line item, but it is rarely the only one. Ask about each of these:
| Cost item | When it comes up | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| New-patient consultation | Before your first insertion | Is it credited toward treatment if I go ahead? |
| Blood tests | Before starting, and often a few weeks after insertion | Are labs included, and can they be billed to my insurance? |
| Pellet insertion | Every three to six months | Does the fee change with the hormones or dose? |
| Follow-up visits | Between insertions | How many are included, and what does an extra visit cost? |
| Other prescriptions | If you have a uterus and are on estrogen | How will my uterine lining be protected, and what does that cost? |
| Supplements | Often offered alongside treatment | Are these medically necessary for me, or optional? |
Put together, commonly quoted totals for a year of pellet therapy run from roughly $1,000 to $2,500 or more, depending on the clinic, the number of insertions and what is billed separately. Our guide to hormone pellet costs in general covers non-Biote clinics too.
Does insurance cover Biote?
Usually not. Pellets used in Biote therapy are compounded, and the FDA notes that compounded drugs are not FDA-approved. Many insurers don’t cover compounded hormones or the insertion procedure.
Some related costs may be partly covered, depending on your plan:
- An office visit to evaluate menopause symptoms.
- Blood tests ordered as part of that evaluation.
- A separate FDA-approved prescription, such as oral micronized progesterone, if it is part of your plan.
Call your insurer with the clinic’s billing codes before your first visit so there are no surprises.
Can you use an HSA or FSA?
Often, yes. Prescribed treatment and lab work are generally eligible medical expenses for health savings and flexible spending accounts. Plans differ, so confirm with your plan administrator before you pay.
Why does Biote cost more than standard hormone therapy?
A few things drive the price:
- An in-office procedure with a clinician’s time, numbing medication and sterile supplies, repeated several times a year.
- A compounded product made for each patient rather than mass-produced.
- Practice overhead, including training and certification, staff and space.
- Little or no insurance coverage, so you see the full price.
Whether that is worth it depends on how much you value not having a daily routine. Some people feel strongly that it is. Others get similar symptom relief from options that cost less. Our roundup of Biote reviews covers what people commonly report about the experience itself.
Biote cost compared with other options
Exact prices vary too much to list, but the cost structure of each option is fairly predictable:
| Option | How you pay | Insurance | Visits needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biote or other pellets | Per insertion, plus labs and visits | Rarely covers pellets or insertion | In person every three to six months |
| Generic FDA-approved estradiol and progesterone | Monthly prescription plus usual office visits | Often covered | Office or telehealth, typically yearly once stable |
| Compounded hormone cream | Monthly or multi-month prescription | Usually not covered | Often telehealth |
| Non-hormone prescriptions | Monthly prescription | Varies by drug and plan | Office or telehealth |
Is Biote worth the cost?
That is a personal call, and it helps to separate what you are paying for. The hormones themselves, estradiol and testosterone, are widely available in other forms. What a pellet adds is convenience: no daily step, and fairly steady levels for months. What it takes away is the ability to change the dose quickly if something feels wrong.
What are lower-cost alternatives to Biote?
The Menopause Society calls hormone therapy the most effective treatment for hot flashes and night sweats, and the delivery method matters less than getting an appropriate dose with the right follow-up. Options include:
- FDA-approved estradiol as a patch, gel, spray or pill, and oral micronized progesterone for women with a uterus. Many are available as generics and are often covered by insurance, which can make them the least expensive route.
- Compounded hormone creams, usually paid out of pocket. Like pellets they are not FDA-approved, but they are used at home without a procedure, and the strength can be changed at the next prescription.
- Non-hormone prescriptions for hot flashes, for people who can’t or don’t want to use hormones.
Expert reviews, including a 2020 National Academies report and a 2022 review in The Cancer Journal, recommend FDA-approved hormone therapy as the first choice for most women, with compounded products reserved for situations such as an allergy to an ingredient or a dose that isn’t commercially available. Ask a clinician which approach fits your history and budget.
Amie HRT+ is one cream-based option: a compounded estradiol and progesterone cream with the strength chosen by a licensed clinician after an online review. It is not FDA-approved, there is no insertion procedure, and a clinician decides whether it is appropriate for you. Current pricing is shown below.
How to avoid surprise costs
- Ask for a written estimate that covers a full year: consultation, labs, every insertion and follow-up visits.
- Avoid prepaying for several insertions before you know how your body responds to the first one.
- Ask whether labs can go through your insurance even if the pellets can’t.
- Ask whether any recommended supplements are optional.
- Ask the clinic directly whether an FDA-approved option would work for you, and why or why not.
Comparing bioidentical options more broadly? Our guide to what bioidentical hormone therapy costs and our comparison of Biote and compounded creams can help, or browse the pellets and Biote hub.
Common questions
How much does Biote cost per year?
It depends on the clinic and how often you need a new pellet. With two to four insertions a year plus labs and visits, commonly quoted totals run from roughly $1,000 to $2,500 or more. Ask the clinic for a written, all-in annual estimate.
Are Biote pellets FDA-approved?
No. The estradiol and testosterone pellets used in Biote’s method are compounded, and compounded drugs are not FDA-approved, so they haven’t been through the FDA’s review of safety, effectiveness and dose consistency. The hormones themselves are used in FDA-approved products such as estradiol patches, gels and pills.
Does insurance cover Biote pellets?
Usually not. Compounded pellets and the insertion fee are typically cash-pay. Some plans may cover related office visits or blood tests, so it is worth asking your insurer.
Can I use an HSA or FSA for Biote?
Often, yes, because prescribed treatment and lab work are generally eligible medical expenses. Rules vary by plan, so confirm with your plan administrator before paying.
Why is Biote more expensive than standard HRT?
You are paying for an in-office procedure, a compounded product and practice overhead, and usually without insurance. Generic FDA-approved estradiol and progesterone are often covered by insurance and cost less per month.
Sources
- FDA. Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers
- The 2022 hormone therapy position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause 2022
- Jacobsen L et al. Subcutaneous estradiol pellets as hormone therapy in menopause. J Clin Med 2025
- Pinkerton JV. Concerns about compounded bioidentical menopausal hormone therapy. Cancer J 2022
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The Clinical Utility of Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy, 2020
Amie prescribes in all 50 states. Find online hrt in your state.