5 Ways to Save on Insulin — With or Without Insurance
Key takeaways:
Insulin is a commonly prescribed medication that helps people with diabetes control their blood sugar.
It’s a good idea to review your health insurance plan to find out if your preferred insulin medication is covered.
Whether or not you have insurance, you can save money on insulin through coupons, patient assistance programs, and copay savings programs.
If you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, your doctor may recommend you take insulin to help control your blood sugar levels. More than 8 million people take insulin in the U.S., but nearly 17% report not taking full doses due to the high costs of their medication.
From 2002 to 2013, the average price of insulin nearly tripled, and it continued to increase between 2014 and 2019. In response to the rising cost of these medications, the three largest insulin manufacturers — Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi — are lowering the prices of their products. And the federal government has also passed legislation to make insulin more accessible to Medicare enrollees by capping the price.
Whether or not you have insurance, there are ways to save money on insulin, so that you can access your medication and avoid putting your health at risk.
Ways to save on insulin
Below, we discuss five ways you can save on insulin, whether you have insurance or not.
1. Review your health insurance plan
Before your healthcare provider writes you a prescription for insulin, it’s a good idea to review your health insurance plan to get a better idea of the following:
Cost and coverage: Check out your summary of benefits and coverage to learn more about your potential insulin costs.
Your plan’s formulary: Reviewing this list of medications that are covered by your health plan will give you a sense of which insulins are covered.
Out of pocket costs: Determine if you need to pay a deductible, copay, or any other amounts for the services and medications you need.
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When discussing what insulin to take with your healthcare provider, try to choose one that’s preferred. You can take these steps to make sure an insulin is preferred:
First, call your insurance company to find out what their preferred insulin products are. “What’s my preferred insulin?” is the first question you should ask.
Then, find your preferred pharmacy. Is it retail or, maybe, mail order? Along with what insulin is preferred, you’ll want to ask your insurer, “What’s my preferred pharmacy?”
If you’re already taking insulin, but not one that’s preferred, you can ask your healthcare provider to complete a prior authorization. This letter states that you must continue taking your current insulin due to reasons like fluctuating blood sugar or intolerance to other agents. Just keep in mind that it may take 2 weeks or longer to get the prior authorization approved.
If your insurance company denies a prior authorization and you believe it was done so incorrectly or unfairly, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) ensures your right to submit an appeal. You can strengthen your appeal by asking your provider for any additional documentation that could help prove your current medication is medically necessary.
2. Research manufacturer savings cards
If you need help paying for your medication, you might qualify for an insulin savings card from one of the top insulin makers.
Eli Lilly savings cards
Eli Lilly offers savings cards for the following insulin products:
These cards can reduce copays for the medications to as little as $25 for a 30-day supply. But keep in mind that your doctor may still need to submit a prior authorization if the insulin you need is not preferred.
Novo Nordisk savings card
The Novo Nordisk savings card allows patients with insurance to save on multiple insulins, including:
This card allows people taking insulin the opportunity to pay between $25 to $35 for a 30-day supply of these medications for up to 2 years. Some offers may also include a free box of Novo Nordisk needles.
Sanofi Aventis savings cards
Savings cards from Sanofi Aventis can reduce copays to as little as $0 for the manufacturer's insulin products, in some cases. But the savings vary depending on the individual insulin product. You can visit the Sanofi Aventis website to find savings cards for the following medications:
Apidra (insulin glulisine)
Admelog (insulin lispro)
Lantus (insulin glargine)
Soliqua 100/33 (insulin glargine/lixisenatide)
Toujeo (insulin glargine)
It’s important to note that, as of January 1, 2023, the price for insulin is capped at $35 a month for people who have Medicare Part D, due to the Inflation Reduction Act.
3. Search for patient assistance programs
The major insulin manufacturers in the U.S. offer savings to people who have diabetes through patient assistance programs and copay savings programs. These programs may be able to help you get your insulin for free. However, they are meant for people who meet certain eligibility requirements, such as being:
Uninsured (primarily)
Enrolled in Medicare Part D
A U.S. resident
Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi Aventis offer the following patient assistance programs:
All three programs offer free insulin for up to 12 consecutive months to uninsured enrollees. People who have Medicare Part D are usually eligible for benefits for the full 12 months or until the end of the calendar year. And participants can typically reapply anywhere from 30 to 60 days before their enrollment period ends.
4. Look for coupons and discounts
Fortunately, you don't have to rely solely on insurance to save money on insulin. If your insurance copay is too much or you don't have insurance, GoodRx coupons can help. With a GoodRx coupon, you may be able to save up to 91% off the average price of generic Humalog at some pharmacies, for example.
You can go to goodrx.com or use the GoodRx app to search for coupons. Type in the name of your medication, then set your location. This will pull up coupons you can use at local pharmacies. Even if you have insurance, it's always a good idea to compare prices.
5. Search for resources for people without insurance
Affording insulin can be challenging, especially if you do not have insurance. However, there are many community health clinics and other organizations that provide low-cost or even free healthcare services to eligible people. This can sometimes include prescription medications like insulin.
Some providers’ offices also have access to limited, free insulin samples. Eli Lilly, for example, donates insulin products to nearly 350 clinics nationwide
Here are a few other options:
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): This U.S. government agency has a search tool on their website to help you find federally funded health centers in your area. These centers are required to provide healthcare services to all people, regardless of their ability to pay.
National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC): This organization provides a directory of free and low-cost clinics across the U.S.
NeedyMeds: On the NeedyMeds website, you can find programs that may help you pay for your medications and other healthcare services.
Local Department of Health: Your state or county's Department of Health might have a list of clinics in your area that provide free or low-cost services.
211.org: This website provides information about various kinds of financial assistance programs, including those that help with healthcare costs, in communities all over the U.S.
The bottom line
You can save money on insulin whether or not you have insurance coverage. If you have health insurance, review your plan details to see if your insulin medication is covered. Your provider can submit a prior authorization request if the insulin you need isn't covered.
If you are uninsured, you may be able to get your insulin at a more affordable price or even for free with the help of a savings card or community health center. Insulin manufacturers also offer patient assistance programs that could help you save money. Or your provider’s office might even have free samples of insulin that you can get access to.
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References
Alltucker, K. (2022). More than 1.3M Americans ration life-saving insulin due to cost. That's 'very worrisome' to doctors. USA Today.
American Diabetes Association. (2022). American Diabetes Association announces support for INSULIN Act at Senate press conference.
Eli Lilly and Company. (2023). Lilly cuts insulin prices by 70% and caps patient insulin out-of-pocket costs at $35 per month.
Herman, W. H., et al. (2021). 100 years of insulin: Why is insulin so expensive and what can be done to control its cost? Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America.
John Kennedy: U.S. Senator for Louisiana. (2023). Kennedy, Warnock introduce bipartisan bill to cap insulin prices, lower cost of diabetic care.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diabetes. (2019). Financial help for diabetes care.
