6 Ways to Save on NovoLog: Savings Cards, Patient Assistance, and More

NovoLog (insulin aspart) is a fast-acting injectable insulin that can be prescribed for people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. But the cost of the medication can vary widely depending on where you get it, how your insurance is structured, and the type of NovoLog product you’ve been prescribed. So it can be difficult to know what to expect and what your options are to reduce costs safely.

NovoLog will become more affordable starting January 1, 2024, when its manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, will cut the price of prefilled insulin pens by up to 75%. After the price reductions, NovoLog and NovoLog Mix 70/30 will cost $72.34 per vial and $139.71 per FlexPen.

Below, we break down six ways to save money on NovoLog.

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What is NovoLog?

NovoLog-branded insulin comes in several forms, specifically cartons (which can be either cartridges or FlexPens) and vials. The costs vary depending on how you take your insulin, among other factors. 

Other factors that can change how much you’ll pay for insulin include:

• Your insurance status

• If you have insurance, what your plan covers

• Where you live

• Whether or not you’re on a sliding scale dosage or need more insulin than what is considered typical

NovoLog sliding scale

“Sliding scale insulin” is a term that refers to an insulin dose that changes based on your blood glucose (sugar) levels. With a sliding scale dose, your healthcare provider gives you certain glucose ranges. Depending on your glucose level at each reading, you’ll inject a specific number of units for that dose.

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Sliding scale insulin isn’t recommended for most people outside of a hospital setting. But if you’ve been prescribed sliding scale NovoLog, it’s important to know how it can affect your insulin costs.

Sliding scale NovoLog means that your dosage may change from day to day, depending on your glucose levels at the time. This means that sometimes you may inject more units than others. If you have a period of time where you’re injecting more NovoLog than what’s typical, you’ll run out of medication sooner than usual. And this means you’d have to refill your NovoLog prescription sooner.

But on the flip side, if you have times where you’re injecting less NovoLog, it’ll take longer to use up your vial, pen, or cartridge. And this would mean you wouldn’t need a refill at the pharmacy as soon.

6 ways to save on NovoLog

From knowing when the law is on your side with state copay caps to finding discounts at retail pharmacies, here are six ways to save money on NovoLog.

1) Use NovoLog savings cards and GoodRx coupons

Yes, there are NovoLog savings cards. If you have a private or commercial health insurance plan, you can:

• Use this savings offer to pay as little as $35 per 30-day supply on vials or pay no more than $99 per 35 mL (3 vials or 11 pens or cartridges) for up to 2 years.

• Use this NovoPen Echo savings card to pay as little as a $0 copay for the NovoPen Echo delivery pen (a reusable injector pen that’s compatible with NovoLog cartridges). This card only provides savings for the injection device — not the NovoLog cartridges you put inside of it.

Whether you have insurance or not, GoodRx can help you find the lowest price on NovoLog either through a coupon or telling you what pharmacy offers the best savings.

2) Try using unbranded insulin aspart

Novo Nordisk also makes an unbranded version of NovoLog, called insulin aspart. This is the same insulin that’s used to make brand-name NovoLog — just without the brand name on the package. Unbranded insulin is typically more affordable than branded insulin, especially if you don’t have insurance.

Keep in mind that your healthcare provider will have to write a prescription for insulin aspart. Pharmacists can’t substitute the unbranded version on their own if your provider writes “NovoLog” on the prescription. Your pharmacist can often help with this process so you get the most affordable insulin. So be sure to loop them into the conversation if you’re looking for ways to save.

Price comparison: Unbranded insulin aspart vs. NovoLog

3) Use your insurance or talk to your healthcare provider

If your insurance covers NovoLog, you should use your prescription plan to help you afford this insulin. Many private health insurance plans and most Medicare Part D plans cover NovoLog.

If your insurance doesn’t cover it, talk to your healthcare provider about your options. Another version of insulin — such as another brand or form (like a vial, cartridge, or pen) — may be a better option for you. But if you believe NovoLog is your best option, your healthcare provider may help you write a letter to your insurance company advocating for either step therapy or coverage right away without trying alternatives.

4) Use a private-label program

Sometimes, private companies will offer insulin savings options. Walmart, for example, launched a private-label analog insulin called ReliOn NovoLog in 2021 that’s also available at its warehouse sister store, Sam’s Club. The injectable medication is made by Novo Nordisk.

ReliOn NovoLog is the same as NovoLog, but it’s available at a lower price: It costs $25 per vial.

Novo Nordisk has also partnered with CVS to provide affordable insulin called Novolin through the Reduced Rx program. This program is open to all, but is meant to help people who don’t have health insurance or are enrolled in a high-deductible health plan.

The program is easy to access. You only have to provide your email address to sign up, and then you can print and present your Reduced Rx card when filling your prescription at a participating pharmacy — including CVS pharmacies inside Target stores — to save. You can also call 1-844-379-1668 for more information about Reduced Rx.

5) Know the rules about copay caps

Several states have passed copay cap laws to help combat the high cost of insulin. States with collective caps limit copays on all insulins taken during a specific time period because some people take more than one. The state caps, according to an American Diabetes Association tracker, are listed below.

Medicare Part D plans have an out-of-pocket maximum of $35 for a month’s supply of insulin and for each covered insulin product, such as supplies. (Your cost may be higher or lower if you are enrolled in Extra Help).

6) Try the NovoLog patient assistance program

Novo Nordisk offers a patient assistance program called NovoCare, which provides no-cost prescriptions to certain individuals. To qualify, you’ll need to:

• Be a U.S. citizen

• Have a total household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level

• Have Medicare or no insurance

• Not qualify for other government programs, such as Medicaid or Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits

If your application is approved, you are enrolled for 12 months if you’re uninsured and for a calendar year if you’re a Medicare enrollee.

Finally, people who have no prescription medication insurance coverage can enroll in the MyInsulinRx program and pay $35 for a monthly supply of any combination of Novo Nordisk insulin products, up to 3 vials or 2 packs of pens (up to 35 mL).

Can you get NovoLog for free?

Qualifying patients may be able to get NovoLog for free through the patient assistance program mentioned earlier. The NovoPen Echo Savings Card is similar to the copay card, and it may let you pay as little as $0 for each injection pen if you have commercial insurance. But keep in mind that this savings card is just for the device that holds NovoLog cartridges. It’s not a copay card for the insulin that goes inside the injector pen.

In addition, there are also immediate supply programs that offer one-time, short-term supplies of insulin for people at risk of health complications if they don’t have their medication. For NovoLog, you can contact NovoCare.

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Written by:

Devon Delfino

Devon Delfino is a freelance writer who holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Boston University. She specializes in personal finance, a topic she’s covered for 5 years.

Written by:

Diane Li

Diane Li is an analyst and writer on the Research Team at GoodRx. In her day-to-day work, she is responsible for using data to disentangle healthcare trends for data stories and reporting.

Reviewed by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

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