How much is Basaglar Kwikpen without insurance?

In this article:

• Is there a generic for Basaglar Kwikpen?
• Basaglar Kwikpen vs. Lantus Solostar
• Is Basaglar Kwikpen covered by insurance?
• Basaglar Kwikpen price without insurance
• Compare Basaglar Kwikpen prices to related drugs
• How to get Basaglar Kwikpen without insurance

In this article

• Is there a generic for Basaglar Kwikpen?
• Basaglar Kwikpen vs. Lantus Solostar
• Is Basaglar Kwikpen covered by insurance?
• Basaglar Kwikpen price without insurance
• Compare Basaglar Kwikpen prices to related drugs
• How to get Basaglar Kwikpen without insurance

Basaglar Kwikpen is a prefilled pen of long-acting insulin (insulin glargine) used to treat Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes by managing blood sugar levels. When paying completely out-of-pocket, Basaglar Kwikpen costs around $94 per 3 mL pen. Even though there are no over-the-counter alternatives, there are still a few ways to save money on Basaglar Kwikpen prescriptions.

Is there a generic for Basaglar Kwikpen?

No. While drugs made with synthetic chemicals have generic versions, biologic drugs like Basaglar Kwikpen have what’s called biosimilars. Basaglar Kwikpen doesn’t have a biosimilar, but it is very similar to another insulin glargine drug called Lantus Solostar. 

Basaglar Kwikpen vs. Lantus Solostar

Basaglar Kwikpen and Lantus Solostar both have the same active ingredient, insulin glargine. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) didn’t officially approve Basaglar as a biosimilar, but rather a “follow-on” insulin—essentially one company’s copy of another company’s product. Lantus has two FDA-approved biosimilars: Semglee and Rezvoglar. 

Regardless, Basaglar Kwikpen and Lantus have the same chemical structure and manage high blood sugar the same way. Studies from 2018 and 2022 have shown similar efficacy and safety in treating patients with Type 2 diabetes.

Is Basaglar Kwikpen covered by insurance?

Basaglar Kwikpen is often covered by insurance, but it depends on the specific plan. Eli Lilly and Company, the manufacturer of Basaglar Kwikpen, says that 97% of people who have private insurance pay $0–$95 per month, while 86% of Medicare Part D beneficiaries pay the same amount. 

Lilly also says most people with Medicaid pay $4–$9 per month for Basaglar Kwikpen. “Medicaid coverage can vary by state, but factors often include the patient’s medical necessity, formulary inclusion, and the presence of any preferred drug lists,” says Mark Anton, MD, FACS, medical director at Slimz Weight Loss. “Additionally, state-specific policies and budget constraints can also play a role.”

The exact out-of-pocket cost you’ll pay depends on your plan’s deductible, copays, coinsurance, and other policies. Review the plan’s formulary, or contact your insurance provider, to get a better idea of what you might pay.

Sometimes, the patient or healthcare provider might need to go through a few extra steps to prove that Basaglar Kwikpen is medically necessary—a process called prior authorization. According to Dr. Anton, “Prior authorization for Basaglar Kwikpen may require detailed documentation of the patient’s medical history, a demonstration of the necessity for insulin therapy, and sometimes proof of failure or intolerance to other treatments.”

Basaglar Kwikpen price without insurance

If your health insurance won’t cover Basaglar Kwikpen or you don’t have insurance, you may have to pay the average retail price of $94 per 3 mL pen. How long this pen lasts will depend on your dosage. Each pen contains 300 units, and the maximum starting dosage is 10 units per day. If you take the maximum, one pen will last 30 days, but if your healthcare provider recommends taking less, it may last longer. If you take 10 units per day, that price will cost you around $3 per day, for a total of around $1,125 per year.

Not everyone pays that price, though. Not only can your insurance plan’s policies affect out-of-pocket costs, but so can the specific pharmacy and location. Each pharmacy or pharmacy chain sets its own prices, and studies have shown that drug prices can fluctuate significantly between ZIP codes.

Basaglar Kwikpen isn’t the only insulin medication available. There are alternatives that may be more affordable or more widely covered by insurance.  

Compare Basaglar Kwikpen prices to related drugs
Drug name	Price without insurance of brand-name drug	SingleCare price	Savings options
Basaglar Kwikpen (insulin glargine)	$93.75 per 1, 3 mL of 100unit/mL pen	$52.13 for 1, 3 mL of 100unit/mL pen of brand-name Basaglar KwikPen	See latest prices
Semglee (insulin glargine-yfgn)	$110.71 per 1, 3 mL of 100 unit/mL pen	$19 for 1, 3 mL of 100 unit/mL pen of generic Semglee	See latest prices
Rezvoglar Kwikpen (insulin glargine-aglr)	$30 per 1, 3 mL of 100 unit/mL pen	$19 for 1, 3 mL of 100 unit/mL pen of generic Rezvoglar KwikPen	See latest prices
Lantus Solostar (insulin glargine)	$104 for 1, 3 mL of 100 unit mL pen	$20 for 1, 3 mL of 100 units/mL brand-name Lantus Solostar Pen	See latest prices
Toujeo SoloStar (insulin glargine)	$201 for 1, 1.5 mL of 300 unit/mL pen	$170 for 3, 1.5 mL of 300 unit/mL pen of brand-name Toujeo SoloStar	See latest prices
Levemir (insulin detemir)	$354.31 for 1, 10 mL of 100unit/mL vial	$107.48 for 1, 10 mL vial	See latest prices
Tresiba Flextouch (insulin degludec)	$148 for 1, 3 mL of 100 unit/mL pen	$37 for 1, 3 mL of 100 unit/mL pen of brand-name Tresiba Flextouch	See latest prices

Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing. The listed price without insurance references the price of brand-name drugs (unless otherwise specified). The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs if available. Click the link under “Savings options” to see the latest drug prices.

How to get Basaglar Kwikpen without insurance

Most people don’t pay full price for insulin, including Basaglar Kwikpen. Here are some of the most affordable ways to get Basaglar Kwikpen without insurance.

1. Use free Basaglar Kwikpen coupons

SingleCare negotiates discounts on over 10,000 different medications with pharmacies across the country. With a Basaglar Kwikpen coupon from SingleCare, you could pay $52 instead of $94 per pen, depending on your pharmacy and location. To use SingleCare, you can either show your pharmacist your SingleCare prescription discount card or search for the drug’s coupon page on the SingleCare website or iPhone or Android app and present the coupon to your pharmacist.

2. Consider manufacturer or government assistance

“One of the key strategies I’ve successfully implemented involves leveraging patient assistance programs and manufacturer discounts,” Dr. Anton says. “These programs can be a huge help in reducing medication costs, much like how similar approaches can lower expenses for Basaglar Kwikpen.”

Eli Lilly offers a savings card that can drop the monthly cost of insulin products like Basaglar Kwikpen to $35, whether or not you have insurance coverage. Eligible applicants must:

• Have a valid prescription for Basaglar Kwikpen
• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a resident of the United States or a U.S. territory
• Not be enrolled in any government-funded health program, including Medicare, Medicaid, VA benefits, DoD, and TRICARE

Additionally, Eli Lilly has a program called Lilly Cares, where patients with financial need can get Basaglar Kwikpen or other medications for free. Eligibility, however, requires a household income below certain thresholds, depending on the size of the household.

There are a few different government-funded programs that can help manage the cost of prescription drugs as well. For example, Medicare Extra Help is also open to Part D beneficiaries who need some additional assistance. Some states have patient assistance programs, and third-party organizations, like the Patient Advocate Foundation, can help as well.

3. Consider alternative medications

“While there isn’t a direct generic equivalent yet, other insulin options like Lantus or Toujeo may be considered, depending on the patient’s specific needs and insurance formulary,” Dr. Anton says. “Staying informed about upcoming alternatives can also lead to substantial savings.”

Semglee and Rezvoglar are two other biosimilar medications that are comparable to Basaglar Kwikpen. These might not always be less expensive, but it may be worth checking. Be sure to talk it over with a healthcare professional first, as they can provide medical advice on which alternative might be best for you.