Insulin prices: How much does insulin cost?

In this article:

• How much is insulin without insurance?
• Average cost of insulin per month
• How much is insulin with insurance?
• How to save on insulin
• Insulin cost FAQs

In this article

• How much is insulin without insurance?
• Average cost of insulin per month
• How much is insulin with insurance?
• How to save on insulin
• Insulin cost FAQs

Insulin is a hormone that the body produces to help regulate blood sugar levels. People with Type 1 diabetes can’t produce their own insulin, so they need insulin injections to survive. Many people with Type 2 diabetes also need insulin to stay healthy as the condition progresses. 

Unfortunately, the cost of insulin has long been an issue. From 2017 to 2022, the inflation-adjusted cost of insulin increased by 24%, according to a 2022 report from the American Diabetes Association (ADA). The good news is that recent legislation and market competition have made this prescription drug more affordable for many Americans.

How much is insulin without insurance?

The short answer: Probably $35 or less per month for the insulin itself, plus the cost of diabetes supplies.

As the ADA report highlighted, insulin has not always been so affordable. For years, insulin prices were relentlessly climbing, nearly doubling from 2012–2021, according to the Health Care Cost Institute (HCI). But changes to the Medical Drug Rebate Program, along with public pressure and increasing competition from generics and biosimilar insulins, prompted the three major insulin manufacturers in the United States—Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi—to introduce price cuts for insulin products while also launching financial assistance programs for eligible patients.

Average cost of insulin per month

By the retail price alone, monthly insulin costs can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. However, what each patient pays for insulin can vary depending on insurance coverage, the insulin brand, how much you need, and, in some cases, your current financial situation. No matter the listed number, there are alternatives to paying the full cash price.

Here is how much most uninsured people with diabetes can expect to pay for insulin in 2025, by manufacturer:

• Eli Lilly insulins (Basaglar, Humalog, Insulin Lispro, Lyumjev, and Humulin): U.S. residents without Medicare, Medicaid, or other government funded healthcare program, including those without any insurance, can get Lilly insulins for $35 per month with Lily’s Insulin Value Program.
• Novo Nordisk insulins (Fiasp, Levemir, Novolin, NovoLog, Tresiba, and Xultophy): Some uninsured patients may be able to get Novo Nordisk insulin products free of charge or for $35 per month, depending on eligibility. 
• Sanofi insulins (Admelog, Apidra, Lantus, and Toujeo): Uninsured residents of the U.S. or its territories who meet certain income-based eligibility requirements can receive Sanofi insulins free of charge. 
• Non-branded or biosimilar insulins: The cost of any prescription drug can vary depending on your dosage and eligibility for patient assistance programs. For insulin products other than the ones listed above, it’s a good idea to ask your prescriber or pharmacist about ways to lower your out-of-pocket insulin cost.

In addition to the above costs, insulin users might need additional supplies, such as:

• A blood glucose monitor ($22)
• Test strips ($118 per box of 50 strips) 
• Lancets ($52 for one box of 100 lancets)
• Insulin delivery system (costs vary depending on brand, such as Omnipod, MiniMed, etc.)

Ultimately, the total cost of insulin, insulin delivery, and glucose testing supplies can vary significantly for people with or without insurance. Fortunately, there are savings options available.

Insulin Prices: How much does a month of insulin cost?
Drug Name	Average Price Per Package	Average Price Per Month*
Novolog (insulin aspart pen) Insulin Aspart Flexpen	$130/pen $90/pen	$1,300 $899
Humalog (lispro pen) Insulin Lispro (pen)	$129/pen $71/pen	$1,295 $710
Admelog (vial)	$180/vial	$540
Apidra (vial)	$330/vial	$990
Lyumjev (vial)	$360/vial	$1,080
Fiasp (vial) Fiasp Flextouch (insulin aspart pen)	$400/vial $771/pen	$1,200 $7,709
Xultophy (100 unit-3.6 mg pen)	$314/pen	$3,141
Lantus (insulin glargine vial) Lantus Solostar (pen)	$351/vial $95/pen	$1,053 $950
Basaglar KwikPen (insulin glargine pen)	$95/pen	$950
Humulin N (insulin isophane vial)	$160/vial	$480
Novolin N (insulin isophane vial)	$148/vial	$444
Novolin R (insulin regular vial)	$148/vial	$444
Toujeo Solostar (insulin glargine pen)	$180/pen	$1,800
Tresiba (insulin degludec vial) Tresiba Flextouch (pen)	$459/vial $148/pen	$1377 $1,478

* Based on 3,000 units of insulin via three vials or 10 pens

How much is insulin with insurance?

It is difficult to say how much a vial or pen of insulin costs when paying through your health plan. Each insurance plan covers insulin products differently. Here’s a snapshot of what you can expect to pay for insulin based on your insurance type:

• If you have Medicare Part D or Medicare Part B: The Inflation Reduction Act puts a $35 cap on your out-of-pocket monthly cost for insulin.
• If you have Medicaid: According to the ADA, most Medicaid enrollees receive certain insulin products for free or at a significantly reduced cost. Contact your State Medicaid Agency for information on which insulin products are covered in your state.
• If you have commercial insurance: The out-of-pocket cost of insulin for people with commercial insurance depends greatly on the insurance plan, insulin copays, and whether you have met your yearly deductible. 

“It is when you actually have health insurance coverage that getting the insulin for a decent price becomes a problem,” says Michael Carnathan, MD, a board-certified family physician in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. “In those cases, the patients are sometimes forced to switch to a different and cheaper type of insulin called NPH or 70/30, among a few others. These insulins have been around for a long time and are affordable. The patient needs a primary care doctor or endocrinologist comfortable using these older insulins and adjusting them safely.” Novolin 70/30 is a mixture of intermediate-acting NPH insulin and short-acting regular insulin.

The good news is that some drug companies are taking steps to lower the insulin out-of-pocket costs for people with insurance. 

Some examples:

• Sanofi has a copay savings program that allows eligible commercially insured patients to pay no more than $35 per 30-day supply (up to 10 packs per fill).
• Novo Nordisk also has a copay savings card that can lower the copay to as little as $35 for several insulin products for eligible patients enrolled in commercial insurance plans.
• Eli Lilly has a discount program for patients enrolled in high-deductible commercial insurance plans. The drug company also suggests its non-branded insulin lispro as a lower-priced generic copy of Humalog. 

If you’re confused about how to apply for your insulin manufacturer’s financial assistance or copay savings card, visit the drug company’s website for details and help forms. Your prescriber or pharmacist can also help pinpoint which savings programs or coupons will help lower your insulin prices. 

How to save on insulin

1. Get a SingleCare savings card

SingleCare is a free service that can help you get up to 80% off prescription drugs, including insulin products. Tens of thousands of U.S. pharmacies accept SingleCare coupons. Get your free SingleCare discount card here or download the app to access your insulin coupons.

2. Apply for a patient assistance program

As mentioned above, the three leading insulin manufacturers in the U.S.—Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi—may be able to help you get free or discounted insulin. Each program has different eligibility requirements and may not be available to everyone. 

“If you do not have insurance, the pharmaceutical companies that make insulin products offer patient assistance programs,” Dr. Carnathan explains. “Most of the time, the patient can get the insulin for free or at a very reduced cost.”

3. Check your insurance coverage

If you are insured, the first step to save on insulin is to check your prescription coverage before filling the prescription. All insurance plans have a drug formulary, or list of covered drugs ranked in a tiered system. Higher tiers of drugs typically mean a higher out-of-pocket cost for patients. 

Checking your insurance coverage helps protect you against unexpected bills. Still, it can also help you decide whether switching to a different health insurance plan would be beneficial during the next Open Enrollment Period. 

4. Consider switching diabetes medications

As you can see above, the list price of insulin products varies. If your insurance plan does not cover your current diabetes medication or you don’t have health insurance, ask your healthcare provider about switching to a more affordable insulin product. There are cheaper generic versions of Humalog and Novolog, and some biosimilar insulin products might be cheaper than your current insulin prescription.

Insulin cost FAQs

Does insurance cover insulin?

While insurance does cover insulin, not all insurance plans cover all insulin products. It’s important to check your insurance coverage to determine your out-of-pocket cost for insulin. 

Are there generic versions of insulin?

Yes, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved generic versions of insulin, such as insulin aspart and insulin lispro (priced above). In 2021, the FDA also approved the first biosimilar insulin product, Semglee (insulin glargine-yfgn).

Is it okay for me to skip insulin doses?

No, skipping insulin doses can result in dangerously high blood sugar, putting you at risk for long-term complications such as kidney failure, heart disease, or blindness. If you are considering skipping doses because you can’t afford your insulin, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about more affordable insulin or patient assistance programs.

What is the Affordable Insulin Now Act? 

The Affordable Insulin Now Act was introduced into the Senate in 2022 with the intention to reduce patients’ monthly out-of-pocket insulin costs. The goal was to cap insulin products at $35 or 25% of an insurance plan’s negotiated rate, whichever was lowest, for people with private insurance or Medicare. 

Ultimately, the act only capped insulin costs at $35 per month for Medicare beneficiaries. However, many drug manufacturers have also established a $35 monthly cap on out-of-pocket insulin costs for those with commercial insurance.

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