Insulin prices: How much does insulin cost?

In this article:

• What's changed with insulin prices recently?
• Cost of insulin without insurance
• Cost of insulin with insurance
• How to save on insulin
• Insulin cost FAQs

In this article

• What's changed with insulin prices recently?
• Cost of insulin without insurance
• Cost of insulin with insurance
• How to save on insulin
• Insulin cost FAQs

Insulin is a hormone produced by the body 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. The good news is that recent legislation and market competition have made this prescription drug more affordable for many Americans.

What’s changed with insulin prices recently?

Since 2020, the average cost of insulin has dropped dramatically. The changes can be traced to approval of biosimilars and generics, as well as new federal and state-regulated price caps. 

Price caps

Legislation is always changing, but recent changes have helped lower insulin costs for many Americans and U.S. residents:

• State-regulated commercial health insurance price caps: According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), 29 states have capped insulin copays at $25–$100 per month for commercial insurance.
• Federal price caps: The Inflation Reduction Act imposed monthly price caps of $35 for Medicare Part B and Part D. 
• Proposed price caps: The INSULIN Act would cap insulin costs at $35 per month for all Americans with private insurance. Whether the bill will be passed is still unclear.

Manufacturer price changes

After the Inflation Reduction Act, many manufacturers voluntarily lowered insulin prices. But recent approvals of generic and biosimilar insulins have also lowered costs. Not only do generic medications typically cost less than brand-name medications, but lower-cost generics drive competition, incentivizing manufacturers to lower the cost of brand-name insulin products.

The bottom line is that, though many insulin products still have high retail prices, patients’ out-of-pocket costs are going down. That’s good news for those who rely on this life-saving medication.

How much is insulin without insurance?

The short answer: Most people without insurance will pay $35 or less per month for insulin itself, plus the cost of diabetes supplies.

According to the ADA, 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 factors such as:

• Insurance coverage
• Insulin brand and type
• How much insulin you need
• Your current financial situation

No matter the listed number, there are alternatives to paying the full cash price.

Here is how much most people with diabetes can expect to pay for insulin in 2026, by manufacturer:

• Eli Lilly insulins (Basaglar, Humalog, Insulin Lispro, Lyumjev, and Humulin): U.S. residents without insurance can get Lilly insulins for $35 per month through the Lilly Insulin Value Program. 
• Novo Nordisk insulins (Awiqli, Fiasp, Novolin, NovoLog, and Tresiba): 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, Merilog, Soliqua, and Toujeo): Uninsured residents of the U.S. can receive Sanofi insulins for $35 per month through the Insulins Valyou Savings program.
• 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 ($168)
• Test strips ($118 per box of 50 strips) 
• Lancets ($54 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 for people with or without insurance. Fortunately, there are savings options available.

Insulin prices: How much does insulin cost?
Drug name	Average price without insurance	SingleCare price	How to save
Admelog	$176 per 1, 10mL of 100unit/mL vial	$26 per 1, 10mL of 100unit/mL vial at Kroger or Harris Teeter	Get coupon
Apidra	$321 per 1, 10mL of 100unit/mL vial	$85 per 1, 10mL of 100unit/mL vial at Kroger or Harris Teeter	Get coupon
Basaglar KwikPen	$94 per 1, 3mL of 100unit/mL pen	$54 per 1, 3mL of 100unit/mL pen at Kroger or Harris Teeter	Get coupon
Fiasp (vial)	$388 for 1, 10mL of 100unit/mL vial	$64 for 1, 10mL of 100unit/mL vial at Kroger or Harris Teeter	Get coupon
Fiasp Flextouch	$733 per 5, 3mL of 100unit/mL pens	$104 per 5, 3ml of 100unit/ml pens at Kroger or Harris Teeter	Get coupon
Humalog	$116 per 1, 3 mL of 100 unit/mL pen	$33 per 1, 3 mL of 100 unit/mL pen at Kroger or Harris Teeter	Get coupon
Humulin	$146 per 1, 10mL of 100unit/mL vial	$47 per 1, 10mL of 100unit/mL vial at Kroger or Harris Teeter	Get coupon
Novolog	$121 per 1, 3 mL of 100 unit/mL pen	$29 per 1, 3 mL of 100 unit/mL pen at Kroger or Harris Teeter	Get coupon
Lantus (vial)	$290 for 1, 10mL of 100unit/mL vial	$65 for 1, 10mL of 100unit/mL vial at Kroger or Harris Teeter	Get coupon
Lantus Solostar (pen)	$80 for 1, 3mL of 100units/mL Solostar pen	$21 for 1, 3mL of 100units/mL Solostar pen at Kroger or Harris Teeter	Get coupon
Lyumjev	$1,080 for 3, 10mL of 100unit/mL vials	$244 for 3, 10mL of 100unit/mL vials at Kroger or Harris Teeter	Get coupon
Novolin N (insulin isophane vial)	$136 for 1, 10mL of 100unit/mL vial	$45 for 1, 10mL of 100unit/mL vial at Walgreens	Get coupon
Novolin R (insulin regular vial)	$145 for 1, 10mL of 100unit/mL vial	$45 for 1, 10mL of 100unit/mL vial at Walgreens	Get coupon
Toujeo Solostar (insulin glargine pen)	$177 for 1, 1.5mL of 300unit/mL pen	$43 for 1, 1.5mL of 300unit/mL pen at Kroger or Harris Teeter	Get coupon
Tresiba (insulin degludec vial)	$445 for 1, 10mL of 100unit/mL vial	$94 for 1, 10mL of 100unit/mL vial at Kroger or Harris Teeter	Get coupon
Tresiba Flextouch (pen)	$136 for 1, 3mL of 100unit/mL pen	$20 for 1, 3mL of 100unit/mL pen at Kroger or Harris Teeter	Get coupon
Xultophy	$543 for 1, 3mL of 100-3.6unit-mg/mL pen	$238 for 1, 3mL of 100-3.6unit-mg/mL pen at Kroger or Harris Teeter	Get coupon

 

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 Novolog 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 even for people with insurance. 

For example:

• Sanofi has a copay savings program that allows eligible commercially insured patients to pay no more than $35 per 30-day supply.
• Novo Nordisk also has a copay savings card that can lower the copay for several insulin products to as little as $35 for 24 months for eligible commercially insured patients.
• Eli Lilly has a savings card that allows most commercially insured patients to pay not more than $35 for insulin at most major retail pharmacies.

For help applying to 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. Use SingleCare coupons

SingleCare 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 SingleCare app for instant access to insulin coupons.

Get free coupons for insulin & diabetes supplies

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. 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

What is the average cost of insulin in the U.S. per month?

The list prices of insulin products vary from less than $100 to more than $1,000 per month before insurance or other discounts. That said, recent legislative changes mean that many Americans can now get insulin for $35 or less per month, according to the American Diabetes Association. 

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).

What is the Affordable Insulin Now Act? 

The Affordable Insulin Now Act was introduced into the Senate in 2022 with the intention of reducing 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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