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Key takeaways
Lantus Solostar is the brand name of the prefilled pen containing Lantus (insulin glargine), a long-acting basal insulin, which is prescribed to control blood sugar levels in patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
Without insurance or other prescription assistance programs, Lantus Solostar can cost an average of $104 per 3 mL of 100 units/mL pen. This is often a 30-day supply, but the dosage can vary.
Some commercial insurance and Medicare plans cover Lantus Solostar, but coverage and copays vary by plan.
There are cost-saving alternatives to Lantus Solostar, including biosimilar options, plus several ways to save without insurance—including SingleCare coupons and patient assistance programs.
Lantus Solostar (insulin glargine) is a brand-name long-acting insulin pen prescribed to manage blood glucose in adults and children with Type 1 diabetes and adults with Type 2 diabetes. The drug is called Lantus, which contains insulin glargine, while Lantus Solostar is the name of its prefilled, disposable pens, which patients use once daily. Lantus is only available by prescription, and it’s not often exceptionally expensive, although there are a couple of biosimilar alternatives that might be slightly cheaper. Plus, there are other ways to help make Lantus Solostar more affordable.
What is the generic version of Lantus Solostar?
Biologic drugs, like Lantus, don’t have generic versions, but they may have biosimilars. What’s the difference? Generics and biosimilars are both effective (and often more affordable) medication options than their brand-name counterparts, but they’re made in different ways. Drug manufacturers create generics from chemicals, and they’re identical copies of their original (reference) drugs. Biosimilars, however, are made from living cells, like bacteria or animal cells. They may have slight variations between batches. These variations, however, don’t make the medications any less effective or safe.
“Basaglar and Semglee are two biosimilars to Lantus that can offer more cost-effective options for patients,” says Sazan Sylejmani, Pharm.D., owner and pharmacist at Westmont Pharmacy. “These alternatives are typically priced lower than Lantus Solostar, making them accessible for those with financial constraints.” Rezvoglar is another long-acting insulin biosimilar to Lantus. It’s important to note that the Food and Drug Administration considers Semglee an interchangeable biosimilar for Lantus, while Basaglar and Rezvoglar are not. Interchangeable drugs can be substituted for the original product at a pharmacy without a healthcare provider’s prescription. So, if your healthcare provider prescribes you Lantus, you may receive SemGlee instead.
Is Lantus Solostar covered by insurance?
Per Dr. Sylejmani, “Private insurance plans might cover Lantus Solostar, but it’s crucial to verify this with individual policies. Medicare Part D generally covers insulin, but double-check formularies since coverage can vary based on specific plans and state regulations.”
In fact, insulin products covered under Medicare Part D or Part B are capped at a price of $35 per month, so you shouldn’t pay more than that if your Medicare plan covers Lantus Solostar.
Every insurance plan is different. Some may cover the entire cost of your treatment, while others may only cover a specific percentage. Consult your plan’s formulary (a list of covered drugs) to see its copay costs, coinsurance, and deductibles to better understand how much you might pay.
How much does Lantus Solostar cost without insurance?
Not everyone has an insurance or Medicare plan that covers Lantus Solostar. The average price without insurance or coupons is $104 for one 3 mL of 100 units/mL pen. At a dosage of ten units per day, that’s about a month’s worth of medication. But at the maximum dosage of 80 units per day, it’s closer to $832 per month. So, it might range from $1,248 to close to $9,984 per year for people playing completely out of pocket.
Of course, those prices aren’t set in stone. They fluctuate on a regular basis, and they may depend on your dosage, your pharmacy, and even your location.
“Aside from insurance, factors influencing the cost of Lantus Solostar include manufacturing expenses, distribution costs, and market exclusivity,” Dr. Sylejmani says. “Additionally, pharmacy location and pricing strategies can also impact the final price paid by the consumer.”
Biosimilars aren’t always cheaper, either. For example, Semglee’s average cost without insurance is $111 for one 3 mL of 100 units/mL pen. Rezvoglar, however, might cost less—its average out-of-pocket cost is $30 for the same amount.
Compare Lantus Solostar prices to related drugs |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Price without insurance of brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Lantus Solostar (insulin glargine) | $104 per 1, 3 mL of 100 unit/mL solution pen injector | $20 for 1, 3 mL of 100 units/mL brand-name Lantus Solostar pen | See updated prices |
| Semglee (insulin glargine) | $110 per 1, 3 mL of 100 unit/mL pen | $19 for 1, 3 mL of 100 units/mL pen of generic Semglee | See updated prices |
| Levemir (insulin detemir) | $355 per 1, 10 mL of 100 unit/mL solution | $107 per 1, 10 mL of 100 unit/mL solution of brand-name Levemir | See updated prices |
| Tresiba (Insulin degludec) | $457 per 1, 10 mL of 100 unit/mL solution | $118 per 1, 10 mL of 100 unit/mL solution of brand-name Tresiba | See updated prices |
| Basaglar KwikPen (insulin glargine) | $94 per 1, 3 mL of 100 unit/ml pen | $52.13 for 1, 3 mL of 100 unit/mL brand-name Basaglar KwikPen | See updated prices |
| Toujeo Solostar (insulin glargine) | $202 per 3, 1.5 mL of 300 unit/mL solution pen injector | $58 per 1.5 mL of 300 unit/mL solution pen injector
of brand-name Toujeo Solostar |
See updated 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 updated drug prices.
How to get Lantus Solostar without insurance
Brand-name medications, especially biologics like Lantus Solostar pens, can be expensive and strain your budget if you don’t have insurance coverage. But there are still ways to save, even without insurance. Here are some of the most common options.
1. Get free Lantus Solostar coupons
SingleCare offers immediate savings on over 10,000 medications (including Lantus Solostar) at over 35,000 pharmacies nationwide. After getting a discount card for free, you can access SingleCare coupons to get Lantus Solostar for as little as $20 per 3 mL of 100 unit/mL pen. You can use SingleCare even if you have insurance or Medicare, but you can’t use the coupons on top of your coverage.
2. Get a savings card from the manufacturer
Lantus’s manufacturer, Sanofi, offers a copay card that reduces the cost of Lantus to $35 per 30-day supply. This card is available to uninsured patients as well as those who have commercial health insurance. Individuals who have healthcare benefits through a government program like Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, DOD, or VA are not eligible. You can enroll directly through the Sanofi website by providing some basic information. Your healthcare provider may also be able to help you enroll.
3. Consider biosimilars and other alternatives
As we mentioned above, there are a few other insulin options, including a couple of biosimilars. These alternatives might not always be less expensive than Lantus Solostar, but it’s worth checking. For people with prescription drug coverage, some plans may cover one medication more comprehensively than another.
RELATED: Lantus Solostar alternatives
4. Apply for other patient assistance programs
Sanofi’s savings card is only one of several assistance programs available to eligible patients. The manufacturer also offers a patient assistance program called Sanofi Patient Connection for people without health insurance.
Additionally, some states have their own pharmaceutical assistance programs—you can check the enrollment and eligibility requirements on the Medicare website, or by contacting your state’s health department. The Children’s Health Insurance Program is another valuable resource that helps provide coverage for families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid.
5. Compare prices
Every pharmacy sets its own rates, so if the prices at your usual pharmacy seem high, you might be able to find lower prices by checking with others nearby. A quick call to a few different pharmacies could lead to big savings over time. In fact, a study by the U.S. Public Interest Research Groups found people could save up to $5,400 per year by shopping around for better drug prices.
Sources
- Biosimilars info sheet, Food and Drug Administration
- Biosimilar and interchangeable biologics: More treatment choices, Food and Drug Administration (2023)
- Rezvoglar becomes second interchangeable insulin biosimilar, American Journal of Managed Care (2022)
- Insulin, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
- Savings and support options, Sanofi
- Sanofi Patient Connection, Sanofi
- Find out if your state has a state pharmaceutical assistance program, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
- Medicaid & CHIP, HealthCare.gov
- The real price of medications, U.S. Public Interest Research Groups (2019)