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How much is Levemir without insurance?

Levemir costs $396 without insurance. Learn how to get Levemir at a lower price or find cheaper alternatives.
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By | Sep. 21, 2023 Medically reviewed by Leslie Greenberg, MD
Rx autoinjector pen: Levemir without insurance

Key takeaways

  • Levemir, a long-acting insulin used to control blood sugar in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, costs $396 without insurance, and no generic versions are available until possibly 2035.

  • Health insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid, typically covers Levemir, but it may be placed in higher copay tiers, making it more expensive than other insulin products.

  • Levemir can be purchased at a lower price using a SingleCare prescription discount card, reducing the cost significantly compared to the list price without insurance.

  • Alternatives to Levemir, such as generic versions of other long-acting insulins, are available at lower prices, and shopping around or using discount programs can offer substantial savings.

In this article:

Levemir and Levemir FlexPen are brand-name long-acting insulin products that control blood sugar levels in children and adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Levemir comes in two forms: a vial with a syringe or a pen injector called Levemir FlexPen (Levemir FlexTouch was discontinued in February 2023). Long-acting insulin is most often taken once daily. Rarely do people with diabetes take two daily doses. Levemir contains insulin detemir, a newer synthetic long-acting insulin. Clinical trials show that insulin detemir causes less weight gain than insulin glargine, a more commonly prescribed long-acting insulin. Common Levemir side effects include low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and injection site reactions. Serious side effects include severe hypoglycemia, low potassium (hypokalemia), and allergic reactions. Levemir is not intended for people with diabetic ketoacidosis. 

What is the generic for Levemir?

The active ingredient in Levemir is insulin detemir. No generic versions of Levemir are available now but may be available in 2035.

Is Levemir covered by insurance?

Health insurance, Medicare Part D, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid usually cover Levemir. If they don’t, they will cover one or more long-term insulin products like Lantus. Insurance plans typically place Levemir in their middle or highest copay tiers, so Levemir will usually cost more than other insulin products even with insurance. In addition to the copay cost, the final out-of-pocket cost will be determined by other factors such as deductibles and coverage gaps.

RELATED: Can I use SingleCare if I’m on Medicare?

How much does Levemir cost without insurance?

Because of its ease of use, most people prefer the Levemir pen injector. Each pen holds 3 milliliters (mL) of Levemir at 100 units per mL for 300 units. At an average price of $135 per pen, each unit of Levemir costs less than $1. Patients who buy 10 mL vials of Levemir can pay $400 for Levemir at 100 units per mL, which reduces the cost per unit.

If affordability is an issue, talk to the prescribing healthcare provider about alternative long-acting insulins approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Brand-name insulin glargine (Lantus) is the same price as Levemir at about 40 cents per unit, but generic insulin glargine can be purchased for 18 cents per unit. Generic Tresiba (insulin degludec) is an even better value at 15 cents per unit. 

No matter what type of insulin is used, a SingleCare prescription discount card may be the place to find the lowest price. The lowest SingleCare price for Levemir is 24 cents per unit. Generic insulin degludec costs as little as 12 cents per unit at the best SingleCare discount price. SingleCare helps to cut costs on insulin and a wide range of over-the-counter and prescription medications and supplements.
Drug name Price without insurance of brand-name drug  SingleCare price Savings options
Levemir $396 per 1, 10 mL of 100 unit/mL solution $241 per 1, 10 mL of 100 unit/mL solution of brand-name Levemir  See latest prices
Lantus

(insulin glargine)

 $409 per 1, 10 mL of 100 unit/mL solution $116 per 1, 10 mL of 100 unit/mL solution of brand-name Lantus See latest prices
Tresiba

(insulin degludec)

 $452 per 1, 10 mL of 100 unit/mL solution $122 per 1, 10 mL of 100 unit/mL solution of brand-name Tresiba See latest prices
Toujeo Solostar

(insulin glargine)

 $583 per 3, 1.5v mL of 300 unit /mL solution  $307 per 3, 1.5 mL of 300 unit /mL solution of brand-name Toujeo See latest prices
Xultophy $302 per 1, 3 mL of 100-3.6 unit-mg/mL solution $222 per per 1, 3 mL of 100-3.6 unit-mg/mL of brand-name Xultophy See latest prices
Basaglar

(insulin glargine solostar)

 $89 per 3 mL of 100 unit/mL solution $36 per 3 mL of 100 unit/mL solution of brand-name Basaglar 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 Levemir without insurance

At over 40 cents per unit, Levemir is one of the higher-priced long-acting insulin products to purchase without insurance coverage. The manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, offers a patient assistance program called NovoCare, but only some uninsured patients can meet the rigorous eligibility criteria. However, there are many ways to get needed insulin at lower prices. One place to start is to buy insulin at a discount using a SingleCare prescription discount card.

1. Use a SingleCare savings card

A discount card from SingleCare can reduce the cost of Levemir from 40 cents per unit to as low as 24 cents per unit. That’s a savings of almost $160 on a 1000 mL vial. Levemir discount prices will vary by participating pharmacy, so browse available savings on SingleCare’s Levemir coupons page or Levemir FlexPen coupons page.

2. Shop around

In addition to using a SingleCare savings card, a quick way to save money is to find the lowest price for a Levemir prescription. It’s easier than it seems. Just visit SingleCare’s to find the lowest price at local pharmacies.

4. Ask the prescriber about other long-acting insulin alternatives

Brand-name insulin always costs more than established generics. For instance, generic insulin glargine costs about 18 cents per unit, about half the price of Levemir. Insulin glargine may have different side effects or drug interactions, so get medical advice before switching.

5. Consider getting health insurance

For most people with diabetes, insulin treatment is a lifelong expense, along with other needed blood glucose control drugs, doctor’s visits, and medical tests. When everything is added up, health insurance may provide the best savings. To explore the possibilities, start with your state’s health insurance marketplace. 

6. Consider Medicaid, CHIP, or Medicare LIS

All three are government-subsidized health insurance programs with ultra-low premiums and minimal out-of-pocket costs. Anyone can enroll in Medicaid, but CHIP is designed for children, and Medicare Low Income Subsidy is a subsidized drug plan for people on Medicare. Start by talking to a local healthcare official or visiting your state’s Medicaid website.