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How much is Tresiba without insurance?

Tresiba costs $457 without insurance. Learn how to get Tresiba at a lower price or find cheaper alternatives.
Gerardo Sison medical writer headshot
By | Jun. 9, 2024
Two Rx autoinjector pens: How much is Tresiba without insurance?

Key takeaways

  • Tresiba is a long-acting insulin used to control blood sugar in adults and children over 1 year old with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.

  • Tresiba comes in a FlexTouch prefilled pen or vial and is injected under the skin once daily, with the dosage depending on individual blood sugar levels.

  • Tresiba is typically more expensive than biosimilar insulin options, but there are options to help reduce costs.

  • There is currently no biosimilar for Tresiba, but an unbranded biologic version with the same active ingredient is available for a lower cost.

In this article:

Tresiba is a long-acting insulin approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that is used to control high blood sugar in adults and children one year and older with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. It is a prescription biologic product that comes as a 3 mL FlexTouch prefilled pen or a 10 mL vial for use with a syringe. The FlexTouch pens are available in 100 units/mL (U-100) and 200 units/mL (U-200) concentrations. Tresiba is injected under the skin (subcutaneously) once daily. The exact dosage will depend on blood sugar (glucose) levels and the individual’s overall condition.

Although Tresiba may be covered by insurance, people without health insurance may bear the full retail cost of the medication. As a brand-name product, Tresiba may be more expensive than generic options. Still, savings options may be available to help reduce expenses. 

What is the generic for Tresiba?

Generics for insulin are not like traditional generics since insulin is a biologic product. Instead, a generic version would be a biosimilar, which is highly similar to the original biologic but not identical. Unbranded biologics are the same as the original branded versions but sold without a brand name. At the same time, biosimilars are separate products that must undergo additional regulatory approval to prove they are similar to the original. 

Tresiba contains the active ingredient insulin degludec. There is currently no biosimilar form available on the market. However, Novo Nordisk Pharma, Inc. has launched an unbranded biologic containing the same active ingredient to expand Tresiba’s affordability.

Is Tresiba covered by insurance?

Most commercial insurance plans cover Tresiba. However, coverage for insulin will depend on each plan’s specific eligibility requirements. If Tresiba isn’t covered initially, healthcare providers may need to provide documentation to support its use over alternative long-acting insulins.

Medicare beneficiaries may have coverage for Tresiba under Medicare Part D. However, coverage will depend on whether Tresiba is included in a plan’s formulary. There may be differences regarding copayments or other out-of-pocket costs and whether a specific product like Tresiba is covered.

With Medicaid, coverage for medications such as Tresiba can vary by state since Medicaid is a joint federal and state program with different requirements in each state.

How much does Tresiba cost without insurance?

The retail cost of Tresiba can vary, depending on the dosage form and the pharmacy location. For a 30-day supply of Tresiba, patients can expect to pay hundreds of dollars. On a per-unit basis, calculating the cost of Tresiba without insurance involves breaking down the total price over the number of units in each pen combined with the amount a person uses monthly.

A 10 mL vial may cost around $450 without insurance. For those purchasing the U-100 or U-200 FlexTouch pen, the cost may be around $500 to $600 or more per box. The U-100 FlexTouch pens come in a box of five, while the U-200 FlexTouch pens come in a box of three.

RELATED: Tresiba alternatives: What can I take instead of Tresiba? 
Drug name Price without insurance of brand-name drug SingleCare price Savings options
Tresiba 

(insulin degludec)

 $457 per 1, 10 mL of 100 unit/mL vial $123 per 1, 10 mL of 100 unit/mL vial of Tresiba See latest prices
Lantus 

(insulin glargine)

 $112 per 1, 3 mL of 100 unit/mL pen $20 per 1, 3 mL of 100 unit/mL pen of Lantus See latest prices
Levemir 

(insulin detemir)

 $364 per 1, 10 mL of 100 unit/mL vial $112 per 1, 10 mL of 100 unit/mL vial of Levemir See latest prices
Toujeo 

(insulin glargine)

 $201 per 1, 1.5 mL of 300 unit/mL pen $176 per 3, 1.5 mL of 300 unit/mL pen See latest prices
Basaglar 

(insulin glargine)

 $92 per 1, 3 mL of 100 unit/mL pen $68 per 1, 3 mL of 100 unit/mL pen of Basaglar See latest prices
Semglee 

(insulin glargine)

 $110 per 1, 3 mL of 100 unit/mL pen $18 per 1, 3 mL of 100 unit/mL pen See latest prices
Xultophy 

(insulin degludec/liraglutide)

 $308 per 1, 3 mL of 100-3.6 unit-mg/mL pen $236 per 1, 3 mL of 100-3.6 unit-mg/mL pen 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 Tresiba without insurance

Paying for Tresiba without insurance may pose a financial challenge for some people. Some manufacturers offer patient assistance programs or copay cards to help reduce costs, but eligibility requirements may be hard to meet. Other strategies may help reduce the expense. Here’s how one might save on Tresiba without relying on insurance coverage:

1. Use a SingleCare discount card

This card can significantly lower the cost of your Tresiba prescription. For example, Tresiba Flextouch pens and vials, which may be around $500 or more, may be available at a lower price with a SingleCare savings card. With a SingleCare coupon, you could pay $123 for a 10 mL vial of Tresiba.  

2. Consider alternative options

While no biosimilar form is currently available for Tresiba, discussing alternative options with your healthcare provider could lead to finding a more affordable type of insulin. An unbranded biologic may be available at a cheaper price than Tresiba. It contains the same active ingredient as Tresiba. In addition, other long-acting insulin products, such as Lantus, Toujeo, and Basaglar, are available and may be cheaper than Tresiba. 

3. Compare prices

Prices for Tresiba can vary from pharmacy to pharmacy. Take time to check different pharmacies for the best deal on your medication. Consider comparing prices at various pharmacies, including chain and independent pharmacies, to find the most competitive price for your prescription.

When it comes to the cheapest way to get prescription medications, there are various options to help save. In any case, you may want to seek medical advice and discuss any financial constraints with a healthcare professional who may be able to provide additional information and recommend the most cost-effective option.