How Much Does Insulin Cost Without Insurance in 2026? $25 to $162

What moves the price

• Type of insulin. Human insulin such as Novolin costs less than newer insulins. A Novolin vial lists at $48.20, while a NovoLog vial lists at $72.34 and a Levemir vial lists at $107.85. Your doctor picks the type that fits you.
• Vial or pen. Pens usually cost more than vials. A NovoLog FlexPen pack lists at $139.71 and a Levemir FlexPen pack lists at $161.77. Novolin FlexPen, a carton of five, lists at $91.09.
• Which maker makes it. Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi each have their own $35 program. A program only covers that maker's own insulins, so check that your insulin is on the list.
• Program rules. Lilly covers uninsured legal U.S. residents. Sanofi covers eligible uninsured patients, whatever their income. Novo Nordisk asks you to sign up again each calendar year. Read the terms before you apply.
• Where you buy. A Walmart ReliOn vial of human insulin is about $25, and a ReliOn FlexPen box is about $44. The same insulin can cost more at another store, so compare prices.
• Using a coupon. A GoodRx coupon can bring a 30 day supply of Lantus to $35 at over 70,000 U.S. pharmacies. You still need a valid prescription.
• How many packs you buy. Novo's $35 offer covers up to 3 vials or 2 packs of pens a month. Buying more than that, or buying without the offer, costs more.
• Extra supplies. Needles can cost extra. Novo Nordisk lists one pack of needles at $25 on its program page.

What is included

A $35 insulin program price covers the insulin itself for one month. It does not cover the doctor visit that gets you the prescription. It does not cover every supply you may use. Here is what each program lists.

Novo Nordisk MyInsulinRx. Novo's own page lists $35 for a monthly supply of any mix of its insulin products, up to 3 vials or 2 packs of pens (up to 35 mL). The covered insulins are Fiasp, Novolin N, Novolin R, Novolin 70/30, NovoLog, NovoLog Mix 70/30 and Tresiba. Awiqli is not part of the $35 offer. It is priced separately at $55 for up to 2 packs of pens a month. One pack of needles costs $25. An older list from the American Diabetes Association shows Novo's low price as $99. Novo's own page now shows $35, so we use that.

Lilly Insulin Value Program. The American Diabetes Association lists Lilly insulins for $35 or less per month. It is open to commercially insured patients and to uninsured legal U.S. residents. Uninsured patients should say they are a cash payer when they ask for the card.

Sanofi Insulins Valyou Savings Program. Eligible uninsured patients pay a fixed $35 a month for Lantus (insulin glargine U-100), Toujeo, Admelog and Apidra. Sanofi says this is open whatever your income.

GoodRx. GoodRx lists a 30 day supply of Lantus for $35 with a coupon at over 70,000 U.S. pharmacies. Anyone with a valid prescription can use it, with or without insurance.

List price. If you pay full list price with no program, the numbers above apply. Novo Nordisk cut some of its list prices in January 2024. NovoLog and NovoLog Mix 70/30 fell 75 percent. Novolin and Levemir fell 65 percent. The GoodRx page did not give dollar list prices for Sanofi insulins, so we do not show them.

Ways to pay less

• Apply for the Lilly Insulin Value Program. Go to InsulinAffordability.com or call 833-808-1234. If you are uninsured, say you are a cash payer when you ask for the savings card. The card sets Lilly insulins at $35 or less a month.
• Sign up for Novo Nordisk MyInsulinRx. Fill out the form at novocare.com or text ENROLL to 24177. Then take your savings offer to your pharmacist. Remember to sign up again each calendar year.
• Use the Sanofi Insulins Valyou Savings Program. Eligible uninsured patients can pay $35 a month for Lantus, Toujeo, Admelog and Apidra. Start at teamingupfordiabetes.com, the site listed by the American Diabetes Association.
• Try a GoodRx coupon for Lantus. GoodRx lists $35 for a 30 day supply at over 70,000 pharmacies. Bring a valid prescription and show the coupon at the counter.
• Check Walmart ReliOn human insulin. The American Diabetes Association lists about $25 a vial and $44 a box of FlexPen. It says CVS and other national pharmacies have similar offers, so ask at your store.
• Ask about free insulin. Lilly Cares Foundation (lillycares.com) and the Sanofi Patient Connection Patient Assistance Program (sanofipatientconnection.com) give free insulin to people who qualify. Sanofi's line for an urgent need is 1-888-847-4877, for a one time 30 day supply.
• Look at the Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program. It gives free insulin for 90 days to people who qualify. The American Diabetes Association lists an income limit of 400 percent of the federal poverty level, which is $51,040 for one person.
• Visit a free clinic. The American Diabetes Association says donated Lilly insulin is available at nearly 350 free clinics. Ask your clinic what it offers and what you need to bring.

What price guides say

We checked 3 price guides and read every number on their pages. They do not all measure the same thing, so the ranges on this page come from putting them side by side.

• Novo Nordisk NovoCare: MyInsulinRx $35 monthly offer, covered insulins and how to enroll
• American Diabetes Association: Affordable insulin: Lilly, Sanofi and Novo Nordisk programs
• GoodRx: Inflation Reduction Act lowers insulin prices (updated November 12, 2024)

Common questions

Related costs