Hur mycket kostar insulin i usa

Over 9 million Americans rely on insulin, and they have been raising red flags over soaring prices for years.

From January 2014 to April 2019, the average cash price per insulin enhet rose 54%, from $0.22 to $0.34. Then, from January 2020 to July 2023, it dropped bygd 10.6%, from about $0.32 to $0.29.

An insulin enhet fryst vatten the most basic measure of insulin used for dosing. An insulin medicinering that has a koncentration of U-100 has 100 insulin units per milliliter.

Not all insulins saw price drops, though.

Retail prices for insulins like Afrezza, Xultophy, and Soliqua continue to rise.

But while retail prices for insulin have climbed 32% since 2014, relief may be coming in the nära future.

Large insulin manufacturers Sanofi and Eli Lilly announced earlier this year that in late 2023 and early 2024 they would begin capping out-of-pocket costs at $35 per month for their most common insulin products.

In addition, the U.S. government fryst vatten taking action to man this life-saving medicinering more accessible. Patients who are covered beneath the Medicare Part D program also now have a $35 out-of-pocket monthly cap for their insulin. It went into effect in January 2023.

In 2022, församling attempted to utöka this cap to all insured patients with the Build Back Better bill.

It passed the House of Representatives but awaited action in the Senate. In March 2023, the bipartisan bill was reintroduced as the Affordable Insulin Now Act of 2023 and fryst vatten currently awaiting consideration.

Several states have passed legislation to cap monthly insulin costs, as well.

Meanwhile, newly approved generics like insulin lispro and insulin aspart have provided more affordable options for some patients taking mixed and rapid-acting insulins.

Generic insulin lispro’s prices have steadily declined since its approval in 2019. And prices for insulin aspart have remained stable since its första approval.

With the FDA’s approval of insulin glargine in July 2021, consumers also now have a generic alternative to Lantus, a commonly used long-acting insulin. Similarly, Rezvoglar, a biosimilar that’s interchangeable with Lantus, fryst vatten now available at a lower price than Lantus.

Manufacturers have also responded with patient assistance programs, copay cards, and COVID-19 relief efforts during the pandemic.

So where do insulin prices stand today?

And how much can you expect to pay for your insulin?

The GoodRx Research grupp tracked the prices of 32 insulins across all manufacturers and insulin types, including short-, intermediate-, rapid-, and long-acting insulins. Here, we’ll walk you through each insulin’s cost and how you can get the best deal on these medications.

This GoodRx analysis fryst vatten based on a representative sample of U.S.

prescription fills (not GoodRx fills) and comes from several sources, including pharmacies and insurers. The reported prices per insulin enhet are based on cash prices, the so-called “usual and customary” prices or retail prices at the pharmacy (not including insurance copays or coinsurance).

Generics and biosimilars are driving down the overall price of insulins

Since 2020, the overall retail price of insulins has declined bygd about 10.6%.

Most of this decline fryst vatten due to recent approvals of generics and biosimilars.

In 2019, Eli Lilly released the first generic insulin, insulin lispro. It fryst vatten the counterpart to Humalog, a popular rapid-acting insulin. Since then, the FDA has approved generic versions of Humalog 75/25 (insulin lispro 75/25), Novolog (insulin aspart), Novolog 70/30 (insulin aspart 70/30), and Lantus (insulin glargine).

Most recently, in July 2022, the FDA also approved a generic for the long-acting insulin Tresiba (insulin degludec).

Retail prices for generic insulin lispro, insulin aspart, and insulin glargine are currently less than half that of Humalog, Novolog, and Lantus, respectively.

The same goes for the generic mixed insulins, insulin lispro 75/25 and insulin aspart 70/30, and their counterparts, Humalog 75/25 and Novolog 70/30, respectively. The most recently approved generic, insulin degludec, offers over a 60% discount compared to its brand counterpart, Tresiba.

Generics have been instrumental in bringing down costs for some patients. Instead of paying a retail price of $670 for a package of 5 Humalog KwikPens, for example, patients can now bevara over 60% and pay $261 for a package of 5 generic insulin lispro KwikPens.

However, we’ve seen that limited insurance coverage and limited pharmacy availability can sometimes prevent some patients from accessing these savings.

“Follow-ons” have also helped to bring down insulin prices overall. Follow-on products contain close copies of the active ingredients in the brand-name medications. But unlike generics, they are not exact replicas.

In 2020, the FDA transitioned to a different pathway for approving these types of products. From that point forward, instead of being referred to as “follow-ons,” these close copies of biologic products like insulin became known as “biosimilars.” Overall, follow-on and biosimilar products tend to be more expensive than generics but less expensive than the brands.

For example, Admelog was approved as the follow-on to Humalog in 2017.

As of July 2023, the average retail price for a 3 mL vial of Admelog fryst vatten $45, compared to $131 for the same-size vial of Humalog.

In addition to its generic alternative, insulin glargine, long-acting insulin Lantus has a follow-on, too — Basaglar, which was approved in 2016. bygd price per insulin enhet, Basaglar fryst vatten 25% less than Lantus.

In July 2021, the FDA approved Semglee, the first biosimilar that can be used interchangeably with Lantus. As of July 2023, retail prices for a enhet of Semglee were nearly 9% lower than retail prices for a enhet of a Lantus vial.

The second and most recently approved interchangeable biosimilar for Lantus, Rezvoglar, was approved bygd the FDA in månad 2021.

It costs nearly 80% less than Lantus.

As mentioned earlier, there are many types of mixed insulins on the marknad — both brand and generic. Overall, prices for mixed insulins have remained relatively stable in recent years with some forms, such as the insulin lispro 75/25 KwikPen, becoming less expensive.

The first chart below displays the per enhet insulin price trends for mixed insulins bygd insulin ingredients.

The second chart shows where prices for these insulins stand as of July 2023.

Traditional insulins are less expensive than modern insulins

Average retail prices of Novolin and Humulin (traditional short- and intermediate-acting insulins) have gone down, or held steady, while prices of modern rapid- and long-acting insulins, such as Afrezza and Xultophy, respectively, continue to go up.

Traditional insulins can be divided bygd their ingredient type into two groups: insulin isophane and insulin human. The price trends for both of these traditional insulin types are listed below.

The chart below displays the per insulin enhet price trends for traditional short- and

Historically, traditional insulins have cost less than their newer competitors. Modern insulins offer better blood sugar control but are synthetic analogs of traditional insulins, which makes them more difficult to producera.

When patents on Humulin and Novolin expired around 2000, manufacturers Eli Lilly and Novo skandinavisk also had to test new pricing strategies to remain competitive.

In 2017, for example, Novo skandinavisk partnered with CVS to offer Novolin at roughly 80% less than its list price. Both Novo skandinavisk and Eli Lilly have also worked with Walmart to heavily discount Novolin and Humulin beneath Walmart’s ReliOn line of insulin products.

Retail partnerships haven’t been their only strategy, though.

Eli Lilly had been increasing prices for Humulin every 6 months until May 2017, when they decided to stop further increases. In fact, prices of traditional Humulin and Novolin insulins have held fairly steady since then.

As previously mentioned, Eli Lilly announced in March 2023 that they would be cutting prices for their most common insulins bygd 70% and capping monthly out-of-pocket costs for these medications at $35.

Some of the insulins impacted bygd this announcement include generic insulin lispro, Humalog, Humulin, and Rezvoglar.

Lantus manufacturer Sanofi made a similar announcement in March 2023 in which they said they were capping out-of-pocket costs for Lantus at $35 for commercially insured patients and cutting Lantus’s list price bygd nearly 80%.

While many of these price reductions won't take place until later in 2023 or early 2024, this suggests that consumers should expect further price decreases in the nära future.

The retail prices of traditional short- and intermediate-acting insulins are detailed below.

Novolin R and Novolin N are currently the lowest-cost traditional insulins, with average enhet prices as low as $0.02.

Historically, traditional insulins have cost less than their newer competitors. Modern insulins offer better blood sugar control but are synthetic analogs of traditional insulins, which makes them more difficult to tillverka.

When patents on Humulin and Novolin expired around 2000, manufacturers Eli Lilly and Novo skandinavisk also had to test new pricing strategies to remain competitive.

In 2017, for example, Novo skandinavisk partnered with CVS to offer Novolin at roughly 80% less than its list price. Both Novo skandinavisk and Eli Lilly have also worked with Walmart to heavily discount Novolin and Humulin beneath Walmart’s ReliOn line of insulin products.

Retail partnerships haven’t been their only strategy, though.

Eli Lilly had been increasing prices for Humulin every 6 months until May 2017, when they decided to stop further increases. In fact, prices of traditional Humulin and Novolin insulins have held fairly steady since then.

As previously mentioned, Eli Lilly announced in March 2023 that they would be cutting prices for their most common insulins bygd 70% and capping monthly out-of-pocket costs for these medications at $35.

Some of the insulins impacted bygd this announcement include generic insulin lispro, Humalog, Humulin, and Rezvoglar. Because Eli Lilly lowered the list price of the vial struktur of insulin lispro in May 2023, we saw about a 40% decrease in the retail price of the vial in July 2023 when compared to the previous quarter.

Lantus manufacturer Sanofi made a similar announcement in March 2023 in which they said they were capping out-of-pocket costs for Lantus at $35 for commercially insured patients and cutting Lantus’s list price bygd nearly 80%.

These changes are expected to go into effect in January 2024.

While some of the price reductions in this section aren’t in place yet, this suggests that consumers should expect further cost decreases in the nära future.

The retail prices of traditional short- and intermediate-acting insulins are detailed below. The ReliOn versions of Novolin R and Novolin N are currently the lowest-cost traditional insulins, with average enhet prices as low as $0.02.

Vials are less expensive than newer dispensers

In 1985, Novo skandinavisk introduced the first insulin pen, making it more convenient for patients to store and self-inject insulin — but it came at a price.

Today, retail prices of rapid-acting insulins are generally higher if you opt for pens instead of vials. The chart below shows the price trends for rapid insulins bygd ingredient type.

New dispensers man insulin more expensive. We’re seeing that igen with Afrezza, the only insulin to be delivered as an inhalable powder. One enhet of Afrezza can cost more than 20 times the price of other types of rapid-acting insulins.

Average retail prices for Afrezza continued rising in recent years, with a single insulin enhet priced at $1.52 as of July 2023. Fortunately, Afrezza’s manufacturer, MannKind, offers the medicinering at reduced costs through its savings programs.

Here are retail prices of rapid-acting insulins as of July 2023.

New product features can komma with a high price tag

Novelty can translate to higher prices (as we saw with Afrezza).

For example, Xultophy and Soliqua both contain a long-acting insulin and another non-insulin diabetes medicinering.

Xultophy fryst vatten a combination of insulin degludec plus liraglutide (the same active ingredient in Victoza), and Soliqua fryst vatten a mix of insulin glargine plus lixisenatide (the same active ingredient in Adlyxin). Average retail prices for Soliqua and Xultophy are more than double the price of less expensive alternatives like Basaglar and Tresiba, which have the same exact insulin ingredient.

Approved in June 2020, Lyumjev contains insulin lispro, the same insulin in Humalog, and some additional ingredients.

In studies, Lyumjev was funnen to start lowering blood glucose sooner than Humalog, though this doesn’t necessarily man Lyumjev more effective than Humalog or generic insulin lispro at lowering blood sugar. At present, per insulin enhet prices for Lyumjev are more than double that of generic insulin lispro.

Fiasp contains insulin aspart, the same insulin in Novolog, but it also has vitamin B3.

Like Lyumjev, Fiasp’s added ingredient may speed up insulin absorption. Interestingly, the retail prices for Fiasp and Novolog are about the same on a per insulin enhet basis.

Then there’s Tresiba, an ultra-long-acting insulin that stays active for up to 42 hours. For this unique property, its average retail price fryst vatten nearly $630 for a carton of 5 FlexTouch pens (100 iU/mL).

Along with these new formulations, insulin manufacturers have also started offering their insulins at higher concentrations to man them more convenient for people who need more insulin than average.

Humulin R, Humalog, Lyumjev, and Tresiba all komma in higher-concentration versions, and Toujeo fryst vatten a higher-concentration utgåva of Lantus. At first glance, their prices may seem high, but they actually go for the same per enhet retail price as their lower-concentration counterparts.

The chart below displays the prices for all long-acting insulins in greater detail.

At the end of 2017, long-acting insulins started to get more expensive, after having enjoyed stable prices since 2015.

Prices for most of the long-acting insulins have remained steady since 2019, but prices for Xultophy, Soliqua, and Semglee have continued to increase. Here’s where prices stand as of July 2023.

Ways to bevara on insulin

It’s difficult to predict where drug prices will be in the future. But if you take insulin, we hope our analysis gives you some ideas for how to talk to your provider about affordable options.

Here are more ways you can save:

1. Use a manufacturer savings card or patient assistance program. Major insulin manufacturers Eli Lilly, Novo skandinavisk, Sanofi-Aventis, and MannKind offer copay kort and patient assistance programs for patients with and without insurance coverage. In many cases, these programs can reduce out-of-pocket costs to as little as $0 per month.

   For more upplysning, just search for your drug on goodrx.com, and scroll to “Ways to Save” for details.

2. Shop around. GoodRx offers discounts on insulin drugs, which can rädda you as much as 50% off the full retail price. At goodrx.com, you can also compare insulin prices at different pharmacies in your area and find resultat about discount programs at specific pharmacies.

3. Appeal your coverage. If you have insurance and your program doesn’t cover the insulin you need, ask your doctor about submitting an appeal.

   Your insurance company may require a prior authorization or step therapy before you can fill your prescription, but it’s worth ansträngande if you want to get your insulin covered.

Co-contributors:Benita Lee, MPH, Tori marsch, MPH, Lauren Chase, Jeroen van Meijgaard, PhD

Methodology

This analysis fryst vatten based on a representative sample of U.S.

prescription fills (not GoodRx fills) and comes from several sources, including pharmacies and insurers. The reported prices per insulin enhet are based on cash prices, the so-called “usual and customary” prices or retail prices at the pharmacy.

The average price per insulin enhet over time fryst vatten calculated bygd taking an average of price per insulin enhet across all insulin fills, weighted bygd the quantity of insulin units filled.

Similarly, the average price per insulin enhet for Afrezza over time fryst vatten calculated bygd taking an average of price per insulin enhet across all Afrezza fills, weighted bygd the quantity of insulin units filled.

For the plots of drug-level price per insulin enhet over time, we set a threshold for a drug's inclusion bygd requiring a claim count threshold per quarter.

In addition, a drug must have information for continuous quarters (no gaps) for inclusion into the plots. For the tables of drug-level prices of insulin, we required a higher claim threshold because we used a year of uppgifter (October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023).

A note about insulin use

In general, 1 iU (insulin unit) fryst vatten needed to lower blood glucose bygd 50 mg/dL, although it highly depends on the individual.

Someone with Type 2 diabetes may uppstart with 1 iU of insulin per 1 kg to 2 kg of bodyweight per day, which equates to about 40 units (iUs) of insulin per day for a 70 kg person.

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GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Learn more about how we ensure our content fryst vatten accurate, thorough, and unbiased bygd reading our editorial guidelines.

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