Tresiba savings guide

In this article:

• How much does Tresiba cost?
• Does insurance cover Tresiba?
• How to save money on Tresiba
• Is there a cheaper alternative to Tresiba?

In this article

• How much does Tresiba cost?
• Does insurance cover Tresiba?
• How to save money on Tresiba
• Is there a cheaper alternative to Tresiba?

For some people, managing diabetes involves daily insulin injections, including long-acting options such as Tresiba (insulin degludec). Tresiba is a once-daily, long-acting insulin used to help control blood sugar levels in people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. It is approved for adults and children ages 1 and older. Healthcare providers may prescribe it alongside short-acting insulin medication. However, blood sugar control with Tresiba can become a high financial burden without insurance or discounts. 

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How much does Tresiba cost?

The cost of Tresiba depends on the dosage form. Tresiba is available as a vial or a Flextouch pen. The average retail price of Tresiba is $422 for one 10 mL vial of 100 units/mL insulin. Tresiba Flextouch costs $709 for a five-pack of 3 mL pens of 100 units/mL insulin. Tresiba Flextouch is also available as a 200 units/mL pen. Your actual cost will depend on the form, dose, pharmacy, and whether you use insurance or prescription discounts. 

Does insurance cover Tresiba?

According to Novo Nordisk, Tresiba is covered by most major health insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid. Some commercial plans, including some Optum Rx 2026 plans, cover Tresiba vials and Tresiba Flextouch pens as Tier 1 medications, even though they are brand-name medications. Tier 1 medications typically have the lowest out-of-pocket costs. 

In some 2026 Kaiser Permanente plans, Tresiba is covered as a Tier 2 medication that requires prior authorization. This means that the insurance company must approve coverage before they cover Tresiba. And even if the insurance plan provides coverage, you may pay more for Tresiba compared to Tier 1 medications.  

Novo Nordisk says most Medicare plans cover Tresiba. Under Medicare Part D, insulin prescriptions are capped at $35 or less per month. 

Medicaid plans usually cover Tresiba vials and Tresiba Flextouch pens. Coverage can sometimes come at no cost. California’s Medi-Cal Rx formulary includes both forms. The Aetna Better Health Premier Plan of Illinois, a Medicare-Medicaid plan, covers Tresiba with a $0 copay per prescription. 

How to save money on Tresiba

If you don’t have coverage for Tresiba or your plan doesn’t fully cover it, consider the following options to get it more affordably. 

1. Free Tresiba coupons from SingleCare

Your SingleCare prescription discount card gives you access to discounts at pharmacies nationwide. With the SingleCare Tresiba coupon, you can pay as low as $94 for a 10 mL 100 units/mL vial of Tresiba. Your out-of-pocket cost can vary by quantity, dose, form, and pharmacy. SingleCare coupons are free to get from the SingleCare app or website.

2. Medicare or Medicaid savings

People with Medicare Part D should know that the Inflation Reduction Act of 2023 capped all insulin products covered under Medicare Part D (including Tresiba) at $35 per month, without a deductible. 

Medicaid coverage varies by state, but most state Medicaid programs include Tresiba on their formularies, often with low or no out-of-pocket costs for eligible patients. Some states may also offer State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs) that provide additional support for people with limited income.

To find out how much you’ll pay under your specific plan, contact your Medicare Part D provider or your state’s Medicaid office for coverage details.

3. Tresiba savings card from Novo Nordisk

Tresiba’s manufacturer offers a savings card for people with commercial or private insurance. This program helps eligible people get Tresiba for as little as $35 per 30-day supply, up to $99.
To be eligible for the savings card, the patient must:

• Have a Tresiba prescription.
• Not be enrolled in or receive aid from government health programs, such as Medicaid, Medicare, Medigap, Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Benefits, Department of Defense (DOD) health benefits, or Tricare.
• Live in the U.S.
• Have commercial insurance coverage.

There are limits to how much you can save with the Tresiba savings program. You can read more about specific eligibility requirements on the Tresiba website.

4. Tresiba patient assistance program and savings program

Novo Nordisk offers savings and patient assistance programs through NovoCare that may help lower the cost of Tresiba.

If you are uninsured or have commercial insurance, you may qualify for MyInsulinRx. Eligible patients can pay $35 for a monthly supply of Novo Nordisk insulin products, up to three vials or two packs of pens.

To use MyInsulinRx, you must have a valid prescription. The offer cannot be combined with other coupons, certificates, vouchers, or similar offers, and eligibility restrictions apply.

If you are uninsured or have Medicare, you may qualify for the Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program. This program provides Novo Nordisk medications, including Tresiba, at no cost to eligible patients.

To qualify, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident of the U.S.
• Have a total household income that is at or below 400% of the federal poverty level.
• Be enrolled in Medicare or have no insurance.
• Not be enrolled in or receive benefits from other government programs, such as Medicaid, Medicare Extra Help (Low Income Subsidy), or VA benefits. 

If approved, you may receive Tresiba at no cost for up to one year, but you may need to reapply to continue receiving support.

Is there a cheaper alternative to Tresiba?

There could be more affordable alternatives that healthcare providers may recommend. Other long-acting insulins include:

• Lantus (insulin glargine), which costs $280.52 for a 10 mL 100 units/mL vial on average without insurance.
• Basaglar KwikPen (insulin glargine), which costs $93.64 for a 3 mL 100 units/mL autoinjector pen on average without insurance.
• Semglee (insulin glargine-ygfn), which costs $112.07 for a 3 mL 100 units/mL autoinjector pen on average without insurance.

People with Type 1 diabetes are typically prescribed a combination of short- and long-acting insulins to manage their daily blood sugar levels. It’s important to consult with a healthcare provider about any suitable alternatives that would work with your regimen.

If Tresiba is part of your treatment, know that you now have many options to save on this important daily medication. Insurance coverage, a Tresiba coupon, or manufacturer programs can all help you save on your out-of-pocket costs for Tresiba.