{"id":7870,"date":"2020-01-27T13:00:04","date_gmt":"2020-01-27T18:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=7870"},"modified":"2025-05-22T11:28:29","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T15:28:29","slug":"insulin-prices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/insulin-prices\/","title":{"rendered":"Insulin prices: How much does insulin cost?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Insulin is a hormone that the body produces to help regulate blood sugar levels. People with <\/span>Type 1 diabetes<\/span><\/a> can\u2019t produce their own insulin, so they need insulin injections to survive. Many people with <\/span>Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/a> also need insulin to stay healthy as the condition progresses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the cost of insulin has long been an issue. From 2017 to 2022, the inflation-adjusted cost of insulin increased by 24%, according to a 2022 report from the American Diabetes Association (ADA). The good news is that recent legislation and market competition have made this prescription drug more affordable for many Americans.<\/span><\/p>\n

How much is insulin without insurance?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The short answer: Probably $35 or less per month for the <\/span>insulin<\/span><\/a> itself, plus the cost of <\/span>diabetes supplies<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the <\/span>ADA report<\/span><\/a> highlighted, insulin has not always been so affordable. For years, insulin prices were relentlessly climbing, nearly doubling from 2012\u20132021, according to the <\/span>Health Care Cost Institute (HCI)<\/span><\/a>. But changes to the <\/span>Medical Drug Rebate Program<\/span><\/a>, along with <\/span>public pressure and increasing competition<\/span><\/a> from generics and biosimilar insulins, prompted the three major insulin manufacturers in the United States\u2014Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi\u2014to introduce price cuts for insulin products while also launching financial assistance programs for eligible patients.<\/span><\/p>\n

Average cost of insulin per month<\/span><\/h3>\n

By the retail price alone, monthly insulin costs can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. However, what each patient pays for insulin can vary depending on <\/span>insurance coverage<\/span><\/a>, the insulin brand, how much you need, and, in some cases, your current financial situation. No matter the listed number, there are alternatives to paying the full cash price.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here is how much most uninsured people with diabetes can expect to pay for insulin in 2025, by manufacturer:<\/span><\/p>\n