What insulin costs if you have no insurance

Why insulin costs differ from other medicines

MedlinePlus, a health site from the National Library of Medicine, says insulin is used to control blood sugar in people who have type 1 diabetes. Doctors also use it for people with type 2 diabetes that pills alone cannot control. Insulin takes the place of insulin that the body would normally make. According to MedlinePlus, the types of insulin work in the same way and differ in how fast they start and how long they last.

Insulin is not like a bottle of pills. It comes in vials, pens and cartridges, and each type, device and maker has its own price. Your doctor decides which insulin you need, so this page cannot tell you which one to buy. It only shows what is known about the cost.

Nothing here is medical advice, and the page is for general information only. If someone with diabetes passes out, has a seizure or cannot be woken up, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Please do not stretch out, skip or ration insulin because of the price. Call your doctor, pharmacist or a health center first.

What pharmacies pay for insulin

To see what insulin costs before any markup, we used a national drug cost survey called NADAC. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a federal health agency, runs it. The survey shows what pharmacies pay on average to buy a drug. The figures below are from the week of October 7, 2026. They are priced per milliliter, and most of these insulins hold 100 units in each milliliter.

• Insulin lispro cost pharmacies about $2.40 per milliliter in a vial and about $10.19 in a pen.
• Insulin glargine-yfgn cost pharmacies about $6.08 per milliliter in a vial and about $2.90 to $5.92 in pens.
• Insulin aspart cost pharmacies about $6.95 per milliliter in a vial and about $8.96 in a pen.
• Insulin degludec cost pharmacies about $11.34 per milliliter in a vial and about $11.39 in the 100 unit pen.
• A higher-strength insulin glargine pen, the 300 unit per milliliter kind, cost pharmacies about $27.01 per milliliter.

To estimate what one box costs, check the label for how many milliliters it holds and multiply. For example, a standard 10 mL vial of insulin lispro at $2.40 per milliliter comes to about $24 in pharmacy cost. This list does not include every insulin on the market.

These numbers show what pharmacies paid, so the price at your counter is higher because the pharmacy adds a fee. We could not find an official list of counter prices, so we do not give one.

The $35 programs from drug makers

In 2023, several insulin makers announced lower prices or $35 monthly programs. The American Diabetes Association, a nonprofit, lists them on its insulin cost page. It says one maker caps out-of-pocket costs at $35 or less a month, and that uninsured legal U.S. residents can get a savings card. It also says another maker lets uninsured patients, regardless of income, pay a fixed $35 a month for certain insulins.

According to the same list, a third maker offers a $99 option for a limited supply instead of a $35 program. Each program has its own rules about which products it covers, so the right insulin matters.

That American Diabetes Association page does not show when it was last updated. We could not find an official page that confirms every program is unchanged today, and programs can change their terms. Your pharmacist or your doctor's office can check that a program is current. You should also read the maker's own sign-up page.

The same list says manufacturers also have patient assistance programs that give insulin at no cost to uninsured people who meet income limits. A social worker at your doctor's office or a community health center can help you fill out the forms.

Does Medicare's $35 cap apply to you?

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people 65 and older and some younger people with disabilities. Medicare.gov says Medicare caps insulin at $35 for a one-month supply of each insulin product it covers. This applies under Part B or Part D, with no deductible. The same site says the Part D limit applies to everyone who takes insulin, even with Extra Help.

That cap is a rule for people with Medicare, and it does not apply when you have no insurance and buy at the pharmacy counter.

Other costs that come with insulin

Insulin is only one line on the bill. MedlinePlus says you need a syringe marked for the strength of insulin you use, and that cartridges may need a pen that you buy separately. Syringes and pen needles have their own prices, and so do test supplies, so ask about them when you ask about the insulin.

How you store insulin also affects what you end up paying. MedlinePlus says unopened vials and pens should be kept in the refrigerator and that insulin should not be frozen. Your pharmacist can tell you how long an opened vial or pen can be kept. That way you do not pay for insulin that you have to throw away.

Visits and lab tests add up as well. At a community health center, the charge follows a sliding scale based on your income. A direct primary care practice charges a monthly membership, usually $50 to $200 a month. That practice may see you quickly if your supply is running low. To find one, search for a cash-pay doctor near you. Our guide on lab tests without insurance explains how to ask about test prices.

Ways to lower what you pay

1. Ask your doctor which insulins are options for you, and whether a lower-cost one would work.
2. Ask the pharmacist, "I do not have insurance, so what is the cash price, and is there a $35 program for this product?"
3. Call two or three pharmacies, since cash prices differ.
4. If the cost is still too high, ask the maker's patient assistance program and a community health center about help.
5. Plan ahead by calling for refills before you run low.

Health center pharmacies and the 340B discount program are explained in our guide on getting prescriptions without insurance. For a phone script to use with pharmacies, see the guide on asking for the cash price.