If You Cannot Afford Insulin, Here Is How to Get It Free or at Very Low Cost.
Insulin is not optional. People who need it to manage Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes cannot safely go without it, and yet the cost has pushed millions of people to ration doses or skip them entirely. That should not be where anyone ends up, because real options exist — including programs that provide insulin free of charge to people who qualify, options that require no income verification at all, and a over-the-counter route that costs around $25 a vial at Walmart with no prescription required in most states.
This page covers the options for people who need insulin free or at the lowest possible cost — manufacturer patient assistance programs, Medicaid, the Medicare $35 cap, community health centers, and a few lesser-known options. If you have insurance but your co-pays or deductibles are making insulin unaffordable, the discounted insulin and savings programs page covers the flat-fee manufacturer programs and savings cards that may apply.
- NOTE: Information about insulin or any other health‑related topic on this site is for general guidance only. It is meant to help people find programs that provide access to insulin. It is not medical advice. Always consult a licensed health care professional for medical questions or treatment decisions.
The fastest option if you are rationing right now: Novo Nordisk Immediate Supply.
If you are already rationing insulin or at risk of running out, Novo Nordisk offers a free one-time immediate supply of up to three vials or two packs of pens to eligible patients who need insulin now while working toward a longer-term solution. This is specifically designed for people in a crisis moment. Contact Novo Nordisk directly through https://www.novocare.com/diabetes/home.html or call their assistance line to ask about the Immediate Supply program before you do anything else.
Free insulin from manufacturer patient assistance programs.
All three major insulin manufacturers — Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi — offer patient assistance programs that provide insulin free of charge to people who qualify based on income and insurance status. These are separate from their discount programs and are specifically designed for low-income and uninsured patients.
Eli Lilly's program is called Lilly Cares, run through the Lilly Cares Foundation, a nonprofit. It provides free Lilly insulin — including Humalog, Basaglar, Humulin, and others — for up to 12 months to qualifying patients, with the option to reapply. To qualify you generally must be uninsured or enrolled in Medicare Part D, not enrolled in Medicaid or VA benefits, and meet income limits that vary by medication group but can reach up to 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. There is no charge to apply and no fee for the medication or shipping. Apply at https://www.lillycares.com/ or call 1-800-545-6962.
Novo Nordisk's Patient Assistance Program provides free insulin — including NovoLog, Novolin, Levemir, Tresiba, and Fiasp — to uninsured patients who meet income guidelines. The income limit is roughly $51,000 per year for an individual and around $104,800 for a family of four, which opens the program to many middle-income households as well as low-income ones. Patients must be uninsured or on Medicare and not enrolled in Medicaid or VA benefits. More information and applications are at https://www.novocare.com/diabetes/home.html.
Sanofi's program is called Sanofi Patient Connection. It provides free Sanofi insulins — including Lantus, Toujeo, Admelog, and Apidra — to qualified low- and middle-income patients who are uninsured or underinsured. Patients who have applied and have an urgent need while waiting for their application to process can call 1-888-847-4877 and request a free one-time 30-day supply through Sanofi's Temporary Access Program. Apply at https://www.sanofipatientconnection.com/.
Walmart over-the-counter human insulin — around $25 a vial, no prescription required.
Novo Nordisk human insulin is sold under the ReliOn brand at Walmart for approximately $25 per vial, and similar offerings are available at CVS. In most states, human insulin can be purchased over the counter without a prescription, which makes this one of the most accessible immediate options for uninsured patients who cannot wait for a patient assistance program to process.
This is older human insulin rather than the newer analog formulations — your doctor should advise whether it is appropriate for your specific regimen — but for many patients it is a workable option when cost is the immediate barrier. This is not a discount program or an application. You walk in and buy it.
Medicaid covers insulin for most enrollees at little or no cost
If you are enrolled in Medicaid, insulin is covered in most states at very low or no cost to you. Each state determines its own formulary, so the specific brands covered vary. Contact your state Medicaid office or your managed care plan to confirm which insulin products are covered and what your cost sharing will be. If you are not currently enrolled in Medicaid and your income is low, applying is worth doing — Medicaid also covers testing supplies, syringes, and other diabetes care needs. Apply through your state's Medicaid office or at https://www.medicaid.gov/.
Medicare: insulin is capped at $35 per month.
If you have Medicare, the Inflation Reduction Act capped your out-of-pocket cost for insulin covered under Medicare Part D at $35 per month. This went into effect January 1, 2023. Insulin delivered through a traditional insulin pump covered under Medicare Part B is also capped at $35, effective July 2023. These are federal law now — not voluntary programs that can be discontinued.
If you are on Medicare and paying more than $35 per month for covered insulin, contact Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 or visit https://www.medicare.gov/ to review your plan. You can also learn more on Medicare Part D plan options.
Community health centers: care and supplies regardless of ability to pay.
Federally Qualified Health Centers serve patients on a sliding-scale fee basis regardless of insurance status. Many have on-site pharmacies or pharmacy assistance programs and can help connect patients with insulin assistance programs. Find a health center near you at https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/. These centers are often the best single point of contact for someone who needs help with insulin and multiple other aspects of diabetes care at the same time. See our free - income based clinic page.
Discount cards and comparison tools as a fallback.
If the above options do not apply to your situation, prescription discount tools like GoodRx at https://www.goodrx.com/ and NeedyMeds at https://needymeds.org/ can identify the lowest available cash price for your specific insulin at pharmacies near you. These are not assistance programs — they are price comparison and coupon tools — but they can meaningfully reduce what you pay if you have no other option. More on free prescription coupons and discount resources.
For help with other diabetes supplies — testing strips, insulin pumps, syringes — the free diabetic supplies page covers those options separately.
Disclaimer: Manufacturer patient assistance programs, eligibility requirements, income limits, and available products change. Verify current details directly with each program before applying. This is not medical advice — speak with your doctor before changing your insulin regimen or switching to a different formulation.
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