These Programs Cover the Cost of Insulin: Do You Qualify?

The three main insulin manufacturers in the U.S. offer Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) as valuable resources for people with diabetes (PWD) who meet eligibility requirements. These programs can help cover the monthly cost of your insulin when you need financial support.

You might be surprised to learn that more people with diabetes qualify for PAPs than is commonly believed. Eligibility usually extends beyond those who are uninsured and to those at higher income levels than you may think.

As health insurance premiums are projected to increase in 2026, a heavier financial burden is likely to impact more people’s budgets. Therefore, it is crucial to explore your eligibility for support tools, such as PAPs.

Current Insulin Manufacturer PAPs and Who Qualifies

Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi all offer PAPs. Keep in mind: other brands and medications often have PAPs, each with different eligibility requirements.

Eligibility requirements for these insulin PAPs include:

• You must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
• You cannot be enrolled in any of the select state or government programs listed below.
• You must have no insurance or an insurance program that requires you to apply for PAPs, also clarified below.

Here is a specific overview of each insulin manufacturer’s PAP offering and eligibility requirements:

Lilly Cares, Nonprofit PAP: Free Lilly medicines (including insulin) for eligible PWD; apply online to check eligibility. Insulins like Basaglar, varieties of Humalog, varieties of Humulin and Lyumjev are currently listed. To be eligible for the Lilly Cares program, you must meet the following criteria:

1. You must be a U.S. resident.
2. You need to have an active prescription for a Lilly product.
3. You cannot be enrolled in Medicaid, full Low Income Subsidy (LIS or “Extra Help”) or Veterans (VA) Benefits.
4. You must meet your insurance requirements for the medications you are applying for.
5. You need to meet the household income guidelines for this program: For Group 1 medications, a 1-person household’s income level must be at or below $46,950. For Group 2, it must be at or below $62,600, and for Groups 3 & 4, it must be at or below $78,250. Eli Lilly does not clarify which group its insulins fall into. You must contact Eli Lilly directly if you live in Alaska or Hawaii for annual adjusted gross income limits.
6. You cannot have an insurance plan or third party that requires you to apply for the Lilly Cares program as a condition, requirement, or prerequisite for coverage of specific Lilly medications.

Novo Nordisk, PAP: Provides medication at no cost to those who qualify; approved supplies may cover up to 120 days at a time. To be eligible for the Novo Nordisk PAP, you must meet the following criteria:

1. You must be a U.S. resident.
2. You must have a total household income that is at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) guidelines. In 2025, the FPL was $15,650 for a 1-person household. This means that 400% of the FPL is an annual adjusted gross income of $62,600. 2026 numbers are likely to be adjusted and listed on Healthcare.gov. Check with Novo Nordisk for income eligibility differences in Alaska and Hawaii.
3. You must have Medicare or no insurance and not be enrolled in or qualify for any other federal, state or government program (Medicaid, LIS, VA) benefits.

Sanofi, Patient Connection (Includes PAP): Can provide certain Sanofi medications at no cost if eligibility criteria are met. To qualify for Sanofi’s PAP, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

1. You must be a U.S. resident.
2. You must have no insurance coverage.
3. You must have an annual household income less than or equal to 400% of the current FPL. As indicated above, this means a 1-person household’s income must be at or below $62,600 to qualify. As the household size increases, so does the income limitation. For example, a family of four would be looking at a number at or below $128,600. Alaska and Hawaii have different poverty guidelines. For all other U.S. states, multiply the 2025 income number by 4 to get the number you’re looking for, or use Sanofi’s breakdown here, which also accounts for Alaska and Hawaii’s differences.
   

These programs will ask for various documents throughout the application process to verify your identity and income, so be sure to have them handy. Exact filing requirements can be found on each PAP website, linked above.

Those who don’t qualify for PAPs may be eligible for other cost-saving programs, such as copay cards or cash pay savings, but don’t count yourself out before we break down some common eligibility misconceptions.

Common Misconceptions About PAPs

Don’t let common misconceptions about PAPs stop you from applying! 

• Employment: You do not need to be unemployed to be eligible for insulin PAPs. Some programs require that you not have employer-provided or private insurance, however. 
• Income Level: Another common misunderstanding is that you have to be living way below the poverty line. That’s not the case either! Many of these programs allow you to have a household income up to 400% of the FPL. This means you might still get help even if you don’t think of yourself as “poor.” 

Remember, options are available to support you. Don’t count yourself out before you give yourself a chance!

What Happens After You Apply for a PAP?

After you submit your PAP application, it usually takes a little time before you hear back. Most PWD find it takes about two to three weeks for their application to be reviewed and approved. Once approved, your insulin is typically sent to your doctor’s office (not directly to your home). Your healthcare team should contact you when it’s ready for pickup.

You’ll stay enrolled for about 12 months (a full year). After that, you may need to renew your application if you still qualify. Some programs have different rules for people on Medicare, who might need to reapply sooner at the end of a calendar year.

It helps to stay in touch with your provider’s office while waiting, especially if you’re running low on insulin. They can sometimes help check on your application status or the timeline for a refill.

What is the PAP Processing Timeline?

• Application Processing Time: Varies by manufacturer. For Novo Nordisk’s PAP, it takes two business days. For Sanofi Patient Connection, it takes five to seven days, and for the Lilly Cares Foundation, it takes a few days.
• Medication Processing Time: Varies by manufacturer. Sanofi Patient Connection and the Lilly Cares Foundation do not list medication processing times, while Novo Nordisk’s PAP says medication should be processed within 10 to 14 business days.
• How You Receive Your Insulin: Novo Nordisk, Sanofi Patient Connection and the Lilly Cares Foundation all ship your insulin directly to your doctor’s office.
• Enrollment Length: For the Lilly Cares Foundation, you must reapply each year. For Novo Nordisk’s PAP and Sanofi Patient Connection, you must reapply every 12 months or by the end of the calendar year if you are enrolled in Medicare.

What to Do if Your Medication is Delayed

If your insulin hasn’t arrived after a few weeks, call the program or your doctor’s office to check in as soon as possible. Some programs also allow you to opt in to medication shipment tracking via text. You will know if this is the case during the application and approval process.

It’s important to stay in the loop when it comes to your life-saving medication. Delays are unacceptable, and your care team should be there to help you get the insulin you need.

Insulin Costs Can Be Exhausting: You’re Not Alone

If you’re feeling overwhelmed about which programs you qualify for, fear not. Tools like GetInsulin.org can help make it easy to understand your PAP eligibility. Just visit the GetInsulin.org homepage and answer a few easy questions to see if certain PAPs are worth pursuing. 

You’re not alone in dealing with the high costs of insulin, and there are many solutions to help you lower your costs.