Your Complete Guide to Insulin Copay Cards

Copay cards are cost-saving tools for prescription medications. Any time you face a high cost at the pharmacy counter, do a quick search for your medication’s name + copay card—you may find one!

Insulin manufacturers also offer copay cards and other savings programs. Most copay cards apply only to people with diabetes (PWD) who have commercial insurance, but some cost-savings programs work for people without insurance or in other situations. 

Commercial insurance includes employer-sponsored, marketplace health insurance or COBRA—a tool that lets qualified workers keep group health insurance after changes in eligibility like job loss, divorce or the death of a covered individual.

Copay cards usually don’t work for people with federal insurance plans like Medicare or Medicaid. Copay cards are different from patient assistance (PAP) or cash-pay programs. People with diabetes who are on Medicare or Medicaid may qualify for these types of programs.

Which Copay Cards Can I Use?

Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi all offer copay cards to PWD who qualify:

• Eli Lilly, Insulin Value Program ($35/month): All Lilly insulins are available for $35/month for U.S. residents with commercial insurance or no insurance. Other Eli Lilly cost-saving options include: Inside Rx and Lilly Cares. 
• Novo Nordisk, MyInsulinRx™: Eligible patients can pay $35 for a monthly supply, up to three vials or two packs of pens. 
• Novo Nordisk, Copay Savings Cards: For many products, commercially insured PWD may pay as little as $35 per 30-day supply. Terms apply. Other Novo Nordisk cost-saving options include: Patient Assistance Program (PAP), Immediate Supply, Human Insulin and Unbranded Biologics. 
• Sanofi, Copay Assistance: Eligible, commercially insured PWD may pay no more than $35 for certain products like—Toujeo, Soliqua, Lantus and Apidra—with a copay card. Other Sanofi cost-saving options include: Sanofi Patient Connection PAP and Insulins Valyou Savings Program. 
• MannKind Afrezza Savings Program: PWD with insurance coverage can pay $35 for a monthly supply of Afrezza inhaled insulin. Eligible PWD can also use the MannKind Afrezza Direct Purchase Program, which can lower the monthly out-of-pocket cash price to $99/month.

To apply for these copay cards, click each link, read the webpage and follow the steps to apply. If you are eligible, you will usually receive a copay card from these manufacturers immediately. 

If you use more than one brand of insulin, you can use more than one copay program. For example, you might get long-acting (basal) insulin from Sanofi but short-acting (bolus) insulin from Novo Nordisk. In this case, you should apply for each copay card. You can use them both at the pharmacy counter.

How Do I Use a Copay Card at the Pharmacy?

Here’s a step-by-step guide to use your insulin copay card effectively:

• Step 1: Know Your Current Cost
  Before you go to the pharmacy, find out what you usually pay for your insulin and dose—write that number down. If your copay card shows $35 but the pharmacy price is high, you’ll know something isn’t right and can ask questions. 
• Step 2: Get and Save Your Copay Card
  Download your copay card and either print it and/or save it on your phone. Ask your pharmacy if you can email it to them or upload it to your pharmacy portal so they have it on file. That way, you won’t need to re-present it each time you go! Keep an extra copy somewhere safe. 
• Step 3: Check Your Insurance and Formulary
  If you’re not sure, call your insurance and ask: “Is my plan a commercial plan?” and “Is my insulin on the formulary?” Some copay cards only work if your insurance already covers that insulin. If your insulin is already low-priced with insurance, a copay card might not change the price much. 
• Step 4: Bring Everything to the Pharmacy
  Gather your insurance and copay cards. Hand both to the pharmacist. Ask them to make sure your coupon or copay card is used. 
• Step 5: Pause Before You Pay—Make Sure the Price is Right!

When the pharmacist tells you the total, pause and look at the price. If it seems wrong, speak up! You can simply say: “I thought this would be about $___ with my copay card. Can you please check if it went through or try another way to run it?” Remember, your pharmacist is on your team.

• Step 6: If The Copay Card Still Doesn’t Work…
  If the price is still too high and you can wait, go home and call the insulin manufacturer. Ask why the card isn’t working. If it’s not working, you might not qualify for that card, need to fix something on your application or you may qualify for a different cost-saving program. If you cannot wait and the price is too high, use the “Urgent Insulin” tool at GetInsulin.org for fast help. 
• Step 7: If You Are Uninsured, Use Medicare or Medicaid
  Check if the insulin maker has a PAP or cash-savings program, linked above. GetInsulin.org can also help you find and apply for these. 
• Step 8: Watch for Copay Card Expiration
  Copay cards often expire or require reapplication. If your insulin costs suddenly go up, ask your pharmacist whether your copay card has expired and whether you need a new one. When you first get the card, check the expiration date and add a reminder to your calendar to renew it before it expires.

Copay Cards: Best Practices and Watch-outs

In addition to renewals, there are other best practices and watch-outs to keep in mind.

• Make sure your pharmacy is in-network: If you’re using an out-of-network pharmacy, this can drive up the price on your diabetes supplies and medications. Use an in-network pharmacy and your copay card to ensure maximum savings!
  
  Most health insurance companies have online portals that explain which pharmacies are in-network. If you don’t like portals, you can always give them a call to find out. 
• Keep documentation: This is important in case you need to appeal your insurance’s decision to cover your insulin. Sometimes, you might need to apply for a prior authorization (PA) before a copay card even works if it’s not on formulary. The simple way to detect this is to check whether the cost of your preferred insulin is already high—you might need a PA, or you might not have met your deductible yet. 
• Re-evaluate yearly: When your insurance changes, your copay card savings options will likely change too. Apply for new copay cards directly on your insulin manufacturer sites at the start of a new health insurance plan year or use tools like GetInsulin.org to streamline the process.

Copay Cards Can Reduce the Financial Burden of Diabetes

For eligible PWD, using copay cards can free up extra dollars and stress headaches to spend elsewhere in life with diabetes. While they do not apply to all PWD, they are a solid tool for those who are eligible. 

In the fight against high insulin costs, no one is in it alone. High insulin costs impact most PWD—if you’re struggling to afford your insulin, develop your insulin action plan at GetInsulin.org. Here, you’ll find out whether you qualify for copay cards, cash-pay savings or patient assistance programs (PAP). 

Solutions are out there!