Lantus (insulin glargine) is a prescription drug that’s used to manage blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Lantus’s cost may depend on your dosage, whether you have health insurance, and the pharmacy you use.
Lantus is used to manage high blood sugar levels in adults and certain children with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. It contains the active ingredient insulin glargine. (An active ingredient is what makes the drug work.)
Lantus comes as a liquid solution that you’ll inject under your skin. The medication is available in a vial (to use with insulin syringes) or in prefilled injection pens. For more details on Lantus, see this in-depth article.
The price you pay for Lantus can vary. Your cost may depend on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage (if you have it), and the pharmacy you use. You may also need to consider the cost of needles and syringes.
To find out how much you’ll pay for Lantus, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
Note: If you have insurance, you may need to get prior authorization before your insurance provider will cover Lantus. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss Lantus in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If Lantus requires prior authorization and you don’t receive it before you start treatment, you could pay the full cost of the drug.
Be sure to ask your insurance company whether Lantus requires prior authorization.
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about Lantus and cost.
Is there a coupon available for Lantus?
The drug manufacturer of Lantus doesn’t provide coupons, but certain savings programs are available.
If you don’t have health insurance, you may be eligible for the Sanofi Insulins Valyou Savings card. With this card, the price of Lantus is $35 per month.
If you have private insurance, you may be eligible for a savings card that lowers the price of your Lantus prescription to $99 or less.
For information on the above savings programs, visit the drug manufacturer’s website.
Finally, if Lantus is covered by your Medicare Part D plan, the price you pay is capped at $35 per month.
If you have questions about savings programs for Lantus, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Do Lantus SoloStar pens cost more than Lantus vials?
Traditionally, Lantus SoloStar pens have cost more than the Lantus vials.
But since 2023, your cost of Lantus likely depends more on what discounts you’re eligible for, rather than whether you’re using the pens or the vials. (See “Is there a coupon available for Lantus?” just above.)
However, these savings programs don’t include additional supplies you may need. If you use the Lantus SoloStar injection pens, you may need to buy needles. And if your Lantus is stored in a vial, you may need to buy syringes.
If you have more questions about the cost of pens versus the vials, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Lantus is a biologic drug, which means it’s made from parts of living organisms. It doesn’t come in a biosimilar form. Biosimilars are like generic drugs. Unlike generics, which are made for nonbiologic drugs, biosimilars are made for biologic drugs.
Why is there such a cost difference between biologic drugs and biosimilar drugs?Biologic drugs can be expensive because of the research and testing needed to ensure their safety and effectiveness. The drug manufacturer of a biologic drug can sell it for up to
12 years . When the biologic drug’s patent expires, other drug manufacturers can create biosimilar versions. This competition in the market may lead to lower costs for biosimilars. And because biosimilars are very similar to biologic drugs, they don’t need to be studied again. This can also lead to lower costs for biosimilars.
If you take Lantus long term, you may be able to lower your costs in the following ways:
Look into getting a 90-day supply of your medication. If enrollment in the savings card program doesn’t limit you to a 30-day supply, you may be able to get a 90-day supply of Lantus. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of Lantus. If you’re interested in getting a 90-day supply of this drug, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
Use a mail-order pharmacy to get your medication. Using a mail-order pharmacy might help lower your cost for Lantus. Plus, you could get your medication without leaving home. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order drugs. You may also be able to get a 90-day supply of the drug through mail order. If you don’t have health insurance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest online pharmacy options that could work for you.
If you need help covering the cost of Lantus or understanding your insurance, check out these resources:
On these sites, you can find insurance information, details on drug assistance programs, and links to savings cards and other services.
If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
If you still have questions about the cost of Lantus, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to give you a better idea of what you’ll pay for this drug. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you’d pay for Lantus.
Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor or insurance provider include:
To learn more about Lantus, see these articles:
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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.