Walmart launches cheaper rapid-acting insulin

In June, Walmart announced its plans to sell its own private brand analog insulin, ReliOn Novolog (insulin aspart) at significantly lower prices than the currently available brands. As any diabetic will tell you, insulin prices have skyrocketed in recent years, adding yet another challenge to the already difficult task of controlling blood sugar levels and diabetes management.

According to the CDC, diabetes is the most expensive chronic condition in the U.S. There’s good reason. Until recently, just three companies — Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi — controlled 99% of the diabetes medication market; no generic versions of insulin were available. Finding the lowest price for insulin was no easy task either.

How much cheaper is Walmart's ReliOn insulin?

Walmart projects that its rapid-acting insulin will cost $72.88 per vial and $85.88 per FlexPen, averaging a cost about 58% to 75% less than the cash price of other insulin products available. These price points would save patients $101 per vial and $251 per package of FlexPens, and will be available in Walmart pharmacies and Sam’s Club pharmacies nationwide..

The cost of managing type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes can be as high as $10000 a year. According to the American Diabetes Association, people with diagnosed diabetes incur average medical expenditures of $16,752 per year, of which about $9,601 is attributed to diabetes. On average, people with diagnosed diabetes have health care costs approximately 2.3 times higher than what expenditures would be in the absence of diabetes.

We know many people with diabetes struggle to manage the financial burden of this condition, and we are focused on helping by providing affordable solutions… With ReliOn NovoLog insulin, we’re adding a high-quality medication for diabetes to the already affordable ReliOn line of products,” stated Dr Cheryl Pegus, executive vice president of Walmart Health & Wellness.

The Walmart insulin is a rapid-acting insulin analog and has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for controlling high blood sugar in adults and children with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. The ReliOn insulin will be manufactured by pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, which also manufactures the short-acting Novolin R (human insulin) and the intermediate-acting NPH insulin Novolin N.

Finding the Best Price for Your Insulin

The seemingly constant rise in insulin prices means that many patients have difficulty affording the medication they need, forcing them to ration their supply or make risky choices. Walmart’s announcement of the launch of its own insulin analog offers hope that other retailers and manufacturers will follow with other low-cost options like the ReliOn brand – or that this is the start of a trend low cost medications and insulin products that will sweep the entire industry.

In the meantime, if you’re living with diabetes you have a wealth of resources who can help with diabetes management and its associated costs, such as insulin pens and blood sugar tests. That includes your primary care physician, endocrinologist, and even your pharmacist. Besides providing necessary information, treatment planning, and advocacy they can also offer you cost-saving options such as:

• Deciding between a single combination pill versus individual drugs
• Taking advantage of using a higher dosage and pill splitting
• Choosing generic prescription drugs over brand names
• Finding alternative treatments to what you’re currently prescribed
• Leverage patient assistance programs or PAPs offered by pharmaceutical companies, device manufacturers and governmental agencies (Medicare, Medicaid, and Veterans Affairs) provided you meet eligibility requirements

Up to 85% of people with diabetes have never discussed the cost of diabetes management with their providers. Be sure to tell your doctor if you struggle with drug prices and the affordability of your meds, or any challenges that prevent you from taking your insulin dose, or other medications.

In the meantime, ModRN Health can help. Find out how to make your prescriptions more affordable with help from ModRN Health . ModRN Health can help you save up to 80% on your medications. Simply download the FREE app, search for your meds, and find the best drug prices locally, right now.

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