Manufacturer Assistance for Diabetes

By Web Admin
Medical Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your physician or a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition or treatment.

Key Takeaways

  • Patient assistance programs (PAPs) provide free or steeply discounted diabetes drugs to uninsured or underinsured patients with household incomes typically up to 300 to 400 percent of the federal poverty level — but most exclude Medicare beneficiaries.
  • The four largest diabetes drug manufacturers all run PAPs — Lilly Cares (Humalog, Trulicity, Mounjaro), Novo Nordisk PAP (Ozempic, Tresiba), Sanofi Patient Connection (Lantus, Toujeo), and Boehringer Ingelheim Cares (Jardiance).
  • Commercial-insurance savings cards are different from PAPs — they reduce copays for people with private insurance (often to $25 per month for GLP-1s) but cannot be used with Medicare, Medicaid, or VA.
  • Application takes 2 to 6 weeks and requires the patient form, prescriber form, income verification, and proof of insurance status — apply 4 to 6 weeks before running out of medication.
  • Aggregator tools like PhRMA's Medicine Assistance Tool and NeedyMeds.org match patients to multiple PAPs at once, saving time on individual research.
Table of Contents
  1. Patient Assistance Programs vs Savings Cards
  2. Eli Lilly Programs
  3. Novo Nordisk Programs
  4. Sanofi Programs
  5. Boehringer Ingelheim Programs
  6. Merck and AstraZeneca Programs
  7. Eligibility at a Glance
  8. How to Apply — Step-by-Step
  9. Aggregator Tools That Save Time
  10. Special Programs for Medicare Beneficiaries
  11. Things That Disqualify You
  12. Manufacturer-Direct Cash Programs
  13. Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
  14. Related Reading
  15. The Bottom Line

Manufacturer assistance for diabetes drugs comes in two flavors — patient assistance programs (PAPs) that give free or near-free medication to uninsured patients, and savings cards that lower copays for commercially insured patients. Together they save US diabetes patients hundreds of millions of dollars per year. This guide lists the major 2026 programs by manufacturer, explains who qualifies, and walks through how to apply.

Patient Assistance Programs vs Savings Cards

Feature Patient Assistance Program (PAP) Savings Card / Copay Card
Who it helps Uninsured or underinsured low-income patients Commercially insured patients
Typical benefit Free or $5-25 per fill Reduces copay to $25-150 per month
Income limit 300-400% FPL typical None for most programs
Medicare/Medicaid? Excluded by most Excluded by all (federal anti-kickback rules)
Application 2-page forms, income proof, prescriber signature Online enrollment, instant card
Renewal Annual Annual or per-prescription

Eli Lilly Programs

  • Lilly Cares Foundation — free drugs for uninsured at or under 400 percent FPL. Includes Humalog, Humulin, Trulicity, Mounjaro, Zepbound (for type 2 diabetes and obesity respectively when prescribed). Apply at lillycares.com.
  • Lilly Insulin Value Program — $35 per month for any Lilly insulin, available to anyone regardless of insurance status. Includes Humalog, Humulin, Basaglar. No income limit.
  • Mounjaro Savings Card — commercial insurance only; reduces copay to $25 per month for up to 13 fills with savings up to $150 off list price. Annual cap.
  • Zepbound Savings Card — for those with commercial coverage that does include Zepbound, reduces to as low as $25; for those whose plan excludes Zepbound, savings card brings price down but not to $25.

Novo Nordisk Programs

  • Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program — free insulin (NovoLog, Levemir, Tresiba, Fiasp) and GLP-1s (Ozempic, Victoza, Rybelsus, Wegovy) for uninsured at or under 400 percent FPL.
  • NovoCare Savings Card for Ozempic — commercial insurance, $25 per month for up to 24 months, max $150 off per fill.
  • NovoCare Savings Card for Wegovy — commercial insurance covering Wegovy: $0 to $25 per month; commercial insurance not covering Wegovy: lower-tier discount.
  • My$99Insulin — uninsured patients can buy up to 3 vials or 2 packs of pens of any combination of NovoLog, Novolin, Levemir, or Tresiba for $99 per month direct from Novo Nordisk.

Sanofi Programs

  • Sanofi Patient Connection — free Lantus, Toujeo, Apidra, Admelog, Soliqua, Adlyxin for uninsured patients up to 400 percent FPL.
  • Insulins Valyou Savings Program — uninsured patients pay $35 per Sanofi insulin per month or $99 for up to 10 boxes of pens / 10 vials.
  • Lantus Savings Card — commercial insurance, as low as $0 per month for up to 12 fills.
  • Toujeo Savings Card — commercial insurance, as low as $0 per month.

Boehringer Ingelheim Programs

  • BI Cares Foundation — free Jardiance, Glyxambi, Synjardy, Tradjenta for uninsured at or under 400 percent FPL.
  • Jardiance Savings Card — commercial insurance, as low as $10 per month for up to 24 months.

Merck and AstraZeneca Programs

  • Merck Patient Assistance Program — free Januvia, Janumet for uninsured patients.
  • AstraZeneca AZ&Me Program — free Farxiga, Xigduo, Bydureon for uninsured at or under 400 percent FPL.
  • Farxiga Savings Card — commercial insurance, as low as $0 per month for up to 13 fills.

Eligibility at a Glance

Household Size 200% FPL 300% FPL 400% FPL
1 person $30,420 $45,630 $60,840
2 people $41,220 $61,830 $82,440
3 people $52,020 $78,030 $104,040
4 people $62,820 $94,230 $125,640

FPL figures are 2025; programs typically use the most recent published amounts. Check the manufacturer’s site for current thresholds.

How to Apply — Step-by-Step

  1. Confirm eligibility on the manufacturer’s website — income, insurance, residency, prescription
  2. Download the application — usually 2 to 4 pages
  3. Complete the patient section — income, household size, current insurance, contact info
  4. Sign income verification — provide pay stubs, tax return page 1, SSI letter, or unemployment statement
  5. Take to your prescriber — the doctor signs the prescriber section confirming diagnosis and medication need
  6. Submit by fax, mail, or upload — instructions on the form
  7. Wait 2 to 4 weeks for decision
  8. Receive medication by mail to your home or your doctor’s office, typically 90-day supplies
  9. Renew annually — usually a shorter renewal form

Aggregator Tools That Save Time

  • PhRMA Medicine Assistance Tool (MAT) — medicineassistancetool.org, searches all major manufacturer PAPs at once
  • NeedyMeds — needymeds.org, broader database including disease-specific foundations, free clinics, drug discount programs, and state pharmacy assistance programs
  • RxAssist — rxassist.org, similar comprehensive directory
  • BenefitsCheckUp — benefitscheckup.org, finds all federal, state, and local assistance you may qualify for

Special Programs for Medicare Beneficiaries

While most PAPs exclude Medicare patients, these resources help fill diabetes coverage gaps:

  • Medicare Extra Help (Low Income Subsidy) — lowers Part D premiums, deductibles, and copays for those at or under roughly 150 percent FPL
  • State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs) — about 20 states run programs supplementing Medicare drug coverage; varies widely
  • Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation — disease-specific grants including diabetes
  • HealthWell Foundation — diabetes copay assistance grants when funded
  • The Assistance Fund — diabetes-specific fund supports Medicare patients with high-cost drugs

Things That Disqualify You

  • Active Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, VA, or other government insurance (most PAPs)
  • Income above the program’s threshold
  • Living outside the US
  • No valid prescription for the specific drug
  • Drug used off-label without supporting documentation (varies)

Manufacturer-Direct Cash Programs

These low-cost direct-from-manufacturer options bypass insurance entirely:

Program Manufacturer What You Get Price
Lilly Insulin Value Program Lilly Any Lilly insulin $35 / month
My$99Insulin Novo Nordisk 3 vials or 2 pen packs $99 / month
Insulins Valyou Sanofi 1 vial or 1 box pens $35 / month
ReliOn Novolin (Walmart) Novo Nordisk + Walmart 1 vial Novolin N, R, or 70/30 ~$25 / vial

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

  • Letting the application sit on your desk for weeks — most expire after 90 days incomplete
  • Sending without prescriber signature — auto-rejected
  • Listing income from last year when current is lower — submit recent pay stubs showing the change
  • Applying when you have Medicare — wait until you can document you opted out of Part D or use a Medicare-eligible foundation
  • Trying to combine a savings card with a PAP — they are mutually exclusive
  • Missing annual renewal and having medication shipment stop

See related guides on the $35 insulin price cap, GoodRx for diabetes, Walmart’s $4 diabetes list, and our overview of Medicare diabetes coverage. For broader treatment context, see our treatment hub.

The Bottom Line

Manufacturer assistance programs can mean the difference between rationing insulin and full adherence for many diabetes patients without comprehensive insurance. Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck, and AstraZeneca all run patient assistance programs offering free or near-free diabetes drugs to uninsured patients with household incomes typically up to 300 to 400 percent of the federal poverty level. Commercial copay cards layer on top of private insurance to bring costs as low as $0 to $25 per month. Most programs exclude Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, who should look at Extra Help, state pharmaceutical assistance, and foundations like PAN or HealthWell instead. Aggregator tools like PhRMA’s MAT and NeedyMeds save hours of searching. Apply 4 to 6 weeks before running out, keep renewal dates on your calendar, and ask your prescriber’s office for help — many have experience submitting these forms quickly. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist about which combination of programs fits your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who qualifies for diabetes manufacturer assistance programs?

Typical eligibility includes being a US resident, having a prescription for the specific drug, household income at or below 300 to 400 percent of the federal poverty level (about $60,840 to $81,120 for a household of one in 2026), and being uninsured or underinsured. Most PAPs exclude Medicare, Medicaid, and VA beneficiaries. Each program sets its own rules — check the manufacturer's website or PhRMA's MAT database.

What is the difference between a savings card and a patient assistance program?

A savings card (or copay card) lowers your copay if you have commercial insurance — for example, the Mounjaro Savings Card reduces commercial copay to $25 per month. A patient assistance program (PAP) provides the medication free or at very low cost if you are uninsured or your insurance does not cover the drug. Savings cards cannot be used with Medicare, Medicaid, or government insurance; PAPs require you to be without such coverage.

How long does it take to get approved?

Most programs take 2 to 4 weeks to process a completed application; some take up to 6 weeks. Renewals are typically annual. Apply at least 4 to 6 weeks before your current supply runs out. Some programs offer bridge supplies of 30 to 90 days while applications are pending. Your prescriber's office often has experience submitting these and can help speed things along.

Can I use manufacturer assistance with Medicare?

Generally no — most PAPs and all manufacturer copay cards exclude Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and VA. A few foundations and state programs help Medicare beneficiaries fill insulin gaps. Medicare's $35 insulin cap and $2,000 annual Part D cap reduce the need for assistance for most insulin users. For high-cost drugs like GLP-1s on Medicare, look at the Extra Help low-income subsidy and state pharmaceutical assistance programs instead.

Sources

  1. PhRMA. Medicine Assistance Tool (MAT) Patient Assistance Programs Database. https://medicineassistancetool.org/
  2. NeedyMeds. Patient Assistance Programs for Diabetes Medications. https://www.needymeds.org/

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