Levemir (insulin detemir) is a brand-name injection prescribed for diabetes in adults and children. The cost of the drug, with and without insurance, can depend on several factors, such as whether Levemir has a savings program.
As with all medications, the cost of Levemir can vary. Factors that may affect the price you’ll pay include:
- your treatment plan
- your insurance coverage
- the pharmacy you use
- whether Levemir has a savings program (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section below)
In addition, you’ll need to purchase needles to use Levemir vials or prefilled pens. You’ll also need to purchase syringes to use the vials.
To find out what the cost of Levemir will be for you, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. Or look below in the next section to learn how much you can save by using an Optum Perks coupon.
To save money on your Levemir prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons.
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Save on Levemir without insurance.
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Simply show the Optum Perks coupon at your preferred pharmacy or order online and instantly save up to 80% without using insurance. The coupon doesn’t expire, so be sure to save it for refills.
Retail price refers to the manufacturer’s published list price and is up to date as of 3/2023. Retail and discounted prices are U.S.-only and can vary based on region and pharmacy. We cannot guarantee that the discounted price listed here will exactly match the price at your pharmacy. Please contact your pharmacy for the exact price.
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Pricing source:Perks.optum.com
Levemir contains the active ingredient insulin detemir, and it’s available only as a brand-name biologic drug. It doesn’t come in a biosimilar version. A biosimilar medication is a drug that’s similar to a brand-name biologic drug (the parent drug). Biosimilars tend to cost less than brand-name medications.
WHY ARE COSTS DIFFERENT FOR BIOLOGIC DRUGS VS. BIOSIMILAR DRUGS?Biologic drugs can be expensive because of the research needed to test their safety and effectiveness. The manufacturer of a biologic drug can sell it for up to
12 years . When the biologic drug’s patent expires, multiple manufacturers can create biosimilar versions. This marketplace competition may lead to lower costs for biosimilars. Also, because biosimilars are very similar to biologic drugs, they don’t require the same costly testing.
If you take Levemir long term, you may be able to lower its cost in the following ways.
Getting a 3-month supply
You may be able to get a 90-day supply of Levemir. If approved by your insurance company, getting a 90-day supply of the drug could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost. If you’re interested in this option, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
Using a mail-order pharmacy
Levemir may be available through a mail-order pharmacy. Using this type of service may help lower the drug’s cost and allow you to receive your medication without leaving home. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order medications. You may also be able to get a 90-day supply of the drug via 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 financial support to pay for Levemir or help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available. For example:
- A program called NovoCare is available for Levemir. For more information and to find out whether you’re eligible for support, visit the Levemir manufacturer’s website.
- Some websites provide details about drug assistance programs, ways to make the most of your insurance coverage, and links to savings cards and other services. Two such websites are:
To learn more about saving money on prescriptions with or without insurance, check out this article.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about drug cost and Levemir.
How much is Levemir insulin with insurance vs. the Levemir cost without insurance?
Several factors affect the price of Levemir if you have insurance compared to what you’d pay without it.
Factors that could affect what you pay for this drug without insurance include:
- the quantity your doctor prescribes (such as a 90-day or 30-day supply)
- whether you apply and qualify for any available savings programs
- your dosage and treatment plan
- the pharmacy you use
- the form your doctor prescribes (the prefilled pen or the vial)
These same factors may affect your price for Levemir if you have insurance. But the price you pay with insurance will also depend on:
- your specific plan benefits
- any prior authorization requirements you have for drug coverage
To learn more about what you’d pay for Levemir with or without insurance, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider (if you have one).
You can also visit Optum Perks* for price estimates for this drug when using coupons from their site. However, Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance benefits or copays.
* Optum Perks is a sister site of Medical News Today.
How does the cost of Levemir vials compare to the Levemir Flexpen cost?
The price you’ll pay for Levemir depends on various factors. The form of the drug is one factor that may affect its price.
Levemir is available in a vial and a prefilled pen. The costs of these two forms may be different. You’ll also need to buy needles for both forms. For the vials, there’s an additional cost for syringes. If you have insurance, your plan may cover the vial and the prefilled pen differently. This could affect your copay.
Additional factors that can affect your prescription cost include:
- the length of your treatment
- whether there are payment assistance programs for your prescribed treatment
- whether you’re paying out of pocket or have insurance
To learn more about the cost of Levemir Flexpen compared with the vial, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
Below is information you may want to consider if you have insurance and receive Levemir.
If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers Levemir. This means the company and your doctor will discuss Levemir in regard to your treatment. The insurance company will then determine whether the medication is covered.
If a drug requires prior authorization but you start treatment without the prior approval, you could pay the full cost of the medication. You can ask your insurance company whether Levemir requires prior authorization.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.