There are ways to save money on insulin that may not be immediately apparent. Here's how to find coupons for insulin and other deals.

Did you know that it costs almost $1,500 for a single vial of the insulin medication? It gets worse: the exact same vial of medication costs less than $200 just 15 years ago. How does this apply to you? Here's the deal. There are tons of ways to save money on insulin that may not be immediately apparent. Here's how to find coupons for insulin and other deals!

First of all, why is insulin so essential for diabetes patients? Here's the breakdown. Even though insulin naturally occurs in our bodies, we can't survive if our systems aren't producing enough of this hormone.

That's when insulin medication was invented at the beginning of the 1900s. Used to convert sugar into energy, insulin meds are a true lifesaver for those with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Not sure what the difference is? In a nutshell, type 1 diabetes patients have trouble producing any insulin at all, while type 2 diabetes patients have super low insulin levels. But here's the catch: some type 2 diabetes patients may not even need insulin meds when they're first diagnosed.

That being said, the cost of insulin medication has basically exploded over the last decade. So if you're someone with diabetes and a small budget, it can be extremely tough to make your insulin doses last. While some look for medications that can be split, others cope by taking their insulin medication every other day instead of daily.

And here's the kicker: for those diabetes patients who are really strapped for cash, they may not even be able to afford an insulin refill in the first place. Are you lucky enough to keep up with the rising cost of insulin? If that's the case, then congratulations. But that doesn't mean you don't have to sacrifice other essentials like groceries to keep your insulin prescription filled. Of course, this isn't the best situation for someone struggling with diabetes to have to be in. So what's the solution? We're glad that you asked. When it comes to your particular circumstance, we've got you covered. Take a look at a couple of alternative options that can help you feel healthier for longer!

Want to learn how to save money on insulin meds? Then you've come to the right place. Here are a few of our favorite methods:

● Ask your doctor for a shorter-acting medication

● Look at the drug formulary on your insurance plan

● Research patient assistant programs from drug manufacturers

First things first: you can start saving cash by asking your doctor for a shorter-acting medication. If you're already taking a long-acting form of insulin, you might be able to switch to an intermediate-acting form of insulin instead. What's the difference?

Essentially, shelling out for long-acting medication is often a lot pricier than buying one with a shorter-acting price tag. Although that doesn't mean it works better, it'll at least guarantee you'll have more money in your pocket at the end of the day. 

Next, look at the drug formulary on your insurance plan. In case you didn't know, a formulary is a list of medications that your insurance provider recommends for you. Not only that, but they'll usually have diabetes medicine names with price estimates as well.

For those who are unaware, the different tiers on your medical plans have different costs too. Our general rule of thumb is that the higher your tier is, the more money you can expect to pay for the copay at your pharmacy. Want to reduce your out-of-pocket costs? 

It's simple. Make sure that you choose the preferred insulin medication from your insurance provider. Another great way to cut insulin costs is to research patient assistant programs from drug manufacturers.

FYI: if you don't have any health insurance, you're much more likely to qualify for this type of medical assistance program. Although it's a short-term fix, it's a wonderful way to supplement your insulin costs. But wait, there's more!

Dying to know more money-saving insulin tips? Luckily enough, we've done all of the hard work for you. The good news is if you meet certain income requirements, you can actually qualify for some of the following patient assistance programs:

● Sanofi Patient Connection, which can help you save on Lantus by providing manufacturer coupons

● NovoCare, which takes care of those who need Novo Nordisk medications

● LillyCares, which involves medications like Humulin, Levemir, and Basaglar

Already have medical insurance? If so, then you could get hit with a high copay cost too. That's why some drug manufacturers will even offer coupons that can help reduce Humalog copay card payments.

For those who are still feeling stuck, you might want to consider either: 

● Asking a community or non-profit organization for assistance

● Comparing insulin prices at different pharmacies

Ever thought about asking a community or non-profit organization for assistance? Thankfully, there are a bunch of charities that are dedicated to those in need of help with their insulin meds, including: 

● Rx Hope

● Partnership for Prescription Assistance

● Benefits Check Up of the National Council on Aging

● Affordable Insulin Project

● The Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation

Don't forget about contacting local charitable organizations like the Kiwanis Club, Elks Club, or the Lions Club. Not to mention, the Rotary Club. Although many medications have different prices at various pharmacies, some diabetes patients recommend Walmart for an affordable version of insulin named ReliOn. Just make sure you know how this type of insulin works if you decide to pick it up at the store. That way, you'll be sure to avoid a hypoglycemic attack. Need to find a reliable online pharmacy? Don't hesitate to visit this website!

On the hunt for additional insulin medication hacks? We got your back. For starters, you can begin by: 

● Keeping up with the latest biosimilars

● Eating a healthier diet

● Staying as active as possible

Let's talk about keeping up with the latest biosimilars. While there aren't too many generic alternatives for the most popular insulin medications, you can always find a biosimilar med instead. Even though they're still relatively expensive, some medical insurance companies are working on cutting the price of biosimilars as soon as they become more available. That's why it's such a great idea to keep your eye out for cheaper biosimilars in the future.

This is crazy: eating a healthier diet can even help you to reduce your dependency on insulin meds. How so? Because it can keep you from reaching for your prescription during meal times. 

Get this: carbs have a huge effect on your blood sugar, especially in comparison to fat and protein. So if you eat too many refined carbohydrates, you might have a dangerously high blood sugar level to deal with. Naturally, you'll need to take an extra high dosage of insulin to combat this.

However, cutting carbs can help you by controlling your blood sugar levels directly after eating a meal. The result: fewer insulin meds. How can you beat that?

Lastly, do yourself a favor and stay as active as possible. That's because exercising regularly also controls your blood sugar, making your diabetes diagnosis way more manageable. Don't be afraid to mix it up and try out: 

● Walking

● Hiking

● Jogging

● Bodyweight exercises 

But we can't emphasize this enough: talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise routine. Still not sure how to save money on your insulin medication? From asking your doctor for a shorter-acting medication to looking at the drug formulary on your insurance plan, we're here to help. Don't have any medical insurance? Then it doesn't hurt to apply for a drug manufacturer's patient assistance program either. Not only could this save you serious cash on prescriptions, but it could also take care of your copay.

For those who don't qualify for patient assistance programs, have no fear. Pro tip: you can always eat a healthier diet and stay active instead. If you don't know where to start, you can't go wrong with walking, hiking, jogging, or bodyweight exercises.

What's the bottom line? Whatever money-saving method you choose, there's nothing better than keeping your insulin prescription filled on a super tight budget. That's why coupons for insulin are literally priceless when it comes to affording your diabetes medication!