Advocates say half-price insulin is a step in the right direction
Lilly is now offering a half-priced version of its popular Humalog insulin. The company is fulfilling its March promise and introduced the Insulin Lispro Injection, which they say is the same as Humalog but at a 50 percent lower price tag. Insulin Lispro is available in a vial and KwikPen and has a list price of $137.35 per vial and $265.20 for a package of five KwikPens. While advocates say it's a step in the right direction, they're also adamant that there's more work to do...

Lilly is now offering a half-priced version of its popular Humalog insulin.
The company is fulfilling its March promise and introduced the Insulin Lispro Injection, which they say is the same as Humalog but at a 50 percent lower price tag.
Insulin Lispro is available in a vial and KwikPen and has a list price of $137.35 per vial and $265.20 for a package of five KwikPens.
While advocates say it's a step in the right direction, they're also adamant that there's more work to do.
Diana Isaacs, a spokesperson for the American Association of Diabetes Educators, says that even at half-cost, Lispro will still be expensive for many patients.
"The insulin is still $137 a vial, and many people need more than one vial a month," said Isaacs.
For some, the price reduction will likely be a life saver.
"I see this helping people who have high deductible plans who are having to pay for their initial prescriptions out of pocket, or people that are in the donut hole of Medicare and are having pay out of pocket for things," Isaacs explained.
Lilly says that since they are the same insulin, pharmacists will be able to substitute the Insulin Lispro Injection for Humalog.
"The availability of Lilly's Insulin Lispro Injection is important progress that helps more people afford their insulin," said Mike Mason, senior vice president, Connected Care and Insulins. "Lilly will continue to work with health plans, wholesalers, employers, and the government to work toward permanent solutions that will help every person with diabetes afford their medicines."
Stewart Perry, the Vice Chair of the Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition, says he applauds Lilly for slashing their prices- but he feels there's a need for a change at the top.
"Anything that reduces the cost of insulin for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes is a good thing - however that happens," said Perry.
He continued saying, "Until the government or somebody changes the whole way that drugs are priced and drugs are given to people in the United States, we are not going to see dramatic decreases in insulin or any other drug."
Perry, who works with the Senate Diabetes Caucus to change regulations surrounding insulin drug prices, and other policy issues, says they are pushing legislators to set a cap at how much patients would have to pay for a copay or out of pocket expense for insulin-related products.
"This is a life-saving drug and should be considered the same as a mammogram or a flu shot," he said.
Recognizing that for some families, even $137 a vial might be too much to pay, Perry urged patients to communicate with their doctors and reach out for help.
"Don't just accept I'm in a hole and I can't get out, start looking for the ladder because it exists.," Perry said. "There are lots of assistance, patient assistance programs out there. There's lots of different ways to go about it. Don't ration your insulin, don't not take it, get some help."
And while Isaacs and Perry both say that Lilly's move is the beginning of a change in insulin pricing, they're both convinced that the conversation is not over yet.
Patients can contact individual pharmaceutical companies, like Lilly, for help paying for their insulin. In addition, some health insurance providers also provide programs to help with medication costs.
A list of just a few resources available for those struggling to pay for their insulin medication can be found here.