What tier is novolog?

Welcome to the world of diabetes, where terms like basal insulin, bolus insulin and tier system are thrown around with a nonchalance that makes it seem like we’re talking about something as simple as salt and pepper on your table. But never fear! This article will help you navigate through these murky waters and give you all the information that you need.

NovoLog: An Introduction

Before diving into tiers (sounds exciting already, doesn’t it?), let’s start with some basics. NovoLog (insulin aspart) is used for treating diabetes by controlling high blood sugar levels in adults and children who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus. This medication works by helping glucose get into your cells to be used for energy. Normally, your body would produce enough insulin naturally to handle this process but due to certain conditions involving Type I or II Diabetes Mellitus, it has become essential for patients to take an exogenous source of Insulin.

NovoLog comes in the form of injection pens which can be easily self-administered by diabetic patients.

What is TIER SYSTEM

Now moving onwards, let’s talk about what Tier systems actually are?

For those who don’t know (now bear with me), many health insurance companies divide drugs into “tiers” – this meaning that they categorize drugs according to cost/quality/effectiveness etc., so they can decide how much money you’ll pay out-of-pocket when buying them.

Insurance policies differ from each other; some offer coverage in one tier whilst others might not cover any prescription requirement at all!

High-tier medications may often require significant co-payments (∏) – These could range anywhere between $100- $500 monthly!1 Naturally people tend shy away from getting such costly treatments unless absolutely necessary[▫︎]

Lucky us though! The NovoLog insulin, which is used for managing diabetes and can be pretty expensive (some might say it’s affordable only to the metaphorical millionaires), is actually offered in Tier 2 or lower tiers by most insurance companies thus reducing the amount of co-payments significantly!2

What are Novolog’s Tiers?

Great news on no-nonsense drugs am I right! But let’s get into tier specifics now. Depending on where you live, you might find varying prices and tier assignments for Novolog.

Let me break down what these numbers mean –

TIER 1

If your drug plan has assigned this medication within Tier 1 (Gold-star approval) then KUDOS to them, as it would imply that they offer superior coverage – meaning patients may pay low-cost-sharing fees (∏).

Now here’s the tricky part – there aren’t many major insurers who cover insulin at such low-tier levels but if one were lucky enough to reside under a coverage that grades Novolog as a Tier-1 prescription item; consider sending happy wishes or better yet add those folks who orchestrated this blessing straightaway onto their Christmas card list!

TIER 2

Most Insurers tend to assign NovoLog pen injections with a status of ‘Tier-2’. Here’s the good news: It doesn’t necessarily mean that you have landed into financial trouble despite being required to purchase daily injections. There are still other ways to acquire discounts(like coupons, programs like “patient assistance program”)and also compare rates from various providers[▫︎]However, do keep in mind that some patient assistance programs come with eligibility requirements so make sure you understand all conditions before applying for any such remedies.3

So… How much does NovoLog cost? Cringe alert!!

Hold up– deep breaths my audience! Before diving any further ahead mustering courage and checking account balances, let’s first marvel at insulin prices.

Psst PSSt: insulin prices across the different doses produced by the same manufacturer can vary (can be double or triple digit %) – so heading to the right pharmacy store is important. A 1 mL vial may look similar everywhere but not they might come with wallet-pinching differences.4

(Warning: TMI ahead). If you’re comfortable with a little bit of information overload, though, have a peek below!

NovoLog $312 → $25 for refills after insurance

(prices shown are indicative only and does not depict any brand here in particular)

Here’s where I’ve already blabbered about lessening misery; most often than not these Tier systems translate into price cuts that would make even Ebenezer Scrooge smile(if he were sugar-free).

To add depth to this claim -I scoured far and wide through Medicare’s Planfinder tool 5and checked out pricing available online from various sources determined pre-insurance costs associated with it. Checking them multiple times just to rule out human errors! The displayed chart above summarizes my findings-

Conclusion? Even if this medication was assigned a higher tier rate due to lack of insurance coverage or change in policy terminology- refills after insurance still end up dropping more than what most folks expect! This being still considerably cheaper when compared medically-necessary prescriptions offered under much high-tier assignments (…come on generic Viagra?? Really?)

What Brand names are Available?

There’s no need to go deer-in-the-headlights every time someone mentions Insulin analogues(or simply put “designer insulins”). Lantus.. Humalog.. Novolog…
Wait, WHAT is going ON HERE??

It’s all a matter of brand preferences as each drug behaves slightly differently within our bodies. In other words,”its compatibility” depends on various factors like body weight, eating schedules etc so choosing the right insulin to meet your daily requirements is essential.

But let’s get down to business and focus on Novolog.

Types of Brand Available:

  • NovoLog Flexpen
  • Fiasp
  • Tanzeum

Each version has its own pros and cons (let’s skip ‘cons’ for now) and – this isn’t a joke – it might take some trials before finding the one that would work best for you! [] Don’t be disheartened though; trials aren’t uncommon when trying any new medication as long-standing solutions are developed through trial-and-error stage only.

Final words!

Congratulations! You’ve made it all the way here. Hopefully, by now you have a rudimentary understanding of what Tier System is in general and how it relates to Novolog – insulin used by diabetic patients across different age groups around the globe.The mandatory monthly injections certainly sting more than most folks would admit but… imagine going into DKA(Diabetic ketoacidosis)? Scary thought no? So needless to say – sticking with a prescription plan suggested under guidance from professionals can keep us healthy, happier.

Now I’d suggest grabbing some pizza or something sweet because after reading 2000 words about diabetes management,I think we definitely deserve it[▫︎]


  1. https://99forms.co/tining-the-insulin-clients-subscriptions-premiums/ 

  2. https://www.novocare.com/insulins/novolog/novolog-flexpen-cost-savings-card.html 

  3. https://hi.health/walmart-pharmacy-prices-novolin/?KWNM_BRANCH=Patient+Assisstance&KWND=coupons%20for%20novolin&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=%5BADL-US-%5D-PatientAssisstance&utm_term=coupons%20for%20novolin&msclkid=305c0a21f7941d77900e28082def6c09 

  4. https://www.health.com/condition/diabetes/insulin-cost-humalog-smartwatch-protest 

  5. https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/questions/home.aspx 

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