Amazon offering insulin for $35 per month, delivered

Amazon Pharmacy is offering insulin at $35 per month, delivered, to its customers. By using coupons that are automatically applied on more than 15 insulin and diabetes care brands, customers can save on some of the most commonly prescribed products from Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, Sanofi, Dexcom, and Insulet. The covered products include insulin vials, pens, continuous glucose monitors, and pumps, according to the company.

Approximately 8 million people use insulin and is a financial burden for more than 14% of the people who use it in the U.S., according to Amazon Pharmacy.

“Access to affordable diabetes medications and technology can help people living with diabetes stay healthy and avoid complications,” said Charles Henderson, chief executive officer of the American Diabetes Association, in a statement. “Sadly, some of the more than 37 million Americans living with diabetes can’t afford the treatments they need to survive. We applaud Amazon Pharmacy for innovating on behalf of patients and taking the important action to help ensure people living with diabetes can easily access the treatments they need through a transparent purchase process that automatically applies any eligible discounts.”

Amazon created technology that automatically applies eligible coupons at checkout to make it easier for customers to find savings without any extra effort. With an estimated 85% of manufacturer coupons going unused, Amazon’s efforts will help diabetes patients save money. Whether eligible customers are insured, underinsured, or uninsured, they’ll be able to easily view the price of each product directly on Amazon.

“Imagine not knowing the price of food or other essentials before being asked to pay at the cash register—that would be a terrible experience,” said John Love, vice president of Amazon Pharmacy, in a statement. “The lack of upfront pricing in pharmacy is a pain point for customers that Amazon Pharmacy can help solve. Similar to how customers shop for the items they need on Amazon, we’re making it simpler to get critical medications.”

This clear, upfront pricing was a major goal for Amazon Pharmacy.

“Even though upfront pricing sounds obvious, it’s a sea change in health care,” said Dr. Vin Gupta, chief medical officer of Amazon Pharmacy. “As a physician, it’s heartening to know that patients will have visibility into the cost of their insulin before they stand in line or wait to speak with a pharmacist. And, if the cost isn’t what they anticipate, we can more quickly find other options that are affordable and appropriate to their care. Automatically applying coupons allows patients to better access medications that are effective and affordable, and this combination can improve adherence and support better care.”

Manufacturer-sponsored coupons on Amazon Pharmacy are offered for insulin and diabetes care products, as well as other brand-name therapies for the treatment of COPD, obesity, and more.

This latest offering is one of many Amazon is making in health care. Amazon Pharmacy’s new RxPass subscription for Prime members is $5 a month and includes as many eligible medications as a customer is prescribed. Alternately, Prime members can save with the Prime prescription savings benefit to get discounts up to 80% off generic and 40% off brand name medications at more than 60,000 participating pharmacies nationwide, including Amazon Pharmacy and the PillPack by Amazon Pharmacy service.