Amazon Pharmacy launches ‘automatic coupons’ for $35 insulin products
Following Biden’s $35 cap on insulin costs for seniors on Medicare and three pharma companies agreeing to the cost reduction, Amazon is now giving its online customers instant discounts for the diabetes drug.
Although eligible customers now can purchase insulin for as little as $35 a month, they have had to manually enter coupon information when ordering online. Amazon Pharmacy has changed that. On Tuesday, the online retailer announced that it is introducing automatic coupons to provide instant savings on more than 15 insulin and diabetes care brands.
“It’s not easy to actually figure out how to get that low cost, even though manufacturers and Congress have moved toward that direction,” said Vin Gupta, Amazon Pharmacy’s chief medical officer. “Transparency here is really key.”
Customers can save time and money on the most commonly prescribed diabetes products, such as insulin vials, pens, continuous glucose monitors and pumps. Amazon developed technology that automatically applies eligible coupons at checkout so customers won’t have to do any additional work to get the savings. Whether eligible customers are insured, underinsured or uninsured, they will be able to easily view the price of each product directly and not worry about missing potential savings.
Novo Nordisk, Lilly and Sanofi announced in March that they would slash their insulin prices by at least 70% by 2024. However, a July report from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said some patients were finding it difficult to get already discounted generic insulin from pharmacies at the promised lower price. Despite Lilly lowering the list price of its Insulin Lispro to $25 per vial in May, patients still were being quoted as much as $330 for the medicine and some were not being told about less-expensive options.
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“Even though upfront pricing sounds obvious, it’s a sea change in health care,” Gupta said. “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.”
Charles Henderson, CEO of the American Diabetes Association, expects the automated process to benefit patients.
“Access to affordable diabetes medications and technology can help people living with diabetes stay healthy and avoid complications,” he said. “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.”
As part of President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which aims to help reduce the cost of health care and prescription drugs in particular, people with traditional Medicare who take insulin will not pay more than $35 for a month’s supply.