Glucagon emergency kits retail for around $519 without insurance, making them one of the more expensive items in a diabetes supply kit. Several programs can bring that cost down to zero or close to it, depending on your insurance status and income. Here’s how to access them.
Why Glucagon Kits Are So Expensive
A single glucagon emergency kit (the traditional mix-and-inject type) averages about $518.59 at retail pharmacies without insurance. Newer, easier-to-use options like pre-filled auto-injectors and nasal powder devices often cost even more. Because glucagon is an emergency medication you hope to never use, that price tag feels especially frustrating. The kit sits in your fridge or bag as a safety net, and it expires after about 18 months whether you use it or not.
The good news: you have more options than you might think for cutting that cost dramatically or eliminating it entirely.
Manufacturer Patient Assistance Programs
The companies that make glucagon products each run their own assistance programs. These are typically the most direct path to a free or nearly free kit.
Gvoke (pre-filled auto-injector): Xeris Pharmaceuticals runs a program called myGvoke that offers financial support for eligible patients. You can call 877-694-8653 or visit the myGvoke website to check your eligibility. These manufacturer programs generally have options for both insured and uninsured patients, with the deepest discounts reserved for people without coverage or with high out-of-pocket costs.
Baqsimi (nasal powder): This needle-free option, which you spray into the nose during a severe low blood sugar episode, has its own patient support program. You can reach it at 1-800-545-5979 or through baqsimi.com/patient-support. Copay cards through the manufacturer have historically brought costs down to around $25 for commercially insured patients, though terms change periodically.
Traditional glucagon kits: Generic versions of the original mix-and-inject glucagon kit are now available, and their manufacturers sometimes offer savings programs as well. Even without a formal program, generic pricing through discount cards can drop the cost from $519 to roughly $141.
Prescription Discount Cards
If you don’t qualify for a manufacturer program or prefer the traditional kit, pharmacy discount cards offer substantial savings. Services like SingleCare, GoodRx, and RxAssist provide coupons that work at most chain pharmacies. For the standard glucagon emergency kit, discount cards can bring the price down to around $141, a savings of more than $375 off the retail price. These cards are free to use, require no insurance, and work immediately at the pharmacy counter.
This won’t get you to zero, but it’s the fastest option if you need a kit today and don’t have time to wait for assistance program approval.
Insurance Coverage and Appeals
Most private insurance plans and Medicaid cover glucagon as a medically necessary emergency medication for people with diabetes who use insulin. If your plan covers it but the copay is still high, layering a manufacturer copay card on top of your insurance can often reduce your cost to $25 or less.
If your insurer denies coverage or places glucagon on a high-cost specialty tier, ask your doctor to submit a prior authorization. The prescribing criteria are straightforward: glucagon is FDA-approved for treating severe hypoglycemia in both children and adults with diabetes. Your doctor doesn’t need to document a prior severe low episode to prescribe it. Anyone on insulin or certain other diabetes medications that carry hypoglycemia risk is a reasonable candidate.
If your plan covers one type of glucagon but not the one you want, consider whether switching products is worth it. A covered nasal spray you actually have on hand is more useful than an auto-injector you can’t afford to fill.
Medicare and Low-Income Assistance
Medicare Part D covers glucagon, but your copay depends on your specific plan and which coverage phase you’re in. If cost is a barrier, the Medicare Low-Income Subsidy (also called Extra Help) can pay for some or all of your out-of-pocket drug costs, including deductibles, monthly premiums, and copays. You can apply through Social Security’s website or by calling 1-800-772-1213.
State Medicaid programs generally cover glucagon with minimal or no copay. If you’re uninsured and your income is low enough to qualify for Medicaid in your state, enrollment would cover not just glucagon but your broader diabetes supplies.
Nonprofit and Community Resources
Several diabetes-focused nonprofits help connect people with free or reduced-cost supplies. Organizations like the Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition and NeedyMeds maintain databases of assistance programs searchable by medication name. Some local diabetes chapters and community health centers also keep emergency glucagon kits available for patients who can’t afford them.
Your endocrinologist’s or primary care doctor’s office may have sample kits from pharmaceutical representatives. It’s worth asking directly. Doctors’ offices receive these samples specifically to give to patients, and many providers are happy to hand one over if you let them know cost is a concern.
Steps to Take Right Now
- Check your insurance formulary to see which glucagon product is covered at the lowest tier.
- Call the manufacturer of that product and ask about their patient assistance program. Have your income information and insurance details ready.
- Ask your doctor’s office if they have any sample kits available.
- Use a discount card as a backup. Even if you’re waiting on a free kit through an assistance program, a $141 generic kit from a discount card can serve as a bridge so you’re not without emergency glucagon.
- Set a calendar reminder for when your kit expires. Reapplying to assistance programs or requesting a new prescription before expiration keeps you covered without gaps.
You’ll need a prescription for any glucagon product regardless of how you pay for it. If you don’t already have one, your primary care doctor or endocrinologist can write it at a routine visit. There’s no special testing or documentation required beyond having a diabetes diagnosis that puts you at risk for severe lows.