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Diabetes & Blood Sugar

Tresiba Assistance Programs & Grants

Assistance information last verified: August 2026

AltaMedicare is an independent Medicare agency in Alpine, Utah, founded by Bret Swope, a licensed Medicare agent. We provide educational, no-pressure help comparing Medicare Advantage, Medigap (Medicare Supplement), and Part D at no cost, serving the entire state of Utah. Call or text (435) 292-5548.

Manufacturer programs, charitable grants and Medicare routes for Tresiba (insulin degludec) — each checked on its official source.

Can I get help paying for Tresiba?

Yes — Novo Nordisk's patient assistance program covers both Tresiba concentrations, and it is one of the few manufacturer programs that requires you to have Medicare rather than excluding you for it. The significant catch is that you cannot also be enrolled in Extra Help. Both diabetes charitable funds were closed.

  • Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program: Tresiba U-100 vial, U-100 FlexTouch and U-200 FlexTouch are all on the product list. "Have Medicare or no insurance (Note: If you have private or commercial insurance, you are not eligible for the PAP)."
  • For Medicare patients on Novo Nordisk insulins: household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. Below 150% FPL you must provide proof of denial for Part D Extra Help.
  • You cannot hold Extra Help and this program together — Novo Nordisk requires that you not be enrolled in or qualify for it, and asks for your denial letter if you are eligible.
  • Approved patients receive up to a 120-day supply, shipped to a licensed healthcare professional for dispensing. The program is free — no registration charge, no monthly fee.
  • Tresiba is NOT a Medicare-negotiated drug, even though NovoLog is. Do not assume the negotiated insulin price applies here.
  • Charitable grants: TotalAssist lists Tresiba, Tresiba FlexTouch U-100 and U-200 on its Type 2 diabetes funds — both closed ($1,500 guaranteed / $2,000 maximum). HealthWell's Type 2 Diabetes fund was closed. Good Days has no diabetes fund.

2 of the 5 programs we checked for Tresiba were accepting applications when verified in August 2026.

About Tresiba (insulin degludec)

Tresiba is an ultra-long-acting background insulin taken once a day. It comes in two concentrations — 100 units/mL and 200 units/mL — and both are on Novo Nordisk's patient assistance program, which matters more than it sounds: a U-200 pen carries twice the insulin in the same volume, so for someone on a large daily dose the same 120-day program supply goes considerably further.

Approved uses

  • Improving blood sugar control in adults and children with type 1 or type 2 diabetes — confirm the age range that applies to your prescription with your prescriber

Manufacturer: Novo Nordisk

Why Tresiba can be expensive on Medicare

Background insulin is a daily lifelong expense. For Tresiba specifically, the useful levers are Novo Nordisk's patient assistance program, which covers both concentrations; an unbranded insulin degludec that Novo Nordisk itself now labels alongside the brand; and the $35 cash price listed on the federal TrumpRx site. What Tresiba does not have — despite a common assumption — is a Medicare-negotiated price.

Medicare coverage context

Tresiba is covered under Medicare Part D or a Medicare Advantage drug plan, and under federal law a covered insulin costs no more than $35 for a month's supply with no deductible applied; our insulin cost guide covers how that works across products. One thing worth correcting up front: Tresiba is NOT a Medicare-negotiated drug. CMS's selected-drug and Maximum Fair Price file has no Tresiba or insulin degludec row for 2026, 2027 or 2028. Its stablemate NovoLog is on the 2026 list, and people reasonably assume a manufacturer's insulins were negotiated as a group — they were not, and NovoLog's $119.00 negotiated price says nothing about Tresiba. Part D out-of-pocket costs are capped at $2,100 in 2026, and check your plan's tier for the exact concentration you are prescribed, since U-100 and U-200 are separate products on a formulary.

Check typical Part D coverage · Estimate your drug costs · Compare Part D drug plans

Tresiba assistance options at a glance

Every program we checked, what kind of help it is, whether people with Medicare can use it, and its status when we verified it. A medication being listed by a program is not the same as the program accepting applications.

About the income limits below: Income limits can differ between assistance programs even when both describe their eligibility as the same percentage of the federal poverty level. The dollar limits shown here come from each program's own published income table, and each program decides which year's poverty guidelines that table is built from and when it takes effect. Treat the figures as belonging to the program they are listed under — they are not interchangeable, and only the program can tell you which table it is applying to your application today.

Tresiba assistance programs compared
ProgramType of helpPeople with MedicareStatus (August 2026)
Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program Manufacturer patient assistance with conditions Accepting applications
Cash price via TrumpRx Manufacturer self-pay pricing with conditions Accepting applications
TotalAssist — Type 2 diabetes funds Charitable grant may apply Closed to new applicants
HealthWell Foundation — Type 2 Diabetes fund Charitable grant may apply Closed to new applicants
Good Days — no applicable fund Charitable grant not stated No program found
Medicare Extra Help (Part D Low-Income Subsidy) Government program may apply Accepting applications

Manufacturer programs from Novo Nordisk

A patient assistance program (free or low-cost drug by income) is not the same as a copay card (a commercial discount that usually excludes Medicare). Both are listed so you can see which one applies to you.

Manufacturer patient assistance

Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program

Novo Nordisk

Accepting applications Medicare: with conditions

Status: Accepting applications on August 26, 2026. The program's own product list (form NNIPAP_11_01012026) names Tresiba U-100 10 mL vial, Tresiba U-100 FlexTouch and Tresiba U-200 FlexTouch. Novo Nordisk warns that "Some medicines will no longer be a part of the Patient Assistance Program for 2026", so re-read the list rather than assuming it is unchanged.

A free-medicine program designed around Medicare beneficiaries, covering both Tresiba concentrations. Approved patients receive up to a 120-day supply, shipped to a licensed healthcare professional for dispensing rather than to a pharmacy, running through the end of the calendar year.

If you have Medicare: Novo Nordisk builds this program the opposite way round from most manufacturers: "Have Medicare or no insurance (Note: If you have private or commercial insurance, you are not eligible for the PAP)." Having Medicare qualifies you. The condition that disqualifies people instead is other government help — you must "not be enrolled in or qualify for any other federal, state, or government program such as Medicaid, Medicare Low-Income Subsidy (LIS, or Extra Help Program), or Veterans Affairs (VA) Benefits", and if you are eligible for Medicaid or Extra Help you must submit a copy of your denial. Medicare beneficiaries below 150% of the federal poverty level must specifically provide proof that Part D Extra Help denied them. For Medicare patients on Novo Nordisk insulins the income ceiling is 400% of the federal poverty level; Novo Nordisk publishes no dollar table of its own and points applicants to the NeedyMeds poverty guidelines. One helpful change: Novo Nordisk states it "no longer require[s] that Medicare Part D patients spend $1000 out of pocket to be eligible for the program".

What it can cover: Tresiba U-100 vials and FlexTouch pens and Tresiba U-200 FlexTouch pens, at no charge to approved applicants.

Who may qualify

  • US citizen or legal resident
  • Have Medicare or no insurance — private or commercial insurance disqualifies you
  • Household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level for Medicare patients on Novo Nordisk insulins
  • Not enrolled in or qualifying for Medicaid, Medicare Low-Income Subsidy (Extra Help) or VA benefits
  • If eligible for Medicaid or Medicare LIS, you must submit a copy of your denial
  • Medicare beneficiaries below 150% of the federal poverty level must provide proof of denial for Part D Extra Help
  • Novo Nordisk publishes no dollar income table, directing applicants to the NeedyMeds federal poverty level guidelines

What the application asks for

  • Proof of household income for everyone in your household
  • Your Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage prescription coverage details
  • A copy of your Medicaid or Extra Help denial letter, if you are eligible for either
  • Your prescriber's details — you complete Section 1 and your healthcare provider completes Section 2

How to apply

Apply at diabetespap.novocare.com, or call 1-866-310-7549. You complete the patient section and your prescriber completes theirs. State which Tresiba concentration you are prescribed, since U-100 and U-200 are listed as separate products.

Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program → 1-866-310-7549

Manufacturer self-pay pricing

Cash price via TrumpRx

U.S. federal government listing of manufacturer cash prices

Accepting applications Medicare: with conditions

Status: Tresiba listed at $35.00 on August 26, 2026.

A published federal cash price, useful mainly as a benchmark and a stopgap. Compare it against your plan's insulin cost-sharing before switching.

If you have Medicare: Anyone can buy at a cash price, including a Medicare beneficiary — but buying outside your drug plan means the spending does not count toward your Part D deductible or your $2,100 annual out-of-pocket cap. A covered insulin under a Medicare drug plan is already capped at $35 a month, the same figure, and that spending does count. So the cash route rarely helps if your plan covers Tresiba; it matters if your plan does not, or while a prior authorisation is being sorted out.

What it can cover: Tresiba at the listed cash price, outside insurance.

Who may qualify

  • Paying cash rather than using prescription insurance for that fill

How to apply

Check the current listing and follow the purchase route it gives. Compare against your plan first.

TrumpRx →

Charitable grants for Tresiba

TotalAssist lists Tresiba in all three of its presentations — the U-100 product, the U-100 FlexTouch and the U-200 FlexTouch — on its Type 2 diabetes fund and the health-equity version, each paying $1,500 guaranteed up to $2,000, and both were closed on August 26, 2026. The unbranded insulin degludec is on the same list, so switching to it would not affect eligibility. HealthWell's Type 2 Diabetes fund was closed too, and Good Days runs no diabetes fund. All of these are type 2 funds, and Tresiba is widely used in type 1 diabetes, so a substantial share of readers have no charitable route here at all. One useful asymmetry: these funds do not exclude Extra Help enrollees while Novo Nordisk's program does — so if Extra Help has ruled you out of the manufacturer program, the funds are still worth an alert.

Charitable grant

TotalAssist — Type 2 diabetes funds

Patient Advocate Foundation · Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) · Type 2 diabetes health equity

Closed to new applicants Medicare: may apply

Status: Both funds were closed to new applicants on August 26, 2026, each with a $1,500 guaranteed and $2,000 maximum award.

Tresiba, Tresiba FlexTouch U-100 and Tresiba FlexTouch U-200 are all named on the Type 2 diabetes approved-medication list, along with the unbranded insulin degludec — so neither a concentration change nor a switch to the unbranded product would cost you fund eligibility. Both funds were closed, and both are type 2 funds only.

If you have Medicare: These funds require government-insured coverage — Medicare, Medicaid or TRICARE — that covers your qualifying expenses. Importantly, they do NOT exclude Extra Help enrollees, unlike the Novo Nordisk program. So if Extra Help has closed the manufacturer door to you, these funds remain open in principle.

What it can cover: When open: $1,500 guaranteed award and up to $2,000 maximum for medication copays, coinsurance, deductibles and health-insurance premiums. One grant per condition.

Who may qualify

  • Confirmed type 2 diabetes diagnosis, in treatment, starting within 60 days, or treated in the past 6 months
  • Government-insured coverage (Medicare, Medicaid or TRICARE) that covers your qualifying expenses
  • Household income at or below 500% of the federal poverty level, adjusted for your regional cost-of-living index
  • Confirmed diagnosis matching the fund, and in treatment (or starting within 60 days, or treated in the past 6 months)
  • Legal U.S. resident receiving treatment in the U.S. or a U.S. territory
  • The health-equity fund additionally requires a home zip code in a designated social-vulnerability county

What the application asks for

  • Contact information and Social Security number (or alien number)
  • Annual household income (for pre-screening; proof of income due within 30 days of approval)
  • Health insurance carrier, plan type, policy ID and group number; Medicare supplement or secondary insurance if you have one
  • Copay or coinsurance amounts
  • Your provider's name and contact information, diagnosis (exact date if within 6 months), prescribed medications and treatment plan

How to apply

Sign up for fund notifications (text, email or automated call) at totalassist.org/notify. When a fund opens: You (the patient) apply online — it takes about 15 minutes and you learn immediately whether you are approved — or call 866-512-3861, Monday–Friday 8:30am–5:30pm ET. Patient Advocate Foundation verifies your diagnosis and treatment plan directly with your provider and verifies income automatically; you have 30 days after approval to provide proof of income.

Get notified when a TotalAssist fund opens → 866-512-3861

Charitable grant

HealthWell Foundation — Type 2 Diabetes fund

HealthWell Foundation · Type 2 Diabetes

Closed to new applicants Medicare: may apply

Status: Closed on August 26, 2026. HealthWell runs no Type 1 Diabetes fund and no insulin-specific fund.

One applicable fund, closed. Tresiba is used in type 1 as well as type 2 diabetes, and none of the three foundations on this page runs a type 1 fund — a real gap rather than an oversight in our checking.

If you have Medicare: HealthWell accepts Medicare beneficiaries for the diseases it covers. Its Type 2 Diabetes fund was closed when we checked.

What it can cover: When open: copays, coinsurance, deductibles and health-insurance premiums for type 2 diabetes.

Who may qualify

  • A confirmed type 2 diabetes diagnosis, verified by your prescriber
  • Some form of health insurance (Medicare qualifies) that covers part of the cost of the drug — discount cards do not count
  • Social Security number (used to prevent duplicate applications)
  • Diagnosis verified by a physician's, nurse practitioner's or physician assistant's signature
  • Treatment in the United States

What the application asks for

  • Some form of health insurance (Medicare qualifies) that covers part of the cost of the drug — discount cards do not count
  • Social Security number (used to prevent duplicate applications)
  • Diagnosis verified by a physician's, nurse practitioner's or physician assistant's signature
  • Treatment in the United States

How to apply

When a fund is open, apply online or by phone; your provider verifies the diagnosis by signature. When a fund is closed, sign up for that fund's real-time alerts — HealthWell says replenished funds reopen "as quickly as possible."

HealthWell disease funds and alerts → (800) 675-8416

Charitable grant

Good Days — no applicable fund

Good Days

No program found Medicare: not stated

Status: Good Days' published disease list on August 26, 2026 contained 57 programs and none of them was diabetes.

An honest negative, checked so you do not spend time on a third foundation that has no fund for you.

If you have Medicare: Good Days accepts Medicare beneficiaries for the diseases it covers, but it covers no diagnosis that applies to Tresiba.

How to apply

Not applicable today. The diseases-covered page shows every fund Good Days runs.

Good Days diseases covered →

How to apply for Tresiba assistance

  1. Step 1 — Find the applicable assistance program

    For Tresiba on Medicare in August 2026, settle the Extra Help question first — it decides which route is available:

    • Apply for Medicare Extra Help first. If you get it, use it; the Novo Nordisk program is then closed to you.
    • If Extra Help denies you, keep the letter — Novo Nordisk requires it.
    • Income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level and no commercial insurance → apply to the Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program.
    • Check your plan's cost-sharing for your exact concentration. A covered insulin is capped at $35 a month, and U-100 and U-200 are separate formulary entries.
    • Ask your prescriber and plan about the unbranded insulin degludec, which Novo Nordisk labels itself.
    • Type 2 diabetes → set alerts on the TotalAssist and HealthWell diabetes funds (all closed when checked).

  2. Step 2 — Check whether applications are currently open

    The manufacturer program was open; the charitable funds were closed.

    • Novo Nordisk PAP: open, with the product list published as a PDF that names both Tresiba concentrations.
    • TotalAssist: the Type 2 diabetes fund pages show "Open" or "Closed" and current award amounts.
    • HealthWell: the disease-funds list shows the Type 2 Diabetes fund and its status.

  3. Step 3 — Check eligibility

    Novo Nordisk's insurance rule is the reverse of what most people expect:

    • Novo Nordisk PAP: you must have Medicare or no insurance. Private or commercial insurance disqualifies you.
    • Income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level for Medicare patients on Novo Nordisk insulins.
    • You must not be enrolled in or qualify for Medicaid, Extra Help or VA benefits, and must supply a denial letter if you are eligible for Medicaid or Extra Help.
    • Below 150% of the federal poverty level, proof of denial for Part D Extra Help is specifically required.
    • TotalAssist (when open): government insurance covering Tresiba; income at or below 500% FPL adjusted for your regional cost-of-living index; a confirmed type 2 diabetes diagnosis.
    • HealthWell (when open): insurance that covers part of the drug's cost, a prescriber-verified type 2 diabetes diagnosis, and treatment in the United States.

  4. Step 4 — Gather your information

    Get the concentration right — it appears on every form and affects your supply:

    • Your Tresiba concentration and presentation — U-100 vial, U-100 FlexTouch or U-200 FlexTouch — and your daily dose in units.
    • Your Extra Help denial letter, if you have one.
    • Proof of household income for everyone in the household.
    • Medicare card and your Part D or Medicare Advantage drug-plan card.
    • Your diabetes type, since the charitable funds are type 2 only.

  5. Step 5 — Complete the application

    Who fills out what:

    • Novo Nordisk PAP: you complete Section 1; your healthcare provider completes Section 2. Apply at diabetespap.novocare.com or call 1-866-310-7549. There is no registration charge and no monthly fee.
    • Extra Help: you (or someone helping you) apply free through Social Security — online, by phone on 1-800-772-1213, or at an office. There is never a fee.
    • TotalAssist (when open): you apply online in about 15 minutes or by phone on 866-512-3861.
    • Unbranded switch: nothing to apply for — a prescribing and formulary question.

  6. Step 6 — Submit and wait for a determination

    What to expect:

    • Novo Nordisk PAP: approved patients receive up to a 120-day supply, shipped to a licensed healthcare professional rather than your pharmacy, through the end of the calendar year.
    • Extra Help: Social Security notifies you by mail; your Part D plan then applies the lower copays.
    • TotalAssist (when open): an immediate online decision, with proof of income due within 30 days of approval.

  7. Step 7 — If the program is closed or you don't qualify

    The concentration question is the one most often overlooked:

    • Ask your prescriber whether the U-200 concentration suits you if you are on a large daily dose — fewer pens for the same number of units can change what you pay, and both concentrations are on the assistance program and the charitable funds.
    • Ask about the unbranded insulin degludec that Novo Nordisk labels alongside Tresiba.
    • Confirm your plan's insulin cost-sharing: a covered insulin is capped at $35 a month, and that spending counts toward your out-of-pocket cap while a cash purchase does not.
    • Do not assume a Medicare negotiated price applies — Tresiba is not on any CMS selected-drug list, even though NovoLog is.
    • Apply for Extra Help even if you assume you earn too much; for most people it beats the manufacturer program.
    • Call AltaMedicare — we will work through every route above with you, free.

What you'll need

Only items the programs above actually ask for. Gather these before you start.

  • Medicare card and your Part D or Medicare Advantage drug-plan card — plan name, member ID and group number
  • Prescription details — medication name, strength and dose; prescriber name, office phone and address
  • Diagnosis and date of diagnosis — TotalAssist needs the exact date if diagnosed within the past 6 months
  • Household size and annual household income — and proof — tax return, Social Security or pension statements, or pay stubs
  • Your Tresiba concentration and presentation — U-100 vial, U-100 FlexTouch or U-200 FlexTouch — they are separate products on the assistance list and on formularies
  • Your Medicare Extra Help denial letter, if you have one — Novo Nordisk requires it if you are eligible for Extra Help or Medicaid, and mandatorily below 150% of the federal poverty level
  • Your diabetes type — the TotalAssist and HealthWell funds cover type 2 only

If assistance is unavailable

A closed fund or a denial is not the end of the road. Check these next:

  1. Ask your prescriber and plan about the unbranded insulin degludec — Novo Nordisk labels it alongside Tresiba, and TotalAssist lists it on the same fund.
  2. Confirm your plan's insulin cost-sharing before paying cash. A covered insulin is capped at $35 a month under a Medicare drug plan, and that spending counts toward your out-of-pocket cap. Insulin costs on Medicare
  3. Sign up for TotalAssist fund notifications so you hear the moment a Tresiba fund reopens — there is no waitlist or queue, so speed matters. TotalAssist notifications
  4. Sign up for HealthWell fund alerts for the same reason; HealthWell says closed funds reopen as funding is replenished. HealthWell disease funds
  5. Check Medicare Extra Help — it does not depend on a fund balance and lowers the cost of every covered drug, not just this one. Medicare Extra Help explained
  6. Ask your doctor's office — many practices have staff who handle assistance applications routinely and can request a formulary exception or a lower-cost alternative.
  7. Use the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan to spread this year's out-of-pocket costs across monthly payments (it does not lower the total). Medicare.gov
  8. Compare Part D and Medicare Advantage drug plans during the fall enrollment period — the tier and cost-sharing for Tresiba differ from plan to plan. Compare Part D plan options

Could Medicare Extra Help reduce your Tresiba costs?

Extra Help is not a grant for Tresiba. It is a Medicare program that lowers what qualifying beneficiaries pay for their Part D premium, deductible and every covered prescription — so it is worth checking even when a charitable fund is closed, because it does not depend on fund balances.

Tresiba presents the same either/or as NovoLog: Novo Nordisk requires that you not be enrolled in or qualify for Medicare Extra Help, and below 150% of the federal poverty level you must produce an Extra Help denial letter to apply. You cannot hold both. For most people Extra Help is the better of the two, because it reduces cost-sharing on every covered drug you take rather than one, and it does not have to be re-approved by a manufacturer each year. Apply for Extra Help first; if you are denied, keep the letter, because it is exactly what Novo Nordisk asks for.

In 2026, people with full Extra Help generally pay no more than $12.65 for a covered brand-name drug. Income must be below about $23,940 a year for one person ($32,460 for a couple) and countable resources under $18,090 ($36,100 for a couple). Apply free through Social Security — online, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person — and never pay anyone to apply for you.

Extra Help explained · Medicare Savings Programs · Estimate your drug costs · Free prescription cost review

Government program

Medicare Extra Help (Part D Low-Income Subsidy)

Medicare / Social Security Administration

Accepting applications Medicare: may apply

Status: Year-round federal program (figures for 2026)

Not a grant for one drug — a Medicare program that lowers what qualifying beneficiaries pay for their Part D premium, deductible and every covered prescription.

If you have Medicare: For people with Medicare Part D or a Medicare Advantage drug plan who have limited income and resources.

What it can cover: Part D premium and deductible (often to $0) and reduced copays — generally no more than $12.65 for a covered brand-name drug in 2026 with full Extra Help.

Who may qualify

  • Income below 150% of the federal poverty level — about $23,940 a year for one person or $32,460 for a married couple in 2026.
  • Countable resources (savings, investments — not your home or car) limited to $18,090 for an individual or $36,100 for a married couple living together in 2026 (Medicare.gov figures, which include a burial-expense allowance).
  • Automatic if you have Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or a Medicare Savings Program.

What the application asks for

  • Social Security number and Medicare number
  • Income (Social Security, pensions, wages) for you and a spouse you live with
  • Value of savings, investments and other countable resources

How to apply

You (or someone helping you) apply free through Social Security — online, by phone, or at a Social Security office. There is never a fee to apply.

Apply for Extra Help at SSA.gov → 1-800-772-1213

Key terms on this page

Patient assistance program (PAP)
A manufacturer program that provides its medication free or at low cost to people who meet income and insurance rules. Many PAPs accept Medicare Part D enrollees; each sets its own criteria.
Copay card / savings card
A manufacturer discount for commercially insured patients. Federal anti-kickback rules mean these cards generally cannot be used with Medicare, Medicaid or other government insurance.
Charitable copay grant
Money from a nonprofit foundation (for example HealthWell or Patient Advocate Foundation) that pays eligible copays or coinsurance for a specific diagnosis. A drug can be listed while the fund is closed to new applicants.
Federal poverty level (FPL)
A federal income measure that assistance programs use as a yardstick — "300% of FPL", "500% of FPL". The percentage is a rule, but the dollar figure behind it comes from a table each program publishes itself, built on a chosen year of the HHS poverty guidelines. Two programs can quote the same percentage in the same year and still list different dollar limits; compare each program against its own table, not against another program.
Medicare Extra Help
The Part D Low-Income Subsidy: a Medicare program that lowers or eliminates Part D premiums, deductibles and copays for beneficiaries with limited income and resources. You apply through Social Security.
Maximum Fair Price (MFP)
The price Medicare negotiated for a selected drug under the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. It applies to Part D plans, not to the pharmacy cash price, and it lowers what plans and enrollees pay for that drug.

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Common Questions

Tresiba assistance FAQ

Does Medicare cover Tresiba?
Yes — Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage drug plans cover Tresiba, and under federal law a covered insulin costs no more than $35 for a month's supply with no deductible applied. Check your plan's tier for the exact concentration you are prescribed, because U-100 and U-200 are separate formulary entries. Our insulin cost guide explains how the cap works across products.
Is Tresiba part of Medicare drug price negotiation?
No, and this is worth checking rather than assuming. CMS's selected-drug and Maximum Fair Price file has no Tresiba or insulin degludec row for initial price applicability year 2026, 2027 or 2028. Novo Nordisk's other insulin, NovoLog, IS on the 2026 list with a negotiated price of $119.00 per 30-day equivalent supply — but that price applies to insulin aspart products only and says nothing about Tresiba. Manufacturers' insulins were not negotiated as a group.
Is there a Tresiba patient assistance program for people on Medicare?
Yes, and it is built for Medicare rather than around it. Novo Nordisk's rule is "Have Medicare or no insurance (Note: If you have private or commercial insurance, you are not eligible for the PAP)". All three Tresiba presentations — U-100 vial, U-100 FlexTouch and U-200 FlexTouch — are on the program's product list. For Medicare patients on Novo Nordisk insulins, household income must be at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. Approved patients get up to a 120-day supply shipped to a licensed healthcare professional.
Can I have both Extra Help and the Novo Nordisk program?
No. Novo Nordisk requires that you "not be enrolled in or qualify for any other federal, state, or government program such as Medicaid, Medicare Low-Income Subsidy (LIS, or Extra Help Program), or Veterans Affairs (VA) Benefits", and beneficiaries below 150% of the federal poverty level must provide proof that Extra Help denied them. For most people Extra Help is the better option, because it applies to every covered drug you take. Apply for it first; if denied, keep the letter, because Novo Nordisk asks for exactly that.
What is the difference between Tresiba U-100 and U-200?
Concentration. U-200 contains 200 units of insulin degludec per millilitre against U-100's 100 units, so the same dose takes half the volume and a U-200 pen holds twice as many units as a U-100 pen of the same size. For anyone on a large daily dose that means fewer pens per month, which can change what you pay and how far a 120-day patient assistance supply stretches. Both concentrations are on Novo Nordisk's assistance program and on the TotalAssist fund list. Whether U-200 suits you is a prescribing decision.
Is there a generic version of Tresiba?
There is an unbranded version from Novo Nordisk itself. DailyMed lists seven labelled insulin degludec products across three labelers: Tresiba, Xultophy 100/3.6 (a combination product) and an unbranded "Insulin Degludec" from Novo Nordisk Pharma. TotalAssist lists the unbranded product on the same Type 2 diabetes fund as Tresiba, so switching would not cost you fund eligibility. Whether it lowers your copay depends on your plan's formulary. See all prescription assistance options.

Sources

Related resources

Assistance information last verified August 2026. Program details — fund status, eligibility, prices, phone numbers — change often; confirm with each program before applying. AltaMedicare does not administer, fund or approve any assistance program. Not medical advice.

Having trouble figuring out your prescription costs?

Bret can help you understand your Medicare prescription coverage and where to look for Tresiba assistance — free, no pressure. We don't award grants or decide eligibility; the programs above do. We help you find and apply to the right ones.

Text Bret About Tresiba Call (435) 292-5548