Today, leading insulin manufacturer Novo Nordisk announced that it would offer 90 days of free insulin to those who lost their jobs and medical insurance because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The announcement comes just days after Eli Lilly and Company announced that it would provide a co-pay card letting anyone with or without commercial insurance to buy a month supply of Lilly insulin for $35 or less during the coronavirus pandemic.

JDRF welcomes the efforts of both companies, while also urging that more needs to be done as too many families are struggling to pay for life-sustaining insulin.

Novo Nordisk’s announcement means that anyone who has lost health care coverage due to the pandemic may now be eligible for enrollment in the company’s Diabetes Patient Assistance Program and receive insulin free of charge for 90 days without providing proof of income.

More details can be found on the company’s site: NovoCare.com or by calling 1.844.NOVO4ME (668.6463).

For people with type 1 diabetes (T1D), insulin is a life-saving drug that no one should ever have to ration or go without. The economic repercussions of COVID-19 has put the health of too many people at risk, making insulin access and affordability more important than ever. And no one should die because they cannot afford insulin.

JDRF will continue to fight until we have long-term solutions that make out-of-pocket insulin costs low and predictable so that people with T1D have affordable access to the insulin they need to stay as healthy as possible while we work urgently to develop cures.

For information and resources on how to manage T1D during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit jdrf.org/coronavirus.

JDRF also provides information and resources at jdrf.org/costs to help people access and pay for insulin and other prescriptions.