I’ve been using Humalog injection for over 30 years.Now they don’t cover Humalog and want me to switch to Novolog.Has anyone had any problems switching insulins.
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You asked this twice, I’ll answer this one. Yes I used Humalog for about 25 years before switching to Novolog, which I’ve been using now for about three years. I consider them identical, and see no difference between the two. BTW, I had tested samples of both Novolog and Fiasp years before and saw no difference then either. And as of about the last year I am using “Insulin Aspart”, the generic form, instead of name brand Novolog. Again, it is identical for me.
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I like Humalog better,
Novalog seemed a little slower and I had a tendency to drop more at night. Plenty of people prefer Novalog or don’t notice difference.
I think by all measurable stats they’re identical. I prefer novolog, but that’s probably just because it’s what I’m most familiar with, as humalog is for you
Medicare covers both, the problem is the Part D/MA providers who use restricted formularies. I swapped my Part D provider because I’ve come to like Lyumjev (the Huma product, Lilly) rather than Fiasp (the Novo product).
There are still a few days left; four days. Take a look at the options; it costs nothing to look.
EDIT: I got that wrong, Medicare changes closed on December 7 this year. It’s ACA plan open enrollment that closes on December 15 (for January coverage, Jan 15 for coverage starting in February).
I am on Medicare and have not gotten any word that my Humalog is being changed. If they cost the same, why would Medicare care which one we use? I have a secondary insurance and I don’t know if that matters.
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Medicare doesn’t even care about the costs, merely the functionality. So insofar as Medicare covers insulin (it only does with pumps) then any FDA approved insulin is fine.
Part D, however, is prescription coverage and is private insurance (not Medicare) underwritten by Medicare. Medicare still doesn’t care but the private insurers have to make their money so they pick and choose whoever offers the best deal.
So this year the Part D providers are lifting up their skirts and jumping ships, in some cases. My own 2025 insurer (I abandoned that ship at the end of November) has not yet informed me that my insulin is no longer covered, or maybe I missed the letter, or maybe they did, in fact, notice eye had jumped ship.
Most likely your guys have not discontinued Humalog; it might no longer be “preferred” but so long as it is in the formulary you should not have to pay more than $35/month. At present the new ship United tells me that humalog is really cheap ($14) whereas Lyumjev is available but at $35/month.
The price changes are why it is always worth checking medicare.gov for next year, except for those half of us on Part C where we do the same on the insurance company web site (then swap Part C provider 
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Hi @Blueburd “Medicare” refers to a bunch of different stuff so don’t assume what people say applies to you unless they give specifics.
In your case I remember you have (had?) a Tandem pump so maybe Medicare Part B is paying 80% of your pump insulin and your retirement plan is paying the rest? Part B pays for Humalog among others. If you are using your Part D plan or have a Medicare Advantage plan then it depends on the plan.
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John and spdif, yes I don’t do Medicare D. I have a FEP Blue Cross supplementary insurance that is super at covering my pump and cgm supplies. Or has been. I will find out in 2026. I would never use Medicare Advantage as I saw what it did for a friend with cancer. Not good. Of course, I pay large monthly costs for my insurance but that is still far less than the cost of my diabetes supplies.
Thanks for your explanations. Very helpful reminders.
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So far as I know supplemental insurance (i.e. Medigap) covers anything that Medicare covers however you have Federal insurance and, so far as I can see, it has different rules:
You need to download the details for the specific plan you have and look up the coverage for Part B “DMEPOS” (Durable Medical Equipment, Proshetics, Orthotics and Supplies). Pumps are Durable Medical Equipment as, despite not being even remotely durable, CGMs are.
Medicare is primary, so it pays first and it doesn’t care. However the BCBS FEP plan you have may care; Medigap plans do not (cannot) so far as I am aware, but it looks like the FEP plans do. Best thing if you cannot find the lowdown in the plan documentation is to ring up BCBS and ask.
I did find with my ACA plan that the plan swapped to a different insulin provider but still covered the original, just not at as low a price.