For the first time in U.S. history, a state is directly selling insulin at a fixed low price — reshaping access for millions living with diabetes.
For decades, the price of insulin in the United States has been a quiet emergency — life-saving medication priced out of reach for millions who depend on it daily. On January 1, 2026, California took a step no other state has: it began selling its own state-branded insulin.
Under the CalRx program, California now offers insulin glargine for $11 per pen, or $55 for a five-pen monthly supply, with vials priced at $30. The initiative, announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom and overseen by the California Health & Human Services Agency, marks the first time a U.S. state has directly entered the insulin market to undercut pharmaceutical pricing.
“This is about making sure people don’t have to ration a drug they need to survive,” Newsom said when the program was unveiled, framing the move as both a public health and affordability measure.
Why this matters beyond California
Insulin glargine — commonly sold under brand names like Lantus — is a long-acting insulin widely used by people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 1 in 3 Latino adults with diabetes reports cost-related challenges in managing their condition, including skipping or reducing doses.
While federal caps on insulin for Medicare beneficiaries have helped some patients, many working-age adults remain exposed to market prices that can exceed $90 to $300 per month, depending on insurance and pharmacy pricing. California’s program bypasses that system entirely by contracting manufacturing directly and selling at a fixed, transparent price.
Health policy experts quoted by outlets such as KFF Health News have described CalRx as a “proof of concept” — a test of whether states can use purchasing power and public manufacturing partnerships to stabilize essential drug prices.
How Californians can access CalRx insulin
The rollout is designed to be simple:
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At the pharmacy: CalRx insulin glargine is available at participating pharmacies statewide. Pharmacists are allowed to substitute it for brand-name equivalents when appropriate.
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With your doctor: Patients can ask their healthcare provider about switching. Clinically, CalRx insulin is interchangeable with brand-name glargine.
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Medi-Cal Rx Locator: Californians can search participating pharmacies or call the Medi-Cal Rx Customer Service Center at 1-800-977-2273, available 24/7.
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No eligibility hurdles: There are no coupons, applications, or income requirements. The price is the price — insured or uninsured.
California’s move doesn’t solve the national insulin crisis overnight. But for patients managing a lifelong condition, it signals something rare in American healthcare: relief that doesn’t come with fine print.
