In brief
The INSULIN Act, introduced by a bipartisan coalition of senators, seeks to cap insulin prices at $35 monthly for those with private insurance, easing the financial burden faced by millions with Type 1 diabetes. Despite past failed attempts at similar legislation, advocates remain hopeful for the future.
NEW YORK (AP) — Two-year-old Bain Brandon has Type 1 diabetes and needs insulin to live. But even with health insurance, the price tag isn’t cheap. A one-month supply of insulin vials and a three-month supply of backup pens for the Mississippi toddler cost his parents $194 last week, according to his mom, 29-year-old Marlee Brandon. They can afford it right now — but she worries about the future.“A lot of people don’t realize how much and how expensive it is,” she shared.A bipartisan group of senators is aiming to relieve that cost burden with the INSULIN Act, a bill to cap the cost of the lifesaving drug at $35 per month for Americans with private insurance plans. The bill, introduced by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-Maine, Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and John Kennedy, R-La., also proposes a pilot program to provide more affordable insulin to uninsured Americans across 10 states.The legislation comes after a similar bill passed in 2022, as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, which capped the drug at $35 per month for older adults on Medicare. About 8.1 million Americans rely on insulin, with more than 2 million suffering from Type 1 diabetes who need regular access to survive.While some with insurance pay little or nothing, others face costs soaring into hundreds of dollars monthly for their insulin and associated diabetes management supplies. Over 57% of Americans with private insurance have self-insured plans, which often fall outside of state-regulated cost-cap bills.As calls for better affordability continue, patients and advocates are holding out hope for the INSULIN Act amidst previous legislative challenges. “A $35 cap would be a small step towards everything becoming even more accessible,” says Breana Glover, a young diabetes patient. Despite legislative hurdles in the past, many advocates remain optimistic for this bill's success.
