More than 8m Americans depend on insulin to survive. Pharma firms are lowering prices—but not all patients are able to grab a bargain
The high price of drugs is a long-running grievance for Americans—and insulin is a flashpoint, since more than 8m of them depend on it to survive. A standard unit that costs on average $9 in other rich countries sets Americans back $99. A study in 2021 in the, a journal, found that 1.3m people skipped or reduced insulin doses due to cost.
For older patients, the cost is now coming down. The Inflation Reduction Act, one of President Biden’s landmark laws, allows Medicare to negotiate with manufacturers for lower drug prices. It also requires companies to pay back Medicare if prices rise faster than inflation, and it capped insulin prices at $35 a month for Medicare.
These deals are eye-catching, but when patients turn up at pharmacies, they may find they cannot grab a bargain. Shaina Kasper of T1International, an advocacy group for diabetes patients, is a type-1 diabetic. She says she tried to buy Eli Lilly’s non-branded Insulin Lispro, the specific drug available from May 1st for $25. Her pharmacy in Vermont quoted her $90.
First patients must be aware that the scheme exists and that they are eligible, which is often unclear. Then they must jump through hoops. Some need applications, doctor’s notes, proof of residence, tax documents and more. Pharmacies must also know about the programme and participate in it. It can be hard to know whom to blame—the drug companies for the faulty deals or the pharmacies for failing to implement them properly.
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