Senate bill backed by Kaine seeks to cap the out-of-pocket cost of insulin

According to the Health Care Costs Institute, insulin prices nearly doubled from 2012 to 2016, with the average price for a 40-day supply of insulin increasing from $344 to $666 during that span.

The Health Care Cost Institute also estimates that diabetics spend close to $6,000 annually on insulin alone. The American Diabetes Associated found that diabetics account for $1 of every $4 spent on health care in the U.S.

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine is co-sponsoring legislation to cap the out-of-pocket cost of insulin for Americans. The Affordable Insulin Now Act, introduced by Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock, would require Medicare plans and private group or individual health care plans to cap patients’ out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $35 per month.

This will dramatically lower costs for insulin users, some of whom are currently paying up to $900 a month for the medication, which they need to stay alive.

“No one should have to choose between paying for their medication and keeping food on the table,” Kaine said. “I’m proud to cosponsor legislation that would cap out-of-pocket costs of insulin and help working families make ends meet.”

Under the Affordable Insulin Now Act, private group or individual plans would be required to cover one of each insulin dosage form (vial and pen) and insulin type (rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting) for no more than $35 per month. Medicare Part D plans, both stand-alone drug plans and Medicare Advantage drug plans, would be required to charge no more than $35 for whichever insulin products they cover in 2023 and 2024, and for all insulin products beginning in 2025.

Kaine has long prioritized lowering the cost of prescription drugs. In 2021, Kaine reintroduced his Medicare-X Choice Act, which would improve health care coverage and lower costs for Americans. He is also a cosponsor of legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug costs for seniors.

The bill is cosponsored by Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The legislation is also endorsed by: Protect Our Care; American Diabetes Association; American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; American Federation of Teachers; Community Catalyst; Public Citizen; and Social Security Works.

Full text of the legislation is available here. A summary of the legislation is available here.